just moved house, my child has NO friends nearby?? help

[sharon1307]

Oh my god..why did I do it..we have just recently moved into a very luxury 5 bedroom house on its own private grounds...we used to live on a average street where children was playing..I have a 7 yr old little girl who used to always be out playing with friends and she loved it..she didnt want to move but we wanted a nicer area and a the house is lovely..it has a park very nearby..the problem is the weather is now nicer and my little girl is now feeling the difference,,she cant just go and call for friends and play on the streets with them...I feel so so bad for taking this away from her..she brings friends home for tea after school and they sleep over but its not the same has just going to knock on their door ...should I sell up and move back to a little street where children can play or is it not that bad what i have done...please please tell me ,,i need other mums opinions.many thanks for reading this

you say she brings friends home for tea and for sleepovers. Where do these friends live? Could she go and call for them?

And don't forget that in a few weeks it will be warm enough for her to play in the park for hours and make friends that way.

Where do her school friends live?

Why dont you make an extreme effort to get to know the other mums, are there alot of houses near by?

thanks for your reply..so quick!! for her to go to the park I would have to go with her..Which I dont mind AT ALL..its a good park with lots of children on it..their are houses nearby but again I would have to be with her to walk round to them because of the very busy road nearby...she cant just go and call for people on her own..we have moved out of the area where her school is so no school friends live nearby..oh my god i feel terrible..how do other people manage !!

can she move schools?

I think that it is really important that they can mix with their school friends outside school hours.

I suspect that you are going to have to get used to the fact that she can't play out on her own any more.

Some places are appropriate for a child being out on their own, some aren't.

sharon, its easy really, take dd and yourself a magazine to the park on the next sunny day, yous ettle yourself and your dd will naturally make friends with the kids on the parka nd things will go from there, also there is bound to be other parents at the park with their dcs, so you have a chance of making friends also

Yeah but after the initial 'new friend making' the kids will be able to do playdates at each others homes.

Loopylou6 thanks for your help...I will gladly sit on the park with her, the Park is more or less next to our home..maybe 2 min to get their..so i wll do anything i can to help her..i just feel guilty for taking away her freedom to go and play on her own..(if you know what I mean) many thanks though for your help...this site is very good ...ive only just found it..

Don't worry, I moved mine to a different country, and he has settled down OK and made new mates. Children are very adaptable, and she will soon settle and make new friends. Perhaps you could arrange for the old ones to come over at the weekend?

no problem sharon, let us know how you go on, and welcome to the madhouse

I think the vast majority of us would love to let our children go out to play on their own but it just doesn't seem to be the fashion any more regardless where you live. Good for you for wanting to buck the trend! I find it so sad that there aren't more children playing on their own in our fantastic local park. She will get used to the new routine and with such a thoughtful mother she will have thousands of freinds before you know it!

i am in the same boat as yourself, i have move into a private estate and my youngest son has settle very well however my 10year old misses his old friends and school, since moving over 100 miles from our old home. I also have to now work full time and the boys have to go to a childminder so I am not able to let the boys have friends home after school, sometimes the more you strive for better things for your children you worry your making it worse. I have gone ahead and registered to be a childminder so that i can be at home with my kids but the fear of giving up a full time job and possibly having a period with no business scare me. I have enrolled my kids in outside activities such as guitar lessons, tae kwon doe, cubs and swim lessons but still i feel they are not making a close connection with friends I feel my 10 year old needs a close friend. Does your daughter keep in touch with her old friends?

aww thanks very much Jackie,,what a lovely lady you are...
Jackx ..thanks for your reply, My daughter does keep intouch with her old friends because i have driven to their houses and they come for tea, or we all go the movies..Also my little girl now does Choir after school and Dance lessons and she has started at Girlguides so during the week she is fine..its at weekends I really for her..we always go to the park though and we go on bikes rides ..but I would just love to see her play with her friends,..maybe I should be happy that she is healthy has a lovely home and caring parents...lets face it the world is changing with all the weirdos and freak accidents that happen..you girls are all great and I thanks you.. i live in Manchester (oldham) if anyones near me then let me know?? thanks again xx