Help children and teenagers find words to use when a friend asks them to cover up a lie, keep a secret, or take the blame. This clear friendship boundaries poster offers a calm pause-and-respond approach for school, home, pastoral support, counselling, or social work conversations.
Parents, carers, teachers, school counsellors and youth workers supporting children, teens and young people will find this poster useful for talking through peer pressure and unhealthy friendship requests. It is particularly suited to pupils who struggle to say no when friends ask them to lie for them.
The one-page visual sets out eight practical steps: pause before answering, ask what the lie is covering, and consider whether it involves harm, cheating, stealing or sneaking. It makes the distinction between being supportive of a friend and becoming involved in behaviour that could cause trouble or risk.
A ready-to-use boundary sentence is included: “I can’t lie for you, but I can help you sort it.” The poster also encourages safer help, such as planning what to say, and reminds young people that good friends should not hand their risk to someone else or pressure them to comply.
Print it for a classroom display, PSHE lesson, safeguarding discussion, mentoring session or family conversation. Children and teenagers can use the steps to rehearse assertive responses, identify warning signs in friendships, and protect their name and peace when someone asks them to keep a dishonest secret.
