Title: Importance of Friends  
Feed: CWKN #390, June 18, 2008
Time: 1:32
SUGGESTED LEAD: A NEW STUDY FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA FINDS THAT IF YOUR CHILD DOESN’T WIN A POPULARITY CONTEST AT SCHOOL, YOU NEEDN’T WORRY. LOTS OF KIDS WHO ARE COMFORTABLE WITH OTHERS AND HAVE GOOD FRIENDS AREN’T THE MOST POPULAR…. WHAT SEEMS FAR MORE IMPORTANT IS CONFIDENCE AND AT LEAST ONE GOOD FRIEND.  CONNECT WITH KIDS HAS THE STORY.    
<<PKG>>

NARR: PARENTS WORRY ABOUT HOW MUCH KIDS LEARN AND HOW FAST … BUT A CHILD’S BIGGGEST WORRY IS MORE LIKELY SOMETHING ELSE. (:06)

SOT: “My friend.”

SOT: “Cause if anything is going on in school I always know that I can talk to Molly and she’ll understand.”

NATS: laughing

NARR: THE KIDS HAVE GOT IT RIGHT ... LEARNING THE LANGUAGE OF FRIENDSHIP IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT LESSONS OF CHILDHOOD. (:05)

SUPER:  Nick Long, Ph.D., Adolescent Psychologist (:23)
“There’s some research to indicate that one of the best predictors of how well adjusted we will be as adults is not based on IQ or grades in school, but the degree to which the child has good friendships.”

NARR: IT’S NOT POPULARITY, BUT LEARNING TO MAKE FRIENDS THAT COUNTS. (:03)

SUPER: Johnathon, (:40)
“I think that most people in this school want to have friends but they don’t know how to do it right.”

NARR: BY SCHOOL AGE, A CHILD NEEDS AT LEAST ONE CLOSE FRIEND. (:04)

SOT: Nick Long, Ph.D., Adolescent Psychologist
 “If that child doesn’t have one close friend, it’s important for parents to try to set up situations for them to meet other children who might have similar interests to try to develop those friendships. 

SUPER: Garry McGiboney, Ph.D., Psychologist (1:02)
“It may take a while, but most of the time kids will enjoy that interaction with other kids.”

NARR: KIDS WITHOUT FRIENDS ARE AT RISK FOR LOTS OF PROBLEMS RANGING FROM POOR GRADES TO DEPRESSION ... BULLYING AND DRUG ABUSE.  EXPERTS SAY DON’T UNDERESTIMATE THE HARM OF ISOLATION. (:11)

SUPER:  Erica (1:20)
“Sometimes when you feel isolated and you feel like you should just be off this world. Just die.”

NARR: I’M COLLIN SIEDOR FOR CONNECT WITH KIDS. (:03)

SUGGESTED TAG: PSYCHOLOGISTS SAY IT’S IMPORTANT TO TEACH KIDS WHO ARE SHY HOW TO INTERACT WITH OTHERS.  IF KIDS LACK CERTAIN SKILLS ROLE PLAY AND PRATICE WITH THEM AT HOME.  FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THIS AND OTHER STORIES LOG ONTO <LOCAL URL> AND CLICK ON THE CONNECT WITH KIDS ICON.