Starchild: Why Malaysian kids love their best friends

Hannah Chan Yue Bei, 8

Friends are a very important part of our lives. Having friends makes school, playtime, and even everyday activities more fun and enjoyable. Friends are the people who understand us, share our interests, and stand by us through thick and thin.

Friends also teach us valuable life skills. By playing and interacting with friends, we learn how to share, take turns, and listen to others. These are vital skills that help us get along with people not just in school, but throughout our lives. Friends can also help us with schoolwork, encourage us to try new activities, and motivate us to do our best.

Another great thing about friends is that they help us learn more about ourselves. By spending time with different people, we discover our own likes and dislikes, strengths and weaknesses. Friends often introduce us to new hobbies and interests, broadening our horizons and helping us grow as individuals.

Wong Cheng Yang, 10

Friendships are built on trust and kindness. When we are good friends to others, we show that we care about them and their feelings. Being honest, dependable, and supportive helps build strong, lasting friendships that can last a lifetime.

Recently Starchild asked readers to send in letters on the topic, Best Friends, in conjunction with International Friendship Day next Tuesday. Here are their letters.

“My best friend’s name is Chen Shi. She goes to the same daycare and school as me. Although she isn’t in the same class, we are still best friends. Sometimes, in daycare, we like to do arts and crafts together. We share our art papers and lend each other stationery. We also have our tea break together. I hope our friendship will never, ever, ever fall apart,” says Wong Jie Ern, eight.

Wong Jie Ern, 8Wong Cheng Yang, 10, has many friends who he cherishes. “Some of my best friends are always there for me. They include Jyren, Damon, Bryan and Javier. Although we argue, we make up the next day. Last month, we went on a holiday programme. We did many fun activities like rock climbing, skating, and art and craft. Friends are important. Without them life would be boring.”

“My friends are always with me. Their names are Ellerys and Janelle. They always play with me at school during break time. My friends are the best. I have never met my cyberspace friends, but I do chat with them in online games,” says Hannah Chan Yue Bei, eight.

“I have many friends. Some from other classes and also other schools. They are older than me or of the same age group. Most of my closest friends are from the same daycare. I do miss a few as we are in different school now. I am glad that Yan Bei is now in the same tutorial classes as me though we were separated for two years.

Bethany Wang Qi Syuen, 9"I am always very happy to meet up with Sheng Hao especially during the school holiday breaks. He is my senior by five years. Yan Bei and Sheng Hao will always play video games with me after all of us have finished our schoolwork. I do hope that we can always be best of friends forever (even when we are in secondary school),” says Chuah Seng Koon, eight.

“Cayra and Hayley are my closest friends in school. We have been friends since Year One. Cayra is the tallest girl in my class, she doesn’t talk a lot but she is helpful and creative. Hayley is friendly, confident and likes taekwondo. We often draw and scribble notes to one another in class. Sometimes we share food like fruits, rice crackers and biscuits during recess. School is enjoyable with good friends like Cayra and Hayley around. I hope we will be friends forever,” says Bethany Wang Qi Syuen, nine.

ITEM: If you could plan your birthday party, how would you imagine it to be? Would you have a fun theme, like dinosaurs or space? Would there would be colourful decorations, lots of tasty snacks, and a big cake with candles? Starchild wants to know.

E-mail your contributions to [e-mail] by Aug 9. Please put “STARCHILD: My Birthday Party” in the subject line of your e-mail.

Scanned drawings should be in jpeg format, with a resolution of 200dpi. Your contributions must carry your full name, age (open to children aged 12 and below only), gender, phone contact, and address. Instead of handwritten letters, please type out your entries.