My daughter is now best friends with another girl and the other girls old best friend is sad.

[AhhhHereItGoes]

My daughter (6) has a few really close friends at school. The girls all get along really well there and there's no worries there.

However, DD used to be fairly close to Bella (not her name) and Bella and Hannah (also not her name) were the best of friends. Sleepovers, day trips out - the works.

Now Hannah wants to spend most of her time playing with DD and Bella is feeling really left out and sad. I heard Bella and Hannah's Mum discussing it briefly.

My question (if really a question) is should I speak to Bella or Hannah's Mum? Should I try to get DD to include Bella a little more? I don't want to micromanage friendships but at the same time they are 6-7 year olds, not teenagers.

Any advice or just similar experiences greatly appreciated.

This will happen a lot, it’s best to
Let them get on with it as long as they’re not actively being nasty to her. You can’t make them be friends unfortunately and they will chop and change.

Is your DD friends with Bella

Are you friends with the mums

Completely agree Billy -- I just don't want either parent to think my daughter is nudging in which is silly I know, she's only 6. But Bella is usually very lively and chatty but the last week or so has barely said a word and stood next to her Mum until time to go to class.

@Quartz2208 -- yes DD was friends with Bella before she got to know Hannah. I know everyone says it, but my DD is pretty much only playing terms with all the girls and half the boys.

I am not friends in the sense I hang out with them. But I'll stop and have a chat if I bump into them kind of thing.

on playing terms.

I would encourage her to be kind and not leave anyone out.

I have a DD who was very much into having one intense friendship at a time (she changed every couple of years). I tried really hard to encourage her to spend time with a range of friends. She’s not so bad now she’s at uni but still comes home and sort of hibernates with her bestie from home for a few days and has to be chivvied into going out with the whole group.

I have been Bella.

I think talking to Bella's mum might be a good idea to ensure there is no bad feeling and that the door is left open. However, I don't think encouraging DD or Hannah to fake a deeper friendship s the best thing for Bella.

Bella will be sad but she will learn resilience.

DD had something similar (except she was Bella) and I did actually encourage her friendship with the equilvalent of your DD. And it worked they were a tight knit group of 3.

The Hannah actually has just moved abroad and so the other two have become much closer

I had 3 DDs and this sort of thing happens all the time. Friendships wax and wane.

I made a policy of not getting involved; but also encouraged DDs to think of others' feelings.

It is hard as they take these small snubs very much to heart.