Relationships

LEARNING INTENTION:

Understand what a respectful relationship looks like.

HOW THIS RELEVANT TO ME:

Allows me to notice if I show signs of disrespect towards teachers, parents or friends in my life.

SUCESS CRITERIA:

Express opinions in a respectful manner.

Relationships form a very important part of our lives. From the moment we are born, we begin to interact with those around us and we spend the rest of our lives relating to other people. This is part of being human. We seek to form deep relationships with family and friends to fulfil our need for love, intimacy, approval and a sense of belonging.

Mature relationships are based on mutual respect. These relationships enhance our physical, social, emotional, cognitive and spiritual health. Conversely, if our relationships do not meet these needs, our self-esteem and self-confidence can suffer and we can feel lonely and unhappy.

Relationships may not always be equal, but they should be respectful. A relationship with an employer or teacher is usually such that the employer or student has more power in the working relationship. Despite this, it is still appropriate that both people in this relationship respect each other. In our personal relationships, however, it is desirable to establish both equality and respect.

REFLECTIVE QUESTIONS

1. In small groups discuss the following questions:

a) As you become an adult, what different groups of people do you predict you will have relationships with?

b) What relationships are most important to you? Why?

c) How do you predict these relationships will change in the future?

d) What differences are there between the relationships you have with your family and your close friends (for example, disclosure of personal information)? How do these differing social expectations influence your relationship decisions and your health?

e) Think about (2) positive relationships that you have experienced and describe the relationship and how/why they were positive.

f) Think about (2) negative relationships that you have experienced and describe the relationship and how/why they were negative.

TAKE A POSITION

2. You will be presented with a continuum that includes walking to one side of the room that states strongly agree

to strongly disagree at the other.

Discuss your ideas as a class at regular points during the activity.

💜 Respect is the only thing that matters in a relationship.

💜 Girls have better relationships with their families than boys.

💜 The use of power in a relationship is always negative.

💜 It isn't important to develop ground rules and boundaries when forming new relationships because everyone

knows the expected behaviours.

💜 Maintaining strong, honest and reliable friendships is difficult as an adolescent.

💜 One person always needs to be able to take control of things in a friendship or intimate relationship.

💜 You can feel close to someone without having an intimate relationship.

💜 Society makes too big a deal about "Sexting".

💜 A healthy relationship is time consuming.

💜 Strict restrictions are healthy and normal in an intimate relationship.

3. Think about the best relationship you have at this moment. Write a letter to that person emphasising the following: NOTE: Father's Day is coming up...

💜 The importance they have in your life.

💜 Qualities you admire in them > Why?

💜 How they make you feel.

💜 How having them in your life makes you a better person or how they bring out the best in yourself

💜 How long you have known them.

💜 Why it's the best relationship you have.

You will write them on a card and hand it to them for homework.

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