Nobody Likes Me, Everybody Hates Me: The Top 25 Friendship Problems and How to Solve Them

How to Help Your Kid Survive the Social Jungle. A Hands-On Guide for Parents and Teachers of Kids from 4-15.

• Do you wish your kid had more friends or could keep theones she has?
• Is teasing, gossiping, bullying, or cyber-bullying a problem?
• Is she often left out or rejected by other kids?
• Does he just follow the crowd? Are you concerned about his friends?
• Does she complain that she's unpopular or that nobody likes her?
• Are you at a loss for how to help your child handle those play dates, sleepovers, being shy, too sensitive, too competitive, or having a bad reputation?

Look no further. The resource you need to solve these problems and boost your child's social competence is in your hands. Based on a survey of five thousand teachers and parents, Nobody Likes Me shows how to teach your child the 25 most essential friendship-building skills that kids need to find, make, and keep friends, as well as survive that social pressure from peers.

Michele Borba, Ed.D. — internationally renowned consultant and educator — is the recipient of the National Educator Award and the author of Don't Give Me That Attitude!, No More Misbehavin', Parents Do Make a Difference, and Building Moral Intelligence, all from Jossey-Bass. She is a frequent guest expert on talk shows, including the Today show, The View, The Early Show, and Canada A.M., and an advisory board member for Parents magazine. You can find her on the Web at www.moralintelligence.com or www.behaviormakeovers.com.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS.

PART ONE: Why Do Friends Matter So Much to Your Kid?

Why Friendship Matters.

15 Essential Skills That Friends Help Friends Acquire.

Why Are Kids Having Friendship Problems Today?

Ten Reasons Why Our Kids Are Having a Friendship Crisis.

How Strong Are Your Child’s Friendship Skills?

The Friendship-Building Skills Quiz.

How to Use This Book to Teach Your Child Friendship-Building Skills.

Friendship Issues and Friendship-Building Skills.

Six Steps to Teaching Your Child New Friendship-Building Skills.

25 Friendship Issues and Friendship Skill Builders.

The Ten Worst Things Parents Can Do for Their Children’s Social Lives.

PART TWO: Friendship Begins at Home.

How to Organize a Playgroup.

Basic Playgroup Dynamics.

Getting Started.

Arranging a Schedule.

Resources.

How to Arrange Play Dates.

Solving the Most Common Play Date Problems.

Friendship Activities for Older Kids.

Kids with Similar Interests.

Groups with Similar Interests.

Potential Clubs and Group Activities.

Classes.

Travel Programs.

Helping Your Child Be a Good Host.

What You Should Do When Kids Come to Your House.

Be Sure to Have the Right Supplies.

Set Clear House Rules.

Address Discipline Problems Effectively.

Friendship Skill Builder Books.

PART THREE: The Top 25 Friendship Problems and How to Solve Them.

1. Argues.

2. Bad Friends.

3. Bad Reputation.

4. Bossy.

5. Bullied and Harassed.

6. Cliques.

7. Clueless.

8. Different.

9. Doesn’t Share.

10. Fights.

11. Gossips.

12. Hot Tempered.

13. Insensitive.

14. Jealous and Resentful.

15. Left Out.

16. New Kid.

17. Peer Pressure.

18. Shy.

19. Siblings.

20. Sleepovers.

21. Tattletale.

22. Teased.

23. Tiffs and Breakups.

24. Too Competitive.

25. Too Sensitive.

FINAL WORDS.

An Invitation to the Party.

REFERENCES.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR.