How to help your child make new friends

Making friends should never have to be a chore. Your child may have a bit of difficulty coming to terms with socialising and making new friends in new environments, but there are ways you can help out at home. Here are some top tips from this secondary school in Devon.

Arrange playdates to get your child comfortable with their new friends

At toddler age, playdates are a good opportunity for your child to get used to the children they’ll be spending a lot of time with. In doing so, your child has the chance to talk to their friends in a free and safe space without others around. It’s also controlled to an extent – there is a plan in mind and it will give your child the reassurance that their new friends are being motivated to talk and play with them as well.

Give your child the chance to invite friends over

A good way to see who your child is hanging out with in school is by inviting them round and seeing if they’re a good fit. To help your child make more friends you could host a party or small gathering at home where children bring something with them. This could be a cake, some snacks, or a game or video game to put onto your child’s console. This will help your child loosen up, break the ice and talk to other kids in their class.

Take a look at how your child already socialises

If your child talks and communicates in a different way to normal then it can cause small barriers to their development. It can be purely down to personalities and how we all understand body language and gestures, which varies from person to person. At that moment you can role play how they communicate with others and what tips you have for them to work well with others in the classroom.