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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Portland, OR

November 2 - 3, 2023

Join expert speakers Kari Zweber Palmer, MA, CCC-SLP and Ryan Hendrix, MS, CCC-SLP in beautiful Portland for two days of in-person learning! Earn a Certificate of Completion and 11 hours of CE credit, for eligible professionals.

Thursday, Nov 2: Social Thinking IS Academic Thinking: Making Connections Using the ILAUGH Model

Friday, Nov 3: Implementing Social Thinking in Schools: Effective Social-Academic Strategies

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SF Bay Area, CA

Nov 30 - Dec 1, 2023

Join keynote speakers Michelle Garcia Winner, MA, CCC-SLP & Pamela Crooke, PhD, CCC-SLP and expert instructors Ryan Hendrix, MS, CCC-SLP and Kari Zweber Palmer, MA, CCC-SLP in the beautiful San Francisco Bay Area for two days of in-person learning! Earn a Certificate of Completion and 11 hours of CE credit, for eligible professionals.

Thursday, Nov 30: Helping Early Learners Build Social Competencies Using the We Thinkers! Curriculum Series

Friday, Dec 1: Unleashing the Super Powers Within: Teaching through Social Detective & Superflex Quests

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Orange, CA

Feb 1 - Feb 2, 2024

Join expert instructors Ryan Hendrix, MS, CCC-SLP and Kari Zweber Palmer, MA, CCC-SLP in the beautiful Orange, CA for two days of in-person learning! Earn a Certificate of Completion and 11 hours of CE credit, for eligible professionals.

Thursday, Feb 1: Helping Early Learners Build Social Competencies Using the We Thinkers! Curriculum Series

Friday, Feb 2: Unleashing the Super Powers Within: Teaching through Social Detective & Superflex Quests

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Chicago Metro Area

Apr 25 - Apr 26, 2024

Join keynote speakers Michelle Garcia Winner, MA, CCC-SLP & Pamela Crooke, PhD, CCC-SLP and expert instructors Ryan Hendrix, MS, CCC-SLP and Kari Zweber Palmer, MA, CCC-SLP in the beautiful Chicago Metro Area for two days of in-person learning! Earn a Certificate of Completion and 11 hours of CE credit, for eligible professionals.

Thursday, Apr 25: Helping Early Learners Build Social Competencies Using the We Thinkers! Curriculum Series

Friday, Apr 26: Unleashing the Super Powers Within: Teaching through Social Detective & Superflex Quests

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Strategies to Build Social Competencies

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