Meeting New Friends
Switching schools or classes in the middle of the school year can be hard for younger kids, especially when they don’t know anyone in the new place yet.
Work with the teacher to find out if there are any kids in the class who might be a good fit as a friend for your child, even if they haven’t really spent much time playing together yet. Invite the classmate over for a play date, then have some fun and interactive activities planned for them. Avoid watching tv or a movie, because there’s little time spent interacting while glued to the tube; aim for activities like crafts, games, or other structured activities that you can guide them through at first,then let them take over from there as they begin to hit their stride.
Consider registering your child for an activity or camp that fosters interaction, like Guides or Scouts, or a team sport. (An added bonus might be that you can increase your own social network, too — a friend commented that the best thing they had ever done for their social life as adults was sign their kids up for soccer, because now all of their friends were parents of kids on the team!) Don’t forget family activities and family friends who are the same age as your child, as an opportunity for your son or daughter to develop a sense of confidence when dealing with peers, that they can then take with them to the schoolyard.
Sometimes, there will be periods when your child doesn’t have anyone else to play with. For those in-between times, by spending time with your child yourself, you’re sending a clear message that s/he is definitely still someone worth being around. That’s also a critical booster for a young one’s self image and self esteem.