Helping your child make new friends

14th February 2023 Family

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Making new friends is an activity that many of all ages struggle with. However, this task is particularly difficult for children as they may lack a few of the skills needed to do so. Building a new friendship depends on 3 important factors: Emotional skills, self-regulation and social competence. If you notice that your child has trouble with making new friends because they are shy or anxious, it is important to provide them with safe and effortless opportunities to help them build on social skills. Similarly, there are children who struggle to control their emotions, which can affect the process of making friends. Below is a simple guide on helping your child make new friends, as advised by this independent school in Kingston Upon Thames. 

Photo by Artem Kniaz on Unsplash

Be your child’s coach

Making new friends isn’t always something that comes naturally to children, so it is important to help them work their way towards it. One of the best ways to support your child is to help them manage their emotions in a healthy way. If you have noticed that your child has social anxiety, it can be very difficult for them to make friends. In cases like this, you need to be sensitive with your approach. All your child needs to know at this point is that you are there for them when they need you. Remind your child that they are safe and making friends is a nice thing. Be patient and don’t force them into anything as it will only make their anxiety worse. 

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Host playdates

One of the easiest ways to help your child start discussions with other children is by putting them in situations where they are surrounded by enjoyment and likeminded people. Remember to keep away from competitive games and stick to easy going activities instead. Your child will naturally come out of their shell when they realise that the conversation is flowing easily. Through this, they will gain the confidence to branch out and eventually, make new friends.