12/10/2026
"They haven't really made any friends yet."
It's something parents sometimes say to me a few weeks into a new term.
And I completely understand the worry.
We all want our children to feel like they belong.
But friendships don't always happen overnight.
I've watched so many friendships begin in the smallest ways.
Standing next to each other in a warm-up.
Laughing because they both got the same dance move wrong.
Helping each other remember a line.
Sharing a conversation at break.
At first, they're just little moments.
Then one week you notice they're saving each other a seat.
The next, they're chatting before class starts.
Before long, they're asking if their new friend is coming next Saturday.
Parents sometimes expect friendships to happen instantly.
I've learnt they usually grow the same way confidence does.
One small interaction at a time.
If your child hasn't found "their people" just yet, don't lose heart.
Sometimes they're much closer than you think.
