FRIENDS TOGETHER (paperback version)
Introducing the eight Bear Buddies, FRIENDS TOGETHER is all about making friends in the playground, helping children learn and practice early social language and interpersonal skills. In addition to modelling simple playtime language that children will need to make friends and join in, the story demonstrates the importance of inclusivity, acceptance, kindness and diverse friendships.
Introducing the eight Bear Buddies, FRIENDS TOGETHER is all about making friends in the playground, helping children learn and practice early social language and interpersonal skills. In addition to modelling simple playtime language that children will need to make friends and join in, the story demonstrates the importance of inclusivity, acceptance, kindness and diverse friendships.
Introducing the eight Bear Buddies, FRIENDS TOGETHER is all about making friends in the playground, helping children learn and practice early social language and interpersonal skills. In addition to modelling simple playtime language that children will need to make friends and join in, the story demonstrates the importance of inclusivity, acceptance, kindness and diverse friendships.
With a cochlear-implant wearing central character, FRIENDS TOGETHER was initially written for deaf children learning to listen and speak but is equally suited to other 3-6 year olds who need a little extra language practice as they transition from home to a school environment. This is a critical time in their developmental journey when children need to learn new language and appropriate behaviour for making friends, playing and thriving in a wider social setting.
Primary focus of the book (themes/concepts):
Playtime / play language (asking to play, inviting to play, initiating games to play)
Saying hello and introducing yourself and others
Saying ‘thank you’ and responding ‘you’re welcome’
Paying compliments and responding to compliments
Expressing basic feelings
Appreciating the importance of kindness and inclusivity in the playground
Interactive reading and activities stimulating two-way communication between adult and child, which is essential for the development of fluent receptive and expressive language as well as cognitive and social skills.
Secondary focus of the book (themes/concepts):
Learning that different words can have the same or similar meanings (synonyms)
Sequential time concepts: earlier…now / first…then / now…next
Learning left and right
Answering ‘Why?’ questions with ‘Because…’
Recognising and understanding basic emotions in yourself and others
Recognising basic personality traits in yourself and others
Recognising and accepting that different individuals have different preferences/quirks/likes and dislikes
Understanding that the things that make us different are the things that make us interesting
Basic theory of mind - recognising that actions/events have consequences (‘I am sad because…’)
Strengthening auditory memory by asking questions about particular characters in the story at the end
[Paperback version]
