Molly Wigand - How to Be a Friend: A Book about Friendship

How to Be a Friend

A Book about Friendship

Written by Molly Wigand
Illustrated by Anne FitzGerald

All rights reserved, including without limitation the right to reproduce this ebook or any portion thereof in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of the publisher.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, events, and incidents either are the product of the authors imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, businesses, companies, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Copyright 2012 Molly Wigand

Illustrations 2012 St. Meinrad Archabbey

ISBN: 978-1-4976-8124-8

Abbey Press Publications

1 Hill Drive

St. Meinrad, Indiana 47577

www.abbeypress.com

Distributed by Open Road Distribution

345 Hudson Street

New York, NY 10014

www.openroadmedia.com

Psychological studies repeatedly show that strong friendships are predictors of long, healthy, and happy lives. Studies today, however, also show that adults have fewer good friends than ever before.

Our lives are complicated and competitive, and many of us are simply too busy to cultivate the kinds of friendships that would enrich our lives.

Those long summer days and weekends spent with our best friends can be among the happiest memories of childhood. When children are overscheduled and stressed out, they may never have the opportunity to know the ease and nourishment of those simpler, friendlier times.

The meaning of friendship can also become obscured by social media. People can friend or unfriend each other instantly, with the click of a button. Friends become peripheral faces on a page, and we rarely take the time to connect with our social media friends in any deep or meaningful way.

This social environment makes it critically important to teach our children the importance of making and keeping good friends. Children need friendships to help them get along in the world outside their families. The art of making friends is not a skill thats taught in most schools, nor is it validated by standardized tests. The job of teaching children to be good friends falls to parents, coaches, and caring teachers who understand that instilling children with friendly social skills is good for them, for their families, and for society at large.

Molly Wigand

I ts fun to be a kid in Gods wonderful world.

K ids have fun things to do. Kids have awesome things to see.

K ids have families to love them, too.

K now what makes being a kid even better? Friends!

S ome kids have lots of friends. Some have just two or three. The number doesnt matter.

T he important thing is to have at least one friend to trust and have fun with.

M aking friends isnt too hard once you know some simple tricks.

P retend youre on the playground. You see someone who looks like fun.

W ant to start a friendship? Give that kid a big smile. Maybe another kid is looking for a friend, too. Your smiles show that you would like to get to know each other.

S ome days, things arent going quite right. Its hard to be brave enough to smile. Thats when you need a friend the most!

F ind a friendly-looking face. Take a deep breath and say hi.

K eep practicing! It gets a little easier every time!

G etting to know someone is fun.

P retend youre going to write a story about your friends life. Ask questions about your friends family and pets. Whats their favorite color?

P retty soon your friend will ask you questions, too. Maybe you like the same things!

J oining scouts, church groups, or teams can help you make friends.

W orking together toward a goal makes friendships grow.

C oaches and leaders help kids make friends. And guess what? Youll make some grown-up friends, too.

W e all need some time alone. Playing on the computer and reading are lots of fun. But having too much alone time can make you lonely.

M ake time to play with friends. Your mom or dad can help you balance alone time with friend time!

P eople are all different, and friends dont always agree. Maybe you want to play kickball after school. Your friend wants to paint or draw.

T ell your friend how you feel. Try taking turns.

Y ou can work it out, because youre friends!

B est friends are great. But what if your best friend makes a new friend?

S ometimes its hard to share an important person. Remember, youre not losing a friend. Youre making an extra friend.

T heres enough friendship to go around!

G ood friends stick up for each other, no matter what.

W hat if someone talks mean about your friend? You can say, Please dont talk that way about my friend.

I ts not easy. But its worth it. Your friend will be happy that you stuck up for them.

W hat can you do when your friends break the rules? How can you make them stop?