Have you recently moved or are planning to move in the near future? One of the sensitive topics for kids may be how to make new friends. Leaving old friends behind can be a stressful time for young ones.
Activity Ideas to Make New Friends:
- Once you’ve started to settle into your new home, introduce yourself to some of your new neighbours (be sure to bring your kids along). Do they have any kids? What school do they attend? What activities are there for kids in the area?
- Invite some of your new neighbours over for a barbeque or housewarming party. This will be a great opportunity for everyone to get to know each other better. Make sure to plan some interactive games for the kids to play together.
- If your child has already started at a new school, have them invite some of their new friends and their parents to your housewarming party. It’s a great opportunity for you to make new friends as well.
- Is there a special holiday coming up? If so, you could throw a small party and invite some new neighbours and classmates.
- If your home is still messy & disorganized from the move, you could invite some of your new neighbours to the park for a fun game of soccer.
- Here are some easy conversational tips to give your kids while trying to make new friends. This helps to relieve some of their fear when they are trying to think of things to talk to their new friends about.
- It’s always important to meet the parents of your child’s new friends as well. Not only can you make new friends but it’s a great way to ensure proper communication during play dates and other activities.
Did you move to a new area as a child? Did you find it difficult to make new friends?
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What a great post Cheryl. I did move a lot as a child and I think a list of advice like this one would be perfect for parents who aren’t quite sure how to ease the transition for their kids. I was just told to go play lol but then again we are talking twenty-thirty years ago when that is what kids did. I love the idea of taking it to the park if the house is not where a parent wants it to be for visitors. Happy New Year by the way. All the best in 2013!
I moved a lot as a kid and even with my children moved across the country twice.School activities, sports and playgroups were always good
Great suggestions. We moved when I was 14 from Montreal to Ottawa. Everything was different!! EVERYTHING! Luckily I had two girls that lived close by that i became quick friends with.
I moved in grade 5. It was terrible. One of my worst memories. I think that can be a hard age to move for girls…the worst part for me was that there were only 4 girls in the new class I went to and they had all been together since kindergarten. I guess the one good thing about my bad experience is that it prepared me for real life…not everyone will treat people kindly, I learned that lesson young.
We’ve moved several times in the last five years. I think those moves were easier for our daughters (our oldest is almost five) than us. We’re trying to teach her to introduce herself and to ask the other person’s name when she starts playing with them. She’s very social and often just starts playing with a kid, and then yelling, “Little boy, come here!” or “Little girl, do this!” It’s cute, but a bit rude! 🙂 Thanks for the tips.
I moved in November of Grade 6 so I made a lot of new friends at school. I love your ideas of meeting the kids and the parents in the neighbourhood!
I love this post. I seem to forget how hard it was when my parents moved me in the spring when I was in grade 5. That was such a hard transition. I never did click with any of those kids… I have to say, if I ever had to do that with my kids, I would wait until there was a break in the school year (say summer or Christmas). Great advice, Cheryl