How to Help My Son Make Friends

Participating in an extracurricular activity allows children to connect with peers with similar interests.

Making friends is a social skill that for some children may not come naturally. To help your son make friends, it is important to encourage him to meet and interact with others. There are several ways to arrange social settings where he can connect with peers or potential friends.

Instructions

1. Observe your child's behavior. Recognize behavior such as shyness and help him find ways to overcome it. Talk with your child and create goals to resolve his issues. For example, if your son is shy, he could aim to initiate a conversation with at least one classmate a day, until he is comfortable connecting with others.

2. Talk to other parents, either at the school or at your workplace, who have children around the same age. Arrange for their kids to come over to your house. Encourage your son to be a good host and think of games and activities to entertain the guests. You could also take the kids to go bowling, see a movie or play at an arcade. Let them get to know each other in a fun setting.

3. Encourage your son to participate in extracurricular activities. After-school programs can be anything from sports teams to music lessons, and should be an activity that your child is genuinely interested in. If your child isn't interested in any club at school or in the community, encourage him to create one -- for example, a video games club. Actively participating in clubs will expose your child to peers with similar interests.

4. Enlist the help of your son's teacher. His teacher will know how he behaves in a social setting, and may be able to provide some insight into his behavior. Ask your teacher to pair up your son with a suitable peer on a class project. Ask your child to invite his partner over to your house to work on the project, and ensure that your home is welcoming.

Tips & Warnings

• Being too pushy and overbearing may do more harm then good. With a little encouragement, your son will develop confidence and make friends on his own.

References

• Help Your Child Make Friends