making friends

A Visual Activity to Help Kids Understand the Power of Their Words

A Visual Activity to Help Kids Understand the Power of Their Words

I love using this intervention with children to help them visually see the impact that words can have on others. This activity can be used at home or at school.

8 Tips for a Successful Playdate

8 Tips for a Successful Playdate

Playdates for kids who struggle socially, when done thoughtfully, offer an opportunity for kids to practice social skills and have a positive interaction with another child.

Why I Love Playdates!

Why I Love Playdates!

The play date has been getting some negative press, with people listing all the things they don’t like about them. There are pros and cons to everything, so I decided to explain why I appreciate play dates.

Unique Summer Camp Ideas - Help Kids Make New Connections!

Unique Summer Camp Ideas - Help Kids Make New Connections!

Inside: Find unique summer camp ideas to make new connections, start friendships and work on social skills.

What’s the weirdest thing your kids have ever done at camp?

Last year, my kids went to a Wildlife Summer Camp and ate bugs. Seriously. We took pictures.

Learning and Remembering Information about your Friends

Learning and Remembering Information about your Friends

How awesome does it feel when a friend remembers something about you?

One of the best ways to get to know someone is to have conversations and ask questions. When you're asking questions and learning more about them, like their favorite food, season, or movie - try to remember those things for later.

Yellow Pages for a New Neighbor

Yellow Pages for a New Neighbor

Inside: A guest post from Greg Heilers at education.com with a writing activity that is also a good way to meet new people and potentially start a new friendship.

Whether they know it or not, fourth graders are natural authors. They’ve got lots to say, even if it happens to come with fearless spelling sometimes. And every time they create a sentence, whether it’s for a card, letter, shopping list, or complaint to you, they’re expanding their reading and writing skills.

Social Skills Activities to Help Kids See How Their Behavior Impacts Others

Social Skills Activities to Help Kids See How Their Behavior Impacts Others

As your daughter gets off the bus, you notice her flushed face and her eyes are filled with tears. You ask what’s wrong, and the words come flooding out. “Julia said she won’t play with me at recess anymore. I don’t understand why she’s mad. I was just telling her the right way to play!”

What to do when a playdate goes wrong

What to do when a playdate goes wrong

You’ve taken the time to set up a playdate. You found a potential friend, you invited them to play at your house or at a playground and things are going really well. Then, something unexpected happens. Maybe it’s an argument, yelling, or even hitting (eek!!). What do you do?

The Best Ways to support kids in social situations

The Best Ways to support kids in social situations

I was invited to join a group of wonderful bloggers to write for the series Happy New Year, Healthy Kids. This series is focused on ways we can help our kids be happy and healthy in this new year. But what do social skills and friendship have to do with health?

Think for a minute about the positive friendships in your life. Healthy friendships provide support, make you feel connected with others, reduce your stress and increase your happiness. It’s so wonderful to have these people around you! In order for kids to start and maintain friendships so they can experience these benefits too, kids need to learn social skills and how to interact positively with others.

Book Review - Queen Bees and Wannabes

Book Review - Queen Bees and Wannabes

I read this book several years ago; I loved it then and I continue to recommend it to parents as a great guide to understanding the world of girls.   I also saw Rosalind Wiseman speak in person several years ago, and I found her to have a down to earth, practical and reasonable approach to working with kids in these tough relational situations.  She doesn’t claim to have all the answers or say that these things won’t happen.  But she does have some ideas of how to work through things and is great at explaining things in a way that  parents understand.  

5 Helpful hints for a play date at your 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.

Copyright © Encourage Play, LLC 2021