Synopses & Reviews
The author presents a systematic plan for parents helping kids make and sustain friendships including:
*Making time for friends by not overscheduling
*Developing interests that attract friends. Dancing and sports are in; solitary video games out.
*Finding friends in the neighborhood.
* The potential for a positive role with internet social networking as a way to meet and stay connected -- including instant messsaging, web sites, blogs, MySpace, Facebook, and Twitter. Addiction can become a problem but the correct and supervised use of internet and social networking is now an essential part of kids' friendship.
* Dealing with Teasing & Bullying
* Learning social and emotional intelligence skills like listening, empathy, compassion, recreational conversation.
* Modeling friendships in your own life, at work, in the neighborhood, and at home.
* Helping kids deal with and survive stormy friendships.
The author's philosophy is that parents can take on the important role as model, advocate, champion, and facilitator, in a highly effective and important way. Kids must have friends, it's essential, and we can help.
Synopsis
A systematic plan for parents to help their kids acquire and sustain friendships
Every parent hopes their child will develop healthy and happy friendships. However, most parents don't know what to do that will encourage their child to be a friend and attract friends. The author offers clear-cut friendship-making guidelines for parents and their children. Some of the book's recommendations include: don't over-schedule a child's time; guide children to participate in "friend-attracting" activities; seek out friends in the neighborhood.
- The author includes methods for dealing with bullying and inappropriate friendships
- Offers clear guidance for helping children become a good friend and attract lasting friendships for life
- Shows how to teach kids the social and emotional intelligence skills they need to form friendships such as listening, empathy, compassion, recreational conversation
- The book also includes techniques for teaching kids how to use MySpace, Facebook, and Twitter in positive ways that will foster friendships.
About the Author
Fred Frankel, Ph.D., is a professor of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences at University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and the director of the UCLA Parent Training and Children's Friendship Programs. A coauthor of UCLA's acclaimed PEERS social skills training program and the coauthor of Social Skills Success for Students with Autism/Asperger's: Helping Adolescents onthe Spectrum Fit In, he speaks regularly on the topic of autism and social skills to professionals and parents alike. More information is available at http://www.semel.ucla.edu/socialskills.
Table of Contents
Acknowledgments.
Introduction.
Part One: How Parents Can Help.
1. Making Time for Friends.
2. Curbing Interests That Prevent Friendships.
3. Developing Interests That Attract Friends.
4. Using Your Neighborhood School for Friends.
5. Using Organized Activities to Find Friends.
6. Improving Your Networking Skills.
Part Two: Making Friends.
7. Joining Others at Play.
8. Becoming a Good Sport.
9. Looking for Closer Friends and Joining a Friendship Group.
10. Using the Telephone to Make Friends.
11. Using Texting and Instant Messaging to Connect with Friends.
12. Having Fun Play Dates.
13. Becoming a Better Host.
14. School Break and Vacation Activities That Promote Friendships.
Part Three: Keeping Friends.
15. Encouraging Wise Choices.
16. Discouraging Poor Choices.
17. Listening to Your Child's Worries.
18. Having Friends Stolen.
19. Losing a Close Friend.
20. Divorce and Moving Away.
Part Four: Dealing with Teasing, Bullying, and Meanness.
21. Taking the Fun out of Teasing.
22. Stopping Rumors.
23. Staying Away from Children Who Fight.
24. Dealing with Children who Bully.
Part Five: Helping Your Child Out of Trouble.
25. Working with Adults Who Have Trouble with Your Child.
26. Stopping Your Child's Fighting.
27. Overcoming Hyperactive Behavior.
28. Stopping Your Child's Bullying.
29. Not Noticed by Classmates.
30. Building Friendship Skills and Overcoming a Negative Reputation.
Notes.
Resources.
About the Author.
Index.