Let's Be Friends: A Workbook to Help Kids Learn Social Skills and Make Great Friends »

Lawrence E. Shapiro, Ph.D., is a nationally recognized child psychologist who is known for his innovative play-oriented techniques. He has written over two dozen books and created over forty therapeutic games. Shapiro is founder of the Childswork/Childsplay catalog and publishing company, a leading distributor of psychologically oriented toys and games. He is author of numerous books, including How to Raise a Child with a High EQ: A Parent's Guide to Emotional Intelligence and The Secret Language of Children.

Julia Holmes is a freelance writer living in New York City. She is the author of 100 New Yorkers: A Guide to Illustrious Lives and Locations. Julia holds a master's degree in creative writing from Columbia University.

Building positive friendships is a critical part of a child's development. When adults look back on their childhoods, they rate their friendships as one of the most important factors in their happiness.

But researchers report that half of children have difficulty making and keeping friends. These problems predispose them to lifelong relationship challenges. What's more, parents report that they rarely know what to do to help their children make friends. Social problems in childhood may lead to more serious problems in adolescence and adulthood, so it's wise to help your child with these skills now.

The activities in this book offer you effective tools for helping your child become a better friend-maker. The activities in Let's Be Friends teach kids a wide variety of social skills including the making and keeping of new friends, finding friends with common interests, ways of coping with rejection, and tips for developing give and take in relationships. With practice, the skills in this book can help youngsters locate support during transitions, build self-esteem, and develop into healthy, resilient adults.

A Note to Parents     v
Introduction for Kids     vii
Making Friends
About You     2
Finding Shared Interests     6
Where to Meet New Friends     9
Friendly Kids Make Friends     12
Making a Good First Impression     15
Being Popular for Life     18
Your Social Network     21
Reaching Out to New Kids     24
Understanding Social Rules
Being a Social Detective     28
Being Part of the Group     31
Finding the Right Words     34
Understanding Body Language     38
Having Good Manners     41
Phone Manners     44
E-Mail Manners     47
Planning a Party     50
The Give and Take of Friendships
Share and Share Alike     54
Taking Turns     57
Tuning In     60
Giving Compliments     65
Being a Good Leader     68
Knowing When to Follow     71
Making the Best of Things     74
Being Flexible     78
Speaking Kindly     81
Keeping Cool     85
Releasing Your Feelings     88
Bouncing Back fromRejection     91
Understanding and Caring About Your Friends
Paying Attention to Feelings     96
Helping Others     100
Being Too Nice     103
Including Everyone     106
It's Nothing Personal     109
Forgiving Others     112
Respecting Differences     115
Peacemaking
Dealing with Kids Who Are Difficult     120
Clubs and Cliques     123
Keeping the Peace     126
Apologizing     129
Compromising     132