How to Help Your Child Make Friends in Kindergarten

Kindergarten for most of the kids is like a big cage with not so familiar looking faces, a place where few are very confused and others have tears rolling down their cheeks. In such a scenario, a smiling face is a bright sight.

For kids, their friends make the days of “I don’t want to go to school!” to “when will I go to school?”

Since you’re reading this, I am sure you too want to help your kid to make friends in this new stage of life.

Let me tell you then, you’re on the right path!

We have listed down the top 6 techniques that you can do to help your child make friends in kindergarten.

Number 1: Roleplaying at home

I and my husband along with a few other family members or friends would play this game with my kid. Wherein we created an environment where our kid had to talk to other people apart from her parents.

Here are the things you can do:

• Do this technique a few weeks prior to the time your kid starts going to kindergarten.
• Play this role play game with your kid where you pretend to be an unknown kid at the playschool and you both interact with one another.
• Play out different scenarios with your kid. In this way, you will also learn if your child is open to interaction with others or not. You will understand her way of communication.

Number 2: Teach them how to be a good friend

I make sure to involve my kid in various activities that make her a good listener. Well, isn’t being a good friend about listening to your friend’s stories?

Here are the things that you can do:

• Try to include activities like speaking, and reading stories to enhance the listening ability of your child.
• While playing any game, ensure that your child learns how to win and lose jovially, without demeaning anyone else.
• Being a good friend is all about bringing comfort to others. So let’s teach our kids to be kind and empathetic towards each other.

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Number 3: Encourage them to participate in group activities

During kindergarten, it is at times tough for kids to get involved with unknown people. The idea of participating in a group activity is a far off dream then!

Here are the things that you can do:

• Keep a check if your kid feels comfortable or not while doing group activities. Let your kid take her time so that she is comfortable enough to open up with everyone.
• Encourage her to speak in the classroom, ask her what all she does in the classroom, and ensure that she does not feel scared to stand out from others.
• Make her aware of new stories and topics to talk about and that interests her and other kids.

Number 4: Host playdates or small group activities

I really recommend this technique as not only does our kid learn from other kids, we too as parents get time to learn new things from other parents.

Here are the things that you can do:

• For a kid to remember everyone, it is necessary that they interact with other kids after kindergarten hours too. Try hosting various fun group activities.
• While hosting group activities or games make sure to imbibe the values of cooperation and coordination instead of competition.
• It could be various activities like speaking, dancing, or sketching so that kids learn something new together and it gives them enough time to bond with each other. The kids learn to get along with one another, and they make strong bonds.

Number 5: Minimum arguments, more playtime!

The tale of arguments for the favorite toys. I have encountered this situation numerous times, especially during playtime. It is really hard for kids to share their dear to heart toys with others.

Here are the things that you can do:

• As a parent, make sure to keep these favorite toys far from sight when their friends come over to play. It is a win-win situation for both if us! This ensures fewer arguments and more fun.
• Keeping the toys far is only useful as long as your kid chooses to play with toys. It is highly important as a parent to teach our kids the values of sharing and talking calmly with one another without the use of anger.

Number 6: Being the constant support-system for your child

As a parent, I’ve understood I am the lifelong support system for my kid, so from the beginning, at this tender age, I will be her biggest supporter.

Here are the things that you can do:

• It is very natural for our kids to feel scared and anxious while venturing into a new environment. As a parent, make yourself completely open to communication, be it on any topic.
• We have to understand what our kid is feeling in order to make them feel at ease in this new change. Use simple words and gestures that make your kid feel loved and open to interaction.
• If the kid feels supported and assured at their home, they would easily be able to talk to new kids in their playschool confidently.

Final Thought:

As a parent, I do want my kid to mingle with everyone in a friendly manner but also be careful with the company that she keeps. Don’t pressurize your child to be a certain way in order to have friends. So to all the new parents out there, let’s make this our responsibility to assure our children to be who they want to be, and no matter what they will always have a friend in us.

Make sure to let us know, what you think about the article in the comments or through Instagram. Do share your unique stories of how you helped your child to make friends!