Did you know that healthy friendships don’t happen by accident? These relationships are learned, practiced, repaired, and strengthened over time. The same skills students use in peer mediation—listening, perspective-taking, managing emotions, and respectful communication—are the very skills that create safe, supportive relationships in school, at home, and online.
When young people understand the difference between healthy, unhealthy, and harmful behaviors in relationships, they gain more than social awareness. They gain the power to set boundaries, ask for help, repair conflict, and choose connections that support their well-being.
See the healthy, unhealthy, and abusive relationship spectrum from Love is Respect.
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At the heart of every healthy relationship are five core habits:
Respect – honoring each other’s feelings, space, and voice
Communication – listening to understand, not just to respond
Boundaries – knowing what is okay and not okay for you
Accountability – owning mistakes and making repairs
Empathy – seeing the situation from another person’s perspective
These are not “nice-to-have” traits. They are teachable life skills—and peer mediation is one of the best practice grounds for learning them.
Activity for Peer Mediation Coordinators & Conflict Resolution Specialists
“Healthy, Unhealthy, or Harmful?” Sorting Dialogue
Purpose: Help students and parents recognize relationship behaviors and practice response skills.
How it works:
Prepare scenario cards with common student experiences (in friendships, dating, group chats, and social media).
“My friend reads my texts and gets mad if I don’t respond right away.”
“We disagree, but we can talk it out and still be friends.”
“Someone shares a private screenshot without permission.”
“My friend apologizes when they hurt my feelings and asks how to fix it.”
In small groups, participants sort each scenario into:
Healthy
Unhealthy
Harmful/Toxic (Abusive)
After sorting, groups discuss:
What makes this healthy/unhealthy?
What would a peer mediator say or do?
What boundary or repair could happen here?
Debrief together to build a shared language around relationships.
This activity builds awareness, vocabulary, and practical response strategies.
Student Educational Campaign Idea
“Friends Don’t…” Campaign
February is Teen Dating Violence Awareness month and a great opportunity to share about healthy relationships (Check out Love is Respect - TDVAM). Empower your peer mediators to create posters, announcements, and social media messages that finish the sentence:
Friends don’t pressure.
Friends don’t embarrass.
Friends don’t share private information.
Friends don’t ignore your boundaries.
Friends don’t make you feel small.
Pair each message with the positive opposite:
Friends respect.
Friends listen.
Friends protect.
Friends support.
Display throughout the school, morning announcements, and student-created videos. This turns students into the messengers of healthy relationship norms.
Orange Is for Respect Campaign - February 10th
Promote a school-wide focus on respect by integrating Orange Is for Respect messaging throughout the school year:
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Choose a day or week where students and staff wear orange to show commitment to respect in friendships and relationships.
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Use announcements, posters, and digital signage to spotlight respectful behavior and personal stories of positive conflict resolution.
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Encourage students to share what “respect” means to them through art, video messages, or chalk art in common areas.
This visually unified campaign builds awareness and a positive school culture around respect for self and others.
Download the toolkit for your students at Stop the Hurt Dating Violence Toolkit.
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The toolkit includes:
Social Media Post
Teen Power & Control Wheel and School Resources
Digital Abuse Information & Resources
Printable Healthy Relationships Poster
Support Mini Zine
Three New Activities
Youth Safety Plan
Helpful Resources for Students
Love Is Respect – Tools for understanding healthy dating and friendships
https://www.loveisrespect.orgStopBullying.gov – Guidance on peer conflict and reporting concerns
https://www.stopbullying.govCommon Sense Media – Healthy digital relationships and online behavior
https://www.commonsensemedia.orgPACER’s National Bullying Prevention Center – Free resources to learn about bullying, prevention strategies, and age-appropriate activities to support kindness and inclusion in schools and communities. Includes tools for students, parents, and educators to create safer environments.
Remember, peer mediation programs do more than resolve conflict—they teach students how to be the kind of friend, classmate, and partner who contributes to a healthier school culture. When we teach students how to repair conflict, we are also teaching them how to build relationships that last.
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