Friendships

[Shantishanti]

Dd is in year 1 at quite a big state primary. She doesn't make friends very easily, but has a lovely best friend who is in her class, and a couple of other friends she talks about playing with pretty often who are in year 2. She's happy at school at the moment, despite a few issues with a couple of trouble makers being mean to her.
However... She told me this morning that her best friend may be moving away at the end of this term. Her two yr2 friends will be going up to juniors in September, and will be on a separate playground. She burst into tears telling me about it.
I feel so sad for her and don't know if there is anything I can or should do. Something similar happened to me at primary school too, and after a happy time in infants I had a totally miserable time in juniors until I moved schools in yr6. I'm worried the same might happen to her. She's such a kind, caring child, and just doesn't get the 'politics' of the groups of 'popular' kids.

Anyone got any advice?

She's an only one BTW.

I would tell her class teacher now that she is anxious about it - her teacher will know her personality and have an idea about vulnerability next year. And ask if the teacher could engineer some situations where she can work with and get to know other compatible children.
Our class teachers are usually extremely sympathetic about this kind of thing, because they don't want their children to be anxious or worried.
Good luck

Thanks Sunny, I'll do that.

Do you know the parents well enough to ask if it is really on the cards?

Dd2 has several times told me that one of her friends is moving away (usually abroad) and parents generally have given me a look when I've asked them.

Sometimes the children have made it up as a story for their friends, sometimes it's been a slippet of information they've got the wrong end of the stick.

Understand how you feel.
My daughter makes friends well but recently A couple of children have left my daughters class (reception) for one reason or another. she will talk about these children but I try to mention positives in having less in the class etc. I guess it's a learning curve for the children learning that people can sadly come in and out of your life hopefully they will make long terms friends too x

Just to add my daughter also comes home and says this child might be leaving etc and you don't know whether it's true or not I tend to just stay out of it

Are there any other girls in the class you could ask back to tea to strengthen some alternative friendships? x