Make a Book About Friends
Young children are learning what it means to be a friend. Friends like to play together. Sometimes they have different ideas about what they want to do and conflicts arise. We can help children learn to listen to each other and continue to play. Working things out is what friends do.
Daniel Tiger loves playing with his friends. Celebrate your child's friendships by making a book about friends together. Remind your child that being together is what matters most. Sing the Daniel Tiger song "A Friend Just Wants to Play With You" while you create the book!
Materials
Directions
Make a book by stacking three or more pieces of paper together and stapling or fastening them along the left side.
Talk to your child and say, "Let's make a book about friends". Work with them to print the word "friends" on the cover of their book.
Encourage your child to draw a picture on each page of the book. The pictures can be of their friends or of themselves playing with their friends. As your child draws, ask them questions, such as:
- Who are your friends?
- Tell me about what you’re doing in the picture you're drawing. How do you feel?
- Can you think of a time when you and a friend disagreed? Can you draw a picture of how you felt about that? How did you become friends again?
Ask your child if they remember the Daniel Tiger song, "A Friend Just Wants to Play With You." Suggest that you and your child sing the song together. Write the words to the song in the book so that you can sing it again in the future.
Re-read the book about friends with your child. Encourage your child to add pictures to the book anytime. Your child can make “chapters” about activities with their friends or even make a special book for family members.
Photographs by Edwin Sherman.
Emotions & Self-Awareness
Social Skills
Character
Literacy