Last October my marriage broke up (I asked him to leave after us both being unhappy for at least the last 5 years. It was not a small decision). The outcome of which was sale of the house and my moving closer to my parents (30 minuts away from old house). We tried to keep DD (aged 8) in her old school but it was an hour round trip for school runs and I work full time from home and exH works too late and early to pick her up.
Eventually we agreed with her to move her to the local school (same one her cousins attend). We spoke to the head and he recommended moving her after half term last term so she wasn't brand new in September. We did that. She was really positive about it and tried so hard but she hasn't really made any friends. She went back for day 1 of the new term yesterday and has moved up from a Yr2/Yr3 mixed class to a Yr4/Yr5 mixed class. The one sport of friend she's made last year was a year below so has stayed in the the Yr2/Yr3 class.
My daughter did her best to say it was ok yesterday but last night it all escaped. She is so unhappy, no-one talks to her, she is small and light and can't/wont' play the rough games at playtime as she gets knocked over and hurt.
I don't know what to do to help her. I took her in this morning (normally my sister drops off when she takes her kids) and it was obvious that my DD had no-one to speak to and no-one spoke to her. A far cry from the old school.
I've got hold of a classmates mum's number and sent a text asking if her DD wants to come for a playdate next week. She said she'd ask the daughter. My DD does know who this kid is so I hope she agrees to come and maybe we can start a little friendship that way. I'm not sure my DD even knows the names of the rest of her class. She is a little shy but not particularly so. She had loads of friends in the old school and was really popular.
Anyone got any thoughts about how to make this easier on her?