We caught up with JESS SANDERS to discuss her book The Five Rules of Friendship, a practical, positive and uplifting guide to help children (and their grown-ups) navigate friendships.
What sparked the idea for The Five Rules of Friendship?
The books I write often contain lessons that I wish I’d learned growing up. When I was young, I struggled with friendship at times. There were times when I wasn’t the best friend I could have been, and other times when my friends didn’t treat me as I deserved to be treated. When we are young, we are learning about friendship for the first time. It’s common, particularly in primary school to experience friendship troubles. I wanted to create a guide that helped everyone learn what it means to be a good friend!
What does it mean to be a good friend?
Good friends:
- Respect body boundaries.
- Listen actively.
- Be kind.
- Treat everyone equally.
- Stand up for others.
Do you have any advice if you have a disagreement with a friend?
Disagreements between friends are normal, and working through them can make your friendship even stronger. Try to understand their opinion by being curious and asking questions. Share how you feel by saying things like, ‘I am feeling … because ….’ to help them understand where you are coming from. The goal is to try to understand each other.
What are some of the key takeaways in your book?
The key takeaways from the book are:
- It is important to respect other people’s bodies and opinions by being aware of their boundaries.
- A small act of kindness can have a big impact!
- You can stand up for others when they don’t feel safe to stand up for themselves.
- Actively listening to your friend makes them feel appreciated and valued.
What was your favourite part of writing this book?
My favourite part of writing this book was reflecting on how helpful it would have been for me and my sisters when we were in primary school. It makes me very happy to know that young people today will be guided and supported by this book.
Describe this book in three words.
Empowering, guiding, supportive.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Jess Sanders is a social worker and bestselling, award-winning author of books including Love Your Body, Be Your Own Man and the ‘Life Lessons for Little Ones’ series. Jess has a passion for creating resources that nurture positive mental health and promote gender equality. Every project she pursues is born from the question, ‘Why does it have to be this way?’. Jess is regularly invited to speak on radio and at events about her work and her books.
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