DD lonely - wants a best friend.

[maggotts]

Have posted this in G&T but clearly not a G&T issue so hoping for more response here.

DD2 age 9 is not G&T but is good at absolutely everything i.e. top of the class academically but also fastest, in all the sports teams, good at music, art etc.

She has no real friendship issues i.e. no one being nasty, no bullying etc. and friends are happy to come to us if invited and seem to have a lovely time when here. BUT she has no special friend and rarely gets invited elsewhere - it's almost as if she just doesn't register on the radar when girls are thinking of who to play with, who to invite etc. I have watched her with them in a group and she is always the forgotten one of the edge.

DD1 is nearly 14 and DD2 gets on brilliantly with her. Think some of the problem may be that she so likes older girls that younger ones are slightly inexplicable.

She is so desperate for a best friend (opossibly TOO desperate) or to be part of the group.

Has anyone else had this? Does it get better?

Not had it, but I wondered if your DD2 attends clubs or those kinds of places? A lot of social networking happens there. Although DD feels well-liked everywhere except Brownies, funny enough, though she loves going anyway.

This is the sort of age when they do get invited fewer places, btw, parties drop off for instance.

I would carry on with the invitations.Do as many as possible and don't worry if she is invited back.

The more she is in the other girls' company the more hopefully they will find they have in common.

Are you friends with any of the mums?Ask them what their girls' favourite things are and do some activities that involve them.

The 'how do you encourage your child to be popular' thread further down has some good suggestions you could discuss with her.

My similar age dd solves the problem by playing with the boys