Is it important to have friends in your class?

[redskyatnight]

Year 1 DS used to have 2 good friends in his class - the three of them tended to play together and other children joined in on and off. One of the friends has now left the school. Without his calming influence (I presume!) DS and the remaining friend seem to be on a constant rollercoaster of being best buddies, falling out, not talking to each other and then being friends again (am sure this is common at this age!)

But ... when he and best buddy are at a "not liking each other" stage it effectively leaves DS without a friend in his class. He is good friends with a group of 6 other boys and tends to play with them (as well as best buddy) at playtimes and sit with them at lunch but ... they are all in the other Year 1 class.

So ... how important is it to have a friend in your own class? I would have tended to say not (as what they do in class is largely prescribed), but some days DS comes home thoroughly despondent and moaning that he "has no friends".

My best friend left primary school and although I was friendly with other girls in the class I remember being pretty lost and my confidence took a hit. Starting secondary school all the other girls I was friendly with were in a different class from me and again another confidence hit. It is more important than you might think but your DS will find a way of coping and make other friends.

It's tricky and I can see both sides of it. My dd was not being at all stretched of stimulated by her grade one (Y2) teacher. I had her transferred to another class. She moaned non stop because all her friends were in the original class. I had to gently point out that she could play with them at play time, class time was learning time. This year she has made fast friends with a delightful little girl. Unfortunatley they spend a lot of time giggling and hugging. This is not a good thing either.

"This year she has made fast friends with a delightful little girl. Unfortunatley they spend a lot of time giggling and hugging. This is not a good thing either. "

Yes it is!!!!!!

Could you maybe have some of the boys from his class over to play? Might help him make new close friends in his class.

My ds had a best friend in reception but also played with about four other boys
theywere in s different class to him in yr 1 but they still play together at lunchtime etc
but we have had lots of playdates with a boy in his class and now they are best friends
so it is possible for things to change very quickly
it takes effort to organise things but I'd definitely do it

Seeker, I am not saying it is a BAD thing, she just doesn't get her work done and then gets into trouble. I love her friend, she is a gorgeous little girl, they just can't stop them selves having a love fest. She then gets frustrated with her homework because she was too busy tonguing M's ear to take the instructions in.