More a WWYD. First time posting for myself and hoping for advice. My DD has just turned 8, in yr3. She has a best friend she’s known since I became friends with the mum while on mat leave. They started school together and during reception year the children naturally formed friendship groups although there was some fluidity with these. My DD and her best friend were in a group with a few others. By yr2 the groups appeared more set but all the children would still interact and move between groups. It’s a small school, only one class per year group.
At Christmas last year my DD’s best friend moved away. They are still in touch but can’t see each other often. Over the course of this last 12 months other friends in her group have moved too and the last one leaves at the end of this term. She’s left feeling on the fringes of the other groups and with a few friends she sort of gets on with but not all the time. I’ve asked if she joins in with other children and she says yes but that they don’t play games that she wants to join in with.
She does quite a few extra activities after school and we can’t fit more in. She doesn’t have close friends at these, just friends she gets on with at the time, if that makes sense.
I have spoken to her teacher about how to help her. Initially the teacher just commented about how DD is always playing with children when teacher looks. I explained that she does play and get on with the others but has lost her special group that she was part of it and particularly her best friend. Teacher said she’d keep an eye on it but nothing has improved. I don’t really know what she can do anyway.
So I guess what I’m hoping for is your wisdom. Suggestions and advice on how to help my DD cope with the loss of her group and how to feel part of another. She’s quite sensitive, shy and not very confident, worries a lot about getting things wrong or being told off so she’s not big on putting herself forward or going out of her comfort zone.
Many thanks to anyone who reads this and responds. I’m worried about her, I want her to have friends who are her own and not to feel sad and left out.