Helping your child make new friends

Making new friends is daunting for anyone of any age, especially children. It differs between child to child; some are social butterflies and enjoy meeting new people and making new friends whereas others prefer to spend time alone and stick to their comfort zones. As a parent, it is important to look out for if your child struggles to make new friends. This usually means that they need to work on simple social skills and build their confidence levels. Here is some advice from a private girls prep school on helping your child make new friends.

Begin by modelling positive behaviour yourself. Children learn a lot by example so ensure to be mindful of how you interact with others. Almost every situation that your child watches you go through becomes a learning opportunity for them so allow them to see you join in with different conversations, negotiate and problem solve. This could be with friends, neighbours or even the person serving you at the checkout.

If you notice that your child has social anxiety, start very small. Be attentive to how your child behaves around others and how they interact with them. If you notice any changes in their behaviour compared to how they are at home, use this to decide where to focus your attention on and what skills they may need to build on. Trust your instincts as you know your child better than anyone else.

Put your child in a situation where they are feeling comfortable as this can eliminate any anxiety affecting their confidence levels. Allow your child to take part in an activity that they enjoy. Through this they may meet others who are like minded and find it easy to strike up a conversation with someone new.

Try not to compare your child to others. If your child is introverted and enjoys their own time, respect that. A large group of friends may not be what they desire at this point in their life.