It can be hard to make friends Meeting new people can sometimes make young people nervous. Some of the thoughts which might run through their head may include:
- Feeling worried that they will be rejected, or that they will embarrass themselves.
- Comparing themselves to others or being too hard on themselves
- Having previous friendships before that ended and they are not sure why? Feeling afraid that they won’t know the ‘right’ thing to say.
- Feeling too nervous to talk to new people.
It’s important that your child understands other people might be feeling just as nervous.
- Tips to give your child when making friends
- BE FRIENDLY – If someone is friendly towards you, try to be friendly in return.
- SMILE – If you can, smile.
- ASK – Ask the other person about themselves – you might find you have lots in
- common.
- TAKE TIME – Give yourself time. It can sometimes take a while to build up a friendship.
Fitting in
We all want to fit in and feel like we belong. Sometimes, however, your child may feel like they have to say or do things that you don’t like in order to be part of a group. Here are some tips to help them manage this:
- DECIDE – Know what you’re willing to do and what you’re not ok with.
- LAUGH – Use humour to take the pressure or attention off of you.
- SAY NO – If you don’t feel ok about something, it is ok to say ‘no’.
- MOVE AWAY FROM THE SITUATION – Be direct and say you don’t like feeling under pressure.
- GET SUPPORT – Talk to a friend or an adult you trust, or talk to.
Ref: www.ispcc.ie/Supporting a Child with Social, Communication and Interaction Difficulties
