The mother of one of my daughter’s classmates recommended that I read The Parent Backpack. I’m so glad she did! This is an excellent resource for parents! There are a lot of things that are great about this book, here are a few of my highlights:
Book Review: Best Friends, Worst Enemies
Book Review: Best Friends, Worst Enemies Understanding the Social Lives of Children by Michael Thompson, PhD and Catherine O’Neill Grace with Lawrence J. Cohen, PhD
This book is a thorough examination of children’s social lives, from infancy through dating. The authors explore more specifics of how children develop friendships, manage and work through conflict, group dynamics, teasing and bullying. The only thing I think is missing in this book is that the authors do not delve too deeply into LGBT issues, and I think that adds a whole other dynamic to social lives, friendship and dating. Here are my highlights from the book:
3 Ideas for successful play dates at someone else's home
5 Helpful hints for a play date at your home
Play dates are a popular way for kids to get together and hang out, but some kids struggle on play dates. If you think your child may have difficulty on a play date, it may work best to have a first play date with a new friend at your own house. Your child may feel more comfortable in a familiar environment. You’ll be able to keep an eye and ear out during the play date so you can step in if things start to break down. Here are some helpful hints when setting up and hosting a play date at your home.
Book Review - The Unwritten Rules of Friendship
This book has a lot of great advice for parents who want to help their children make friends. It's broken down into 12 sections, with each section focusing on a particular personality trait or behavioral characteristic (e.g. “the shy child”, “the little adult”, “the sensitive soul”). You don't have to read the book cover to cover, just pick the sections that pertain to your child and dive in.
5 Fantastic Games for Families
4 Tips to help your child manage holiday parties
This time of year is full of festivities, usually with several gatherings to attend. For kids who struggle in social situations, this can be a challenge. So what can you do to make it a little bit easier? Here are a few tips you can use to help prepare your child for parties and hopefully make the experience a little easier for everyone.