Making friends at a new school

Changing schools can be a challenging experience for children, especially when it comes to making new friends. 

As part of a child’s social development, making friends can actually have a huge impact on their academic performance. So it’s important that parents and carers understand how to help their children with making friends. 

In this guide, we'll explore practical tips to help your child navigate the journey of making new friends at a new school.

Understanding the challenge of making new friends at school

Starting at a new school can be a really exciting experience for children, but it can bring a few worries with it. 

While making new friends is a crucial part of children’s social development, it does come with some challenges with the change in environment. As a parent or carer, being aware of these challenges and providing the necessary support can significantly ease your child's transition. Here are some challenges to consider:

• Emotional stress: Moving to a new environment may lead to emotional stress for your child. They might feel anxious, uncertain, or even fearful about the prospect of making new friends.

• Fear of rejection: The fear of rejection is a common concern among children entering a new school. The uncertainty of how they will be received by their peers can contribute to feelings of anxiety.

• Social anxiety: Some children may experience social anxiety, making it difficult for them to initiate conversations or join group activities. This can further hinder their ability to establish new friendships.

• Impact on academic performance: The challenges of making new friends can sometimes impact a child's academic performance. Emotional stress and social concerns may divert their focus from their studies.

By understanding these challenges, you can address them and provide your child with the right support. It’s worth keeping in mind that back-to-school separation anxiety can present similarly, so a lot of the same calming tips in our guide can be used here. 

By recognizing and empathising with your child's emotions, you can actively participate in their journey of making new friends, offering the reassurance and guidance they need to navigate this exciting and challenging phase of their education.

Helping children manage anxiety around making friends at school

Entering a new school environment can be a little overwhelming for children, and managing anxiety related to making friends is a common challenge. 

As a parent or carer, your support and guidance can make all the difference during this transition. Here are some strategies to help your child cope with and overcome anxiety:

Encourage open communication:

• Create a safe space for your child to express their feelings and concerns about making new friends.

• Be an attentive listener, validating their emotions and offering reassurance.

Share personal experiences:

• Share stories from your own past experiences, highlighting instances where making new friends led to positive outcomes.

• Emphasise that it's natural to feel nervous in new situations, and such feelings often subside with time.

Highlight the importance of patience:

• Remind your child that building meaningful friendships takes time.

• Encourage patience and emphasise that it's okay if friendships don't develop immediately.

Practise social skills:

• Engage in role-playing scenarios to help your child practice initiating conversations and joining group activities.

• Offer constructive feedback to boost their confidence in social interactions.

Celebrate small achievements:

• Acknowledge and celebrate small victories, such as initiating a conversation or participating in a group activity.

• Reinforcing that progress, no matter how small, is a step toward building lasting friendships.

Connect with teachers and staff:

• Foster communication between your child, teachers, and school staff to ensure a supportive environment.

• Make the school aware of your child's social concerns to facilitate additional support if needed.

By incorporating these strategies into your approach, you can empower your child to navigate the challenges of making new friends with confidence and resilience.

Practical tips to help your child make new friends

Here are some more practical tips for both you and your child to help them make new friends at their new school:

• Join clubs and extracurricular activities: Encourage your child to participate in after-school activities or clubs where they can meet peers with similar interests.

• Initiate conversations: Teach your child how to initiate conversations with classmates. Simple greetings and asking about shared interests are great conversation starters.

• Be open-minded and inclusive: Emphasise the importance of being open-minded and inclusive. Encourage your child to reach out to others and include classmates who may be feeling left out.

• Practise active listening: Teach your child the importance of active listening. Being attentive and engaged in conversations helps build meaningful connections.

• Be patient: Remind your child that building lasting friendships takes time. Encourage patience and reassure them that friendships will develop gradually.

• Positive body language: Highlight the significance of positive body language. Smiling, making eye contact, and using open gestures can make your child more approachable.

Encouraging your child to incorporate these practical tips can empower them to take steps towards building new and meaningful friendships.

The importance of making friends: social development and academic growth

Building friendships goes beyond the joy of companionship; it plays a pivotal role in shaping your child's social development and academic growth. Friendships contribute to a positive learning environment, fostering essential life skills that extend far beyond the classroom. Here's why making friends is important for your child and their academic growth:

Positive learning environment:

• Friendships create a supportive and positive atmosphere where children feel comfortable expressing themselves.

• A friendly and inclusive environment enhances the overall learning experience and promotes active engagement in class activities.

Enhanced communication skills:

• Interacting with peers helps develop effective communication skills, as children learn to express their thoughts and ideas clearly.

• Engaging in conversations with friends nurtures confidence in verbal expression, a valuable skill for academic and personal success.

Conflict resolution abilities:

• Friendships often involve navigating disagreements and conflicts, providing opportunities for children to develop effective conflict resolution skills.

• Learning to resolve conflicts amicably contributes to a harmonious classroom environment and prepares children for future challenges.

Cognitive and emotional growth:

• Social interactions with friends stimulate cognitive growth by exposing children to diverse perspectives and ideas.

• Emotional intelligence is cultivated through understanding the feelings of others, fostering empathy, and creating a well-rounded individual.

Collaborative learning opportunities:

• Friendships encourage collaborative learning, as children often work together on projects and assignments.

• Collaborative efforts enhance critical thinking skills, creativity, and the ability to work as part of a team—essential attributes for academic success.

Understanding the multifaceted benefits of making friends underscores the importance of supporting your child in developing meaningful connections. Explore resources on easing the transition to secondary school at the transition to secondary school.

Supporting your child's friend-making journey in school

Navigating the challenges of making new friends at a new school is a journey that requires understanding, patience, and support. As parents and carers, by actively engaging in your child's social development you can contribute significantly to their overall growth and happiness.

Supporting your child’s friend-making journey is an amazing way to improve your child’s wellbeing in school and can have a positive effect on their academic progress. By understanding the challenges, offering practical tips, and emphasising the importance of social development, you play a vital role in their success.

Tuition to Improve Confidence and Social Skills

At Explore Learning we believe that tuition can play a surprisingly useful role in improving children’s ability to make friends. With improved confidence in academic ability and through socialising with other children and our friendly tutors, we can help children with social development and confidence in making friends.

With our help children we are equipped to handle making new friends in a new school, such as during the transition from primary to secondary school. 

So why not book a free trial and see how we can help with your child’s social and academic development?