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January 9, 2003
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Editor's note: For a 300-dpi digitized
photo of Michael Thompson, e-mail Marti Hobbes at mhobbes@smith.edu.
Teasing, Bullying, Popularity
and Friendship:
Noted Authors to Discuss the Social Lives of Children in Free
Lecture
NORTHAMPTON, Mass.-Michael Thompson
and Catherine O'Neill Grace will discuss "Mom, They're Teasing
Me-Friendship, Popularity and Social Cruelty: The Role of Parents"
at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 28, in Smith College's Helen Hills Hills
Chapel.
Co-authors of "Best Friends, Worst Enemies: Understanding
the Social Lives of Children" and its companion book "Mom,
They're Teasing Me: Helping Your Child Solve Social Problems,"
Thompson and Grace will focus on childhood relationships and
the ways in which parents can reach a deeper understanding of
the motives and meanings of their children's social behavior.
Thompson writes that his goal as a popular writer in psychology
is "to increase people's understanding of what they already
know," to explain rather than describe. In "Mom, They're
Teasing Me," the authors address parents' concerns by offering
advice about rejection, bullying and cliques. The question-and-answer
format and comprehensive case studies provide parents with a
practical, how-to guide to help children with specific social
problems at school and in their neighborhoods.
Friendship forms an integral part of social relationships and
is important to children as well as their parents and teachers.
"This is the only topic on which I've gotten the undivided
attention of middle-schoolers," says Thompson. "When
faced with social cruelty, having a friend or two can save you."
Thompson is a consultant, author and psychologist specializing
in children and families. He is the co-author of the New York
Times bestseller "Raising Cain: Protecting the Emotional
Life of Boys," "Speaking of Boys: Answers to the Most-Asked
Questions About Raising Sons" and "Finding the Heart
of the Child."
Grace is a former elementary, middle and high school English
teacher and has served as editor of Independent School magazine.
For 15 years she wrote a column in the Washington Post for young
readers about health and psychology and is also the author of
numerous nonfiction books for children. She is currently writing
a history of the White House for children.
The lecture is open to the public at no charge and wheelchair
accessible. Sponsoring schools include: Amherst Montessori School,
Bement School, Common School, Greenfield Center School, Hartsbrook
School, Hilltop Montessori School, Northampton Montessori School
and the Smith College Campus School, all of which are members
of the Pioneer Valley Independent Elementary School Association.
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