CAMP Challenge: You’ve Got a Friend in Me

Welcome to Week 2 of our COCA CAMP Challenge! This week’s topic is You’ve got a Friend in Me: Building Healthy Relationships.

One of the most important aspects of prevention is bonding. When children feel connected to family, community, school and their peers, it increases those protective factors that lower their risk of substance use.

This week’s CAMP Challenge activities and resources help foster healthy relationships within families, the community, school and friendships. Activities such as volunteering, performing acts of kindness, putting together puzzles and playing card games all help to strengthen bonds and teach important social skills.

Watch our Prevention in Pajamas parent video and download You’ve Got a Friend in Me resources below!

Need a “Friend in Me” Game Board? Click here to print one out!

Click here to learn more about the COCA CAMP Challenge. 

Parent Resources

We have compiled a list of sites that offer activities and advice for teaching your children to build healthy relationships at home and in schools and the community.

Teaching healthy relationships

• Planned Parenthood: Healthy Social Skills for Elementary Children 
• Love is Not Abuse: Parent Handbook for How to Talk to Youth about Healthy Relationships 
• Moments a Day: Tools that Teach Kids to Build Healthy Friendships

Community Bonding

• Scholastic: Four Ways to Strengthen your Neighborhood Community
• National Institute of Health: Building Social Bonds
• Live Happy: 10 Ways to Build Community
• Healthy Children: Getting Involved in Your Community

School Bonding

• CDC: Helping Your Child Feel Connected to School 

Family Bonding Activities

• Very Well Family: How to Strengthen Family Bonds
• Parents: 23 Easy Ways to Bond as a Family
• A Fine Parent: The Ultimate Resource Guide of Family Bonding Activities

Looking for more family fun learning and bonding ideas? Visit Berks Summer Camps Unite for videos that offer free, hands-on virtual summer camp crafts and activities.