How to help your child make new friends

Starting a new school and making new friends can be a worrying time for children and their parents too. Although some children are naturally sociable, many children suffer from shyness. This can hinder their ability to develop new friendships. Fortunately, this is something that parents can help their children to overcome, using a few simple techniques. Manor Lodge, a private school in Hertfordshire have compiled a list of tips to help you help!

Photo by Hannah Rodrigo on Unsplash

Invite new friends round

Play dates and trips to the park can be invaluable when it comes to helping your child build friendships. One on one time can be exactly what children need. To be able to get to know each other and establish common ground and activities that they enjoy together. Without the pressure of the rest of the class being around.

Build confidence

It can sometimes be difficult to speak to new people or step outside our comfort zones at any age. Help your child to develop their social skills and work on their confidence from a young age by challenging them to simple things such as ordering the cake at the coffee shop, speaking to the sales assistant when buying school uniform or simply bringing them into your own conversations with other people when out and about.

After school clubs

Extracurricular activities are a great opportunity to meet new people a chance for your child to make friends with people that already have something in common with them, perfect!

Stand back!

Children will naturally gravitate towards people they already know rather than stepping outside their comfort zone and making new friends. If you, an older sibling or any familiar face is in the room it could be hindering their confidence. Try as much as possible to step back and let them really build on new friendships by simply not being in the same room as them all the time!