The Children's Friend, 1878

Product Information

Talking with your child gives you a chance to hear about what’s going on. Some children will be happy to tell you, but others might find it hard. You can encourage your child by telling them about a friendship trouble you had as a child or by reading a story about friendship troubles. If your child isn’t ready to talk, let your child know they can always come to you. But if you’re feeling worried or anxious and your worries are interfering with everyday life, it’s a good idea to seek professional help. You could start by talking with your GP. 2. My child came home from school and said ‘No-one likes me’. What can I do?

If the child lives with you under a private arrangement, you will not be automatically eligible for assessment and support. It is best to notify Children’s Services of the arrangement and ask that you be assessed as a foster carer as soon as possible. Young children enjoy playing with their friends, but they still need their parents. In fact, during the early school years, family relationships are still the biggest influence on your child’s development. Good family relationships are what your child needs to learn and grow. Fink, E., Begeer, S., Peterson, C.C. et al. (2015). Friendlessness and theory of mind: a prospective longitudinal study . British Journal of Developmental Psychology, 33(1), 1–17.If you’re concerned about your child’s friendships– for example, your child and your child’s friends are doing things that are unsafe – talking with your child is the best first step. For example, ‘Is it a good idea to jump from the top of the slide? You might get hurt’. This can help your child learn to make their own decisions, rather than just following friends. If a family and friends carer is caring for a child under a private arrangement, they may be able to obtain financial support from the local authority under s17 Children Act 1989 and should negotiate this as soon as possible. Carla, mother of a 5-year-old and a 7-year-old Supporting school-age friendships: tips for playdates If your child has additional needs, your child might also need extra help with friendships. You could try making friends with other parents and getting together after school at a playground. Give the other parents and children some ideas on how to include your child. For example, ‘Bill loves watching people play soccer. He can throw the ball in and be the scorer’. Family relationships give your child a stable, safe base through the ups and downs of making and losing friends. In fact, the care and love you give your child at home helps your child manage other relationships.

Having friends boosts happiness, well-being and self-confidence, and promotes a positive outlook on life Consider involving your child in an out-of-school activity, like sport, drama, craft or music. This can help your child meet other children who share the same interests. Let your child help choose the activity. If you’re concerned, talk to your child’s teacher to find out more. If there’s a bigger issue, you can work with the teacher to sort it out. Our articles on building a relationship with your child’s school and problem-solving for parents and teachers have tips. 7. My child doesn’t talk about their school friends any more. What can I do?

Help and support

Add -s to a noun with -on at the ending. For example, “salons” and “canyons.” However, there is an exception for certain nouns where you will have to replace -on with -a to form plurals. Emily was known to be quite reclusive - she was often hesitant to meet with people and gradually spent more and more time alone as she got older. She did very much care about and treasure her friendships though, as this poem shows. If you’ve got a four-legged friend, you’ll know how much these fluffy little companions can mean to us and how sweet and loving they are.