Helping DD6 make new friends in school

[TheLittleRoo]

I would like to encourage DD6 to make a variety of new friends next year in school. Last year, she made friends with a little girl in class who we don't think is the best influence on her. Also, all the other little girls in class didn't like this girl, and hence our DD was painted with the same brush. Toward the end of the year, DD was beginning to shine through with her own personality and making some new fledgling friendships.

I don't expect to have the old BFF in her class next year. What can I do to foster budding new friendships before and after school starts? I am a somewhat shy person, where she is very outgoing. It's hard for me to call up moms and ask for playdates, but that's what I've been doing. However, some girls have come over 2-3 times to play yet are not reciprocating. What does that mean? Should we back off?

It seems like so many little girls are BFFs with someone already, that it's like a "break up" to allow another friendship to develop. DDs teacher said that last year, that one of DDs new friends was having a hard time with her BFF being jealous of DD's new friendship. UGGHHH!!! DD is my only daughter, boys seems to be so much less catty!

Any suggestions? Just keep inviting kids over? DD is very straightforward too, I worry that her bluntness may be hurting her when she approaches girls at school.

 

[Manymice]

I would let things just happen naturally. As classes and classmates change at the beginning of each school year it seems like new friendships bloom. I'm sure your little girl is a sweetheart and will fit in just perfectly! I think it's much harder on us moms who just want to cushion any hurts that our little ones may encounter.

 

[badblackpug]

Have a party! "back to school" or Halloween or whatever. Invite several little girls then there is less pressure for a 1:1 relationship. Maybe she will make friends with a little group of girls. Also, involve her in some activities. Dance, brownies, sports...etc.

 

[luckey-lasvegas]

Another good party to have is a book swap party. Each child brings five books to the party and the kids swap books with each other. I'd like to tell you that it will get better but from my experience 2 - 4 grade are the worst for the girls being catty to each other. People are busy so if their is one paticular girl that your DD likes and you like keep inviting her even if they don't recipricate. My DD BFF's mom is an OB / GYN she's not home all the time or has very unstable hour as you might imagine. DD's Bff loves to go anywhere she can with us and it's worth it to me to go pick her up and take her home so that DD can have someone to play with.

 

[Benducci]

At 6 things change weekly - I would wait & see how things go at school- what happened last year may not happen this year- I can tell you my girls were best friends with some girls in the beginning of the year & would flipflop constantly.