The Not-So-Friendly Friend: How To Set Boundaries for Healthy Friendships

“Being aware of our feelings is a building block for our emotional and social intelligence. In this charming and creative book, Christina Furnival offers children a way to sense and shape their emotions that emerge in the important friendships that shape who we are now, and who we will become later on in our lives.” ―Daniel J. Siegel, MD, New York Times bestselling author of The Developing Mind , Parenting from the Inside Out , and The Whole Brain Child “Managing bullies is almost a guarantee with school-aged children, and this book helps children identify the right steps to seeking help and setting limits! Staying true to yourself, setting limits, and seeking help is often not taught by parents or educators, and this book will help guide children in managing complex problems appropriately. As a therapist in my 30s, some of these points were great reminders for difficult people I have come across!” ―Brie Turns, PhD, LMFT, author of I Will Always Love You “Christina Furnival and Katie Dwyer are a dynamic team, creating a beautiful children’s book about healthy boundaries and negotiating friendships. This wonderful resource allows parents and teachers to work with their children about setting limits and kindly living within them. A fantastic read for any classroom!” ―Lisa Baylis, educator and author of Self-Compassion for Educators “ The Not-So-Friendly Friend helps children deal with the unavoidable times when a peer isn’t treating them as they should. It is important to give kids skills and tools to stand up to bullying at an early age.” ―Justin W. Patchin, PhD, co-author of Bullying Beyond the Schoolyard “A beautiful story that encourages young children to set healthy boundaries and use assertiveness skills to improve friendships. A gift to young children everywhere.” ―Katie Hurley, LCSW, author of The Happy Kid Handbook and No More Mean Girls “This beautiful book will resonate with every child navigating new friendships. The Not-So-Friendly Friend has a great message and one that is especially important in a world full of confusing young relationships. It shows us what it takes to make lasting friendships and how to set appropriate boundaries. This book is easy and fun to read, and it has delightful illustrations to capture the attention of its young readers. We loved it!” ―Tina Williamson, founder of Mindfulmazing Inc. and author of Amazing Me “ The Not-So-Friendly Friend is the book all kids need to read as they learn how to navigate daunting social interactions. The sooner we teach our children about setting boundaries and honoring self-worth, the more effectively we'll set them up for lifelong wellness and healthy relationships.” ―Whitney Casares, MD, MPH, FAAP, author of The Working Mom Blueprint -- Christina Furnival, MA, LPCC, is a wife, mother of two, writer, author, and licensed mental health therapist. With over a decade of experience in the field, she is passionate about helping parents and children grow their skill sets, overcome challenges, and gain confidence to live happy, fulfilling lives. Her meaningful stories in the Capable Kiddos series serve as entertaining and enlightening resources to empower children and to make them feel capable of managing tough situations and their accompanying emotions.