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One thing you cannot do for your child is, make or select his/her friends.

However, what you can do is teach them social skills that will help him/her make their own friends.

A child with low self esteem/self worth will find it more difficult to make friends than a child who has a healthy and positive level of self esteem/self worth.  As a parent you have the opportunity to teach your child to recognize his/her own self worth at a very age.  It is important that you demonstrate to your child his/her talents and skills, shower them with unconditional love and unconditional acceptance and make sure they never doubt how wonderful and lovable he/she is,

Children as I have written over and over again, model their parents.  Teach your child by example, make friends with neighbours, always be kind and treat others with respect.  Your child will certainly begin learning how to make friends when they see how natural and easy it is for you to greet others with a smile and a hello.  Your child will then learn how easy it is to be outgoing and kind to their classmates at school.

Encourage your child to join in activities and perhaps join a sports club.  Mixing with other children in team sport provides your child with the opportunity of learning about teamwork and sharing with others.  As they learn to interact and treat others well and play with others they are more likely to make new friends.

Encouraging playtime with a few children from the neighbourhood is also a good way for your child to create a circle of friends.  Allowing your child to invite friends from the same class at school can provide important social and emotional support that may stay with your child throughout high school, may be even for life.

If your child is shy by nature and has trouble joining in conversation with other children help them by telling them that sometimes it takes time to develop friendship but by taking small steps beginning with saying hello and then taking another small step ask the other child what their name is and what do they like to do they can be confident that in no time at all they will have a friendship begin.