How parents can help their children cultivate healthy friendships

September 8, 2023

Ryan Hendrix, MS, CCC-SLP, Social Thinking Speaker & Author Featured in The Washington Post

As we head into a new school year, parents have a lot to consider. One thing that research shows we should put at the top of our lists: Helping our children make and maintain friends.

“Making a friend is a complex task that on the surface looks easy,” says Ryan Hendrix, a Northern California speech and language pathologist who specializes in social cognition and communication. “Friendship is a social executive function task, and there’s a lot of effort that goes into even figuring out who you might want to have a connection with.”

In times of heightened stress and uncertainty, how can we encourage kids to build genuine friendships in a new school year? Here are strategies to help.

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The Washington Post Features Ryan Hendrix, MS, CCC-SLP