How to Make Friends: Building Resilience and Supportive Peer Groups

Effective interpersonal skills are crucial for children’s social and emotional development yet often we hope these will just develop, to be caught rather than taught. This book is based on the author’s practical experience of running the programme in schools and is underpinned by research into the development of pro-social behaviour and friendship skills. The 26 sessions are arranged in the sequence of the alphabet from ‘active listening’ to ‘zero tolerance for bullying’. The difference between being friends and being friendly is a skill necessary to help create friendly relationships. The sessions raise awareness and understanding of the interpersonal skills including communicating and co-operating for friendship. Social skills are critical but other qualities are essential. The sessions highlight: o reciprocity o commitment o giving and sharing o trust. The programme is intended for whole class work but would also be suitable for small groups. There are comprehensive facilitators notes, all necessary resources, partner and group work, plenary and extensive ideas. This is an essential resource for all those who think teaching relationship skills is a crucial area of education.