Childhood friendships provide kids with much more than just people to play with. Learning to make friends as well as learning to be a good friend is an important part of a child’s social development skills that will help them to find success in both their personal and
professional lives

• Allow your children to play with their friends in and around the house / garden without continual adult supervision
• Set a good example. If you and your partner are polite, respectful and caring to each other, your children will learn to act in this way
• Make an effort to talk to other parents at school - this encourages children to get to know each other
• Find local activities, where your child will have opportunities to make friends outside of school, such as a drama group or swimming lessons
• Show love - this is invaluable as it helps bolster your child's confidence, even if there are occasional friendship difficulties
• Try not to interfere too much in matters connected with your child's friendships - give them the chance to sort these out in his own way whenever possible
• Falling in and out of friendships is a natural and invaluable part of social development - it isn't a problem if your child stops playing with certain friends
• Try helping your child see the positive in the negative - help them learn something about their own personality or the personality traits of others