Table of Contents

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.

About the Author

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.

Reviews

"Michele Borba has written the ultimate parent-friendly guide to kids and friendship." --Ann Douglas, author, The Mother of All Parenting Books