Making Friends & Establishing Friendships

Growing Friendships by Eileen Kennedy-Moore has been an excellent resource for young children who are just beginning to navigate the complex world of friendships. Written with both warmth and expertise, the book breaks down social skills into simple, practical strategies– such as reaching out, taking turns, and handling conflicts. This helps kids understand how to make and keep friends in real-life situations. Through engaging examples, humor, and research-based guidance, it empowers children to build empathy, confidence, and problem-solving skills while recognizing that friendship challenges are a normal part of growing up. Growing Friendships is not only valuable for children but also for parents and families. It provides a framework for discussing social development, making it a helpful tool for supporting healthy relationships at home and beyond. Try to make this a daily part of your night routine! We discuss the different scenarios and there are some questions that kids should ask themselves. Not only does the book do a great job giving realistic examples of scenarios that can happen at school, but it provides opportunities for parents to find out details about their day.