DD so upset her best friend has left

[Mammyofonlyone]

Just that really. She's year one, has always been popular and is friendly/plays with everyone in her class. But, she's been best friends with this particular girl since they started in the school nursery aged two.
The girl has now moved away from the area and my daughter is so upset. She keeps bursting into tears and saying she doesn't understand why this is happening or why she feels this way.
We're trying not to mention her BF or anything to do with missing her so as not to prompt upset but she is will randomly break into full on sobs so much so that she can't get her words out.
Since going back after the holidays (without BF) the school have been fantastic at keeping an eye on her and encouraging her to join in with others. It's just so hard to watch and I don't know what to do for the best. Any advice?

I've been through this with both my girls (albeit at Y2/3 so not as young as your DD). Poor thing! It's extremely hard at that age.

Are you friends with the other girl's parents? Can you keep in touch with them? DD1's friend since babyhood moved a couple of years ago and we see them most half terms & holidays, I can take or leave the parents actually, but the girls still get on like a house on fire though I know DD still misses her friend being around all the time. They also text each other via her mum's/my phones but again this is easier now they are older.

Making a plan as to when your DD and her friend can see each other (maybe on a weekend if possible, or in the Christmas holidays) will give her something to look forward to. Someone more versed in child psychology than me may be able to suggest ways of helping her cope with the sense of loss she clearly has.

It sounds like the school is being brilliant and with a good circle of friends around her, this phase of intense grief will pass. I feel for both of you, it's dreadful to see your little girl so upset and be powerless to fix it for her!

Thanks Zinnia, yes this is this first time I've really felt powerless to help her and it's horrible.
I think we'll try to stay in touch via FaceTime and will encourage them to send each other pictures/postcards etc.
Thank you

I'd definitely talk about her friend regularly, given she thinks about her anyway, you don't want to give her the impression it's not ok to be sad. My son took a good few months, and a year on still sometimes is sad that his bestie isn't there to play with him, usually when other friendships are a bit difficult

Ah this is so sad. My dd is 7 and her best friend went to Florida for 2 weeks last month and she was lost without her, despite having lots of other friends. Poor dd.

How about encouraging the existing friendships by inviting girls round for a play date and making firm plans to see other friend during holidays etc depending on how far away she has moved.

She will get over this but at this moment in time it must feel like her world has ended

Thanks everyone. My friend has recommended a book to help explore her feelings so I think I'm going to read that with her and then talk about friend that has left and discuss in the context of what we have just read. Am arranging to meet up at Christmas too but they have moved some distance away (a few hours).
Yes, she is popular with her class and the year above her too so I'm doing everything I can to encourage those friendships so we'll see how they pan out. The school have got an eye on things too and are letting me know who she is gravitating towards at playtime etc