Helping Your Child Make New Friends

Making friends is something that everyone struggles with at one point in their life. However, it is most common among children. Having friends to go on playdates and build forts with is not only fun but important for growth. Friendships are known to help improve a child’s communication skills, empathy, problem-solving and creativity. They show children the correct way to get along with others and interact with them. However, some children are shy and struggle to put themselves out there, making the process of finding friends that much more difficult. If this sounds like your child, then don’t worry. Here are some tips from this independent school in Cheshire on helping your child make new friends.

Start with small steps

Pushing your child into the deep end will only do more damage when it comes to their confidence. You have to remember that your child is struggling due to their shyness, so start small. Begin by exposing your child to small social situations every day. With parental involvement, your child will feel comfortable taking part in activities outside of their comfort zone. Keep it really small. Instead of forcing your child to play with someone new under formal settings, suggest going to get ice cream and ask them to tag along. If the environment is natural, it will help your child come out of their shell.

Talk to your child about friendship

Children learn so much simply through reading and talking. Take a trip to the library and look for books that teach lessons about great friendships. Discuss how the characters show compassion, love and share things with each other. This will give your child a good idea of what a true friend looks like. You can also talk about your own experiences as this will help them understand that everyone has dealt with the struggle of making new friends once before. 

This is a collaborative post.