Do We Need Best Friends?

[Sharingan]

This article suggests that it's ' unhealthy' to allow children to have best friends. I would disagree and think it's perfectly normal to like some people more than others. What does everyone else think? Can you realistically 'force' children not to have best friends and even if you can should you?http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-22383453

[Mamyalynne]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-22383453

Will have a read.

[The Builder]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-22383453

[craft1948]

I have friends, but I only have 3 best friends, without them my life would be poorer..................

[Old_Geezer]

I never felt I had sufficient to nominate a best one, although for one reason or another I probably was in the company of one more than another. As for whether we need them, as an adult I've never opted to nominate either.

[albaqwerty]

Not sure about 'needing' best friends, but I think we need friends to make us human beings.
Some nice, some grumpy,
Maybe it's just the social aspects of being human?

No, in answer to your q, though, I don't think you can force children to not have best friends, just as you can't force them to be pally with the numpty who pinches their lunch money.

[Svejk]

My old dad used to say "its easy to make friends but hard to get rid of them" and,as he jangled the change in his pocket " that's the only friend you need"
Wise words. Mind you, I've ended up a lonely old curmudgeon. Lol.

[FredPuli43]

Try as they might, no teacher is ever going to prevent best friends, whether the try by encouraging groups or not. It's a natural part of every child's development and of every adult's life

[cupid04]

when my daughter was at primary school she made friends easily.She was always being invited to birthday parties etc. When she started senior school it all seemed to change, bitchiness, bullying etc. I don't remember there being so much peer pressure when I was at senior school. She did have a best friend until a third girl joined them.

[cazzz1975]

I think its a normal part of childhood, albeit quite a painful time with the constant making and breaking of best friends that normally follows, important lessons and experiences are learned.

[Sharingan]

I'm of the opinion we should all just muddle along ( as long as no-one gets bullied obviously). Friends best or otherwise are normal. I like some people and can't stand others but my one step sister I would say is my best friend.

[boxtops]

what an interesting question! I didn't have a best friend when I was little - I spent some of my formative years with family, reasonably insular (which might account for a lot...) and in secondary school, as one does, we changed peer groups from time to time as interests and friendships changed. I have had good friends through my life, and some more remote but long-term friends who I've corresponded with over the last (oh dear) 40 years in different parts of the country - but it's only in the last 10 years or so that I have found good best friends who I can talk to about anything, and vice versa. It feels like coming home, and different friends can be there for different occasions or circumstances. It says a lot about the changes in me, I think, that until relatively recently I've always been a private sort of person and didn't have a best mate. I like the me I am now, and I wouldn't be without my good friends now!

[FredPuli43]

Shari, did you go through the experience of having a new 'best friend' every term or every year, while demoting the existing best friend ? It seems particularly common with girls, perhaps unique to them, when they are a bit younger than you are.

[carrust]

I thought I had a good mate until I found out he tried to bed my ex Mrs while I was in hospital for 3wks. He knows I know & I haven't seen him in 20yrs. He knows what's coming if we bump into each other!

[FredPuli43]

Really, carrust ? Did you own your wife back then? Can't have people trying to interfere with our property, can we .

[chaptazbru]

I need my best friend. We've known each other since our school days and have always been there for each other throughout life's up and downs. It's the longevity of our friendship that binds us. I'd hate to lose her.

[carrust]

Fred. I was married to her at the time! I should have made it clearer in the post.

[woofgang]

so children mustn't lose at sports days or fail exams...now they mustn't have best friends...the next thing will be the ugly masks and lead weights (which sci fi story was it?) so we don't feel bad by being fatter or uglier than the next person...honestly whatever next

[FredPuli43]

Yes, I assumed you were married to your ex at the time, carrust

[carrust]

Fred. You're a judgemental toss-pot then.

[horseshoes]

My best friend and I have been best friends since we were about 4 years old. We got married within a week of each other; we'd have loved a double wedding but it would have been a logistical nightmare. We're both almost 60 now and I couldn't imagine not having her as my BF.