Friends Forever: How Parents Can Help Their Kids Make and Keep Good Friends

by Fred Frankel

Overview

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.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780470624500
Publisher:	Wiley
Publication date:	08/02/2010
Pages:	320
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.90(d)

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. 

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Table of Contents

Acknowledgments ix

Introduction xi

Part 1 How Parents Can Help 1

1 Making Time for Friends 3

2 Curbing Interests That Prevent Friendships 11

3 Developing Interests That Attract Friends 19

4 Using Your Neighborhood School for Friends 27

5 Using Organized Activities to Find Friends 31

6 Improving Your Networking Skills 43

Part 2 Making Friends 49

7 Joining Others at Play 51

8 Becoming a Good Sport 67

9 Looking for Closer Friends and joining a Friendship Group 79

10 Using the Telephone to Make Friends 87

11 Using Texting and Instant Messaging to Connect with Friends 101

12 Having Fun Play Dates 109

13 Becoming a Better Host 125

14 School Break and Vacation Activities That Promote Friendships 143

Part 3 Keeping Friends 151

15 Encouraging Wise Choices 153

16 Discouraging Poor Choices 159

17 Listening to Your Child's Worries 169

18 Having Friends Stolen 175

19 Losing a Close Friend 181

20 Divorce and Moving Away 185

Part 4 Dealing with Teasing, Bullying, and Meanness 193

21 Taking the Fun Out of Teasing 195

22 Stopping Rumors 205

23 Staying Away from Children Who Fight 211

24 Dealing with Children Who Bully 217

Part 5 Helping Your Child Out of Trouble 227

25 Working with Adults Who Have Trouble with Your Child 229

26 Stopping Your Child's Fighting 239

27 Overcoming Hyperactive Behavior 247

28 Stopping Your Child's Bullying 253

29 Not Noticed by Classmates 259

30 Building Friendship Skills and Overcoming a Negative Reputation 267

Notes 269

Resources 281

About the Author 287

Index 289