It’s tough for people of any age to navigate social situations and make lasting friendships, but this is especially true for children. School, play dates, and activities are all great ways kids can experience the ups and downs of meeting new people. In fact, psychologist and children’s friendships expert, Eileen Kennedy-Moore, and parenting and health writer, Christine McLaughlin, want to help.
In their new children’s book, Growing Friendships: A Kids’ Guide to Making and Keeping Friends, Kennedy-Moore and McLaughlin skillfully utilize real-life examples supplemented by clear and informative illustrations to lay a solid foundation for any child to start forming lasting relationships.
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The Importance of Growing Friendships
Five important social skills – reaching out, stepping back, blending in, speaking up and letting go – are highlighted and used thoughtfully throughout the book’s 15 chapters to move the story along. Over the course of the novel, various characters, all created by illustrator Cathi Mingus, have conversations, reflect on their own behaviors and consider multiple techniques for making and keeping friends within their own age group.
Of course, Different scenarios, such as inviting a friend over for a play date or joining a group activity that you may not have been explicitly invited to, are brought up as different approaches and outcomes are weighed.
These topics, as well as more controversial ones – such as how to identify and handle a bully – are laid out in an easy to understand and often-humorous way that is sure to prove useful to any child going through a tough social situation.
More importantly, Kennedy-Moore and McLaughlin provide suggested behaviors and challenges that encourage readers to be more open to meeting others. They further advocate that kids understand their own behaviors and reactions, as well as those of their peers. In fact, self-reflection is something the book highlights many times throughout; and the insight it provides is applicable to all readers. Even those who may be dealing with a tricky coworker, for example, or trying to understand their own children.
Fact SheetTitle: Growing Friendships: A Kids’ Guide to Making and Keeping Friends |
Overall, Growing Friendships is a sweet, important read that will bring back funny memories for parents; while also providing an excellent resource for children to rely on as they make their way in the world.
Growing Friendships: A Kids’ Guide to Making and Keeping Friends will be available from publishers Beyond Words / Simon & Schuster in hardcover, paperback and digital form starting July 18.
Hero (Top) Photo: © Carly Weaver / Best of NJ
Other Photos (in Order) Courtesy:
Simon & Schuster