When it comes to teaching kids to behave well, the 'why' is as important as the 'how.' In Learning to Listen, Learning to Care, children learn why it is important to follow rules and behave considerately toward others. This cultivates empathy, which contributes not just good behavior, but to academic and social success. By working through the fun and engaging exercises in this book, kids learn how to recognize the impact of their behavior on others, express emotion in appropriate ways, and compromise with family and friends.

Behavioral problems among children are at an all-time high in the US. Parents of nearly 2.7 million children say that their kids suffer from severe emotional or behavioral problems that interfere with their family life or learning. A staggering 50 percent of counseling referrals are for behavioral problems. Empathy is the antidote to many of them, according to child psychologist and author Lawrence Shapiro. In Learning to Listen, Learning to Care, he teaches the empathy and self-control that can reduce behavioral problems and lead to long-term success. This book is appropriate for kids between the ages of six and twelve.

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Building positive friendships is a critical part of a child's development. When adults look back on their childhoods, they rate their friendships as one of the most important factors in their happiness.

But researchers report that half of children have difficulty making and keeping friends. These problems predispose them to lifelong relationship challenges. What's more, parents report that they rarely know what to do to help their children make friends. Social problems in childhood may lead to more serious problems in adolescence and adulthood, so it's wise to help your child with these skills now.

The activities in this book offer you effective tools for helping your child become a better friend-maker. The activities in Let's Be Friends teach kids a wide variety of social skills including the making and keeping of new friends, finding friends with common interests, ways of coping with rejection, and tips for developing give and take in relationships. With practice, the skills in this book can help youngsters locate support during transitions, build self-esteem, and develop into healthy, resilient adults.

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