Most children know and use the term “best friend” to describe their favorite pal. But now there is a growing movement in Europe and America to ban the term to keep children from feeling alone. “I see kids come in all week long who are feeling dreadful because they are excluded and because they are either nobody’s best friend or their best friend has moved on,” said clinical psychologist Dr. Barbara Greenberg.
The movement apparently started at Prince George’s school in South London. Greenberg said the idea isn’t to discourage close relationships but “to foster the idea of kids having more than a single friend.”
While the proposal may concern some people, Jay Jacobs, the owner of Timber Lake Camp said the ban makes a valid point. “I think that there are pitfalls in just having one friend. Remember as you grow up, interests change, children go in different directions.” Jacob continued “It’s now about promoting kindness, looking to children to be kind to one another and to be aware of what it looks like when you’re not.”
Greenberg said the point of the ban is to teach kids at an early age to “be inclusive rather than exclusive.