Signs That Your Child Is Unhappy With Their School Friends
New Idea|November 9, 2020
Expert advice for navigating your young child’s friendship concerns
Dr McAlpine
Signs That Your Child Is Unhappy With Their School Friends

When your child goes off to primary school, making friends becomes integral to their growth and development. But these friendships can be tricky to navigate, particularly if they wind up around peers who make them feel uncomfortable.

Parenting expert Dr Rosina McAlpine (winwinparenting. com) notes that while most early school year friendships provide positive experiences, such as “learning to share, developing empathy and collaboration skills”, unhelpful peer relationships can have a “significant negative impact”.

“Parents need to be aware of their child’s friendships to ensure they are positive,” says Dr McAlpine.

ENCOURAGE COMMUNICATION

It’s crucial that parents consistently keep the lines of communication open with their child. “Make opportunities to talk, whether it’s on the way home from school, at dinner or before bed. Do this by asking questions about their day, friendships and school,” suggests Dr McAlpine.

Parents can also help guide their child towards positive friendships by talking about what makes someone “a good friend”.

This story is from the November 9, 2020 edition of New Idea.

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This story is from the November 9, 2020 edition of New Idea.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.