07/29/2026
Just like any skill, friendship skills grow with practice. 🌱 Here are a few ways to help your child feel more confident connecting with others:
👀 Be a model friend
Children learn by watching. Show kindness, patience and active listening in your everyday interactions.
🧸 Practice with puppets or stuffed animals
Pretend play can help children act out social situations, practice words to use and explore what friendship looks like.
📚 Read stories about friendship
Story time is one of the best ways to teach your child what it means to be a good friend, so snuggle up with a good read, like:
📖 “A Bug, a Bear, and a Boy” by David McPhail
📖 “Hunter’s Best Friend at School” by Laura Malone Elliott
📖 “The Story of Fish and Snail” by Deborah Freedman
🤝 Start with one-on-one play dates
If groups feel overwhelming, smaller play dates can help children build confidence and connection.
✨ Respect the friend chemistry
Sometimes two children just don’t click. Personalities, energy levels and interests can clash, and there’s
no need to force a friendship.
Save this post for friendship-building ideas you can come back to anytime, and share it with a fellow
parent who's helping their little one grow social confidence. 🧩