Parenting Tips - Primary schooler’s

 

Primary schooler’s

Friends

• School can be a bewildering and lonely place for a child.

• Each child likes to belong to a social group. Friends are very important because they provide support and encouragement during school.

• Encourage your children to invite friends home.

• Making and keeping friends is a skill children usually learn during their preschool years. They know how to introduce themselves, enjoy playing, can join groups, take turns in talking, share and seek out friends. They'll also have some skills in solving problems.

• Younger primary school children base their friendships on helping and sharing.

• Older children develop longer lasting friendships which are based on trust and loyalty.

• Children will have short and longer friendships.

• School friendships can be very strong because children see each other daily for several years.

• Some families may move frequently or live a long distance from the school and this can make it difficult for children to have friendships.

• You can help your children's friendships grow and endure by:

• actively listening to your child without trying to solve their problems • helping them with practical things like transport, phone calls and making visiting arrangements

• taking an interest in your child's friends and getting to know them • spending time with your child and their friends

• giving them safe spaces to do things on their own • finding out interesting things for them to do and experience and suggesting different ways to think about problems

• remaining non judgmental.