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How can I help 9yro daughter form friendships?

1 reply

JaneAlocin · 15/06/2024 00:06

Hi All,

I don’t know if any of you have experienced something similar and can advise please?

My daughter was firm friends with one girl from reception until the end of last summer when this girl decided she no longer wanted to be friends.
This left my daughter on her own but she managed to become friendly with a larger group of girls in the same year.
She has expressed that she feels like she is still on the outside of this social circle. She has been invited to birthday parties but I have a feeling that some of the girls mix outside of school and my daughter is not invited.

Recently I organised a sleepover for a few of her newer friends. One girl was off school with an ear infection and was unable to make it. She was apparently upset not to be able come. I have found out she had a sleepover and did not invite my daughter.
As a parent I would have reciprocated an invite if I was organising something. My daughter feels left out and upset that she has had to hear others excited about it in the classroom.

I don’t know if this is a time thing because she is a newer member of the group. Whether it’s an issue that I am a single parent and I am not in with the mums, or whether there is anything I can do to help my daughter with her social skills? I have had these girls over to my house but there is never a return invite.

My daughter is always happy, she is friendly but does lack confidence since her long standing friendship ended. I also think she does prefer to play in a smaller group. Any ideas on how I can boost her socially?

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Mumosa · 15/06/2024 00:53

In my experience you should just be her cheerleader and best friend for now. Build up her confidence, your words will echo to her head when she’s engaging with peers. It will organically happen when it’s meant to. Sometimes friendships need time to grow and forcing them doesn’t work. It’ll get better with time.

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