By William Rowen Healthy Roar reporters | Social connections are when people interact with each other, according to Mrs. Parker, Rowen school counselor.
In a recent interview with Healthy Roar reporters, she talked about healthy versus unhealthy connections.
A healthy social connection happens when people “respect each other,” she said A healthy social connection should be fun and build closeness with the people you are with.
An unhealthy social connection happens when a person makes you feel isolated or lonely. They might try to be your only friend and get mad when you spend time with other people. That person might make fun of you and make you feel like you don’t fit in.
Sometimes, it can be hard to form social connections. A good way to start is to “talk to someone about things that they like,” Mrs. Parker said.
“You can also ask them to tell you about fun things they have done,” she said.
Mrs. Parker gave students some additional tips for building and creating social connections.
- Be friendly toward others and connect with someone you feel close to.
- Respect people’s feelings.
- Make sure you are connecting with people you trust and who make you feel as though you belong.
- Find people whom you feel good around.
While making social connections in person is important, experts at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say virtual connections like video
calls or playing games online together can also help strengthen connections. But it’s important to limit screen time.
Illustration by Denim, 4th grade, Rowen, 2025-26.
