Middle school can be a difficult time for kids. Many have become accustomed to a small circle of friends and a relatively easy-to-navigate elementary school. In middle school, a tween can find herself surrounded by hundreds of strangers from elementary schools other than her own. If her closest childhood friends don't have the same homeroom or classes, she may feel overwhelmed by the prospect of making new friends. You yourself may feel at a loss when you see your child feeling so ill at ease. But there are things that you can do to ease the transition.
Social Skills and Behavior
All children need a solid foundation in social skills to make friends, Catherine Emery and William G. Huitt write in the journal "Educational Psychology Interactive." If you see that your child has behaviors, such as bossiness, that put off other children and keep him from forming friendships, help him develop new behaviors. Role-play social scenarios that give your child difficulty. You'll be able to correct off-putting behavior and help your child feel more confident.
You can also ask the school counselor about social skills groups. If your child is awkward socially, these groups can be helpful, and older children can be more receptive to learning social skills from an unrelated adult.
Limit your child's use of electronic entertainment if he has a tendency to avoid interaction with other children. Children sometimes opt out of socializing and use television, games and the computer to fill their time.
Social Opportunities
Create an overall home and social environment that encourages friendships. Help your child find a niche at school or in the community, advises Duke University's Fast Track program. Children who are interested in music can make friends in a band or choir, for example. Children who are good at a sport can be part of a team and develop friendships there.
Make your home welcoming and entertaining so that your child feels comfortable asking classmates over. You can also invite potential friends on family outings to places that young teens enjoy. A trip to an amusement park, an ice skating rink or the lake are all activities that can help break the ice and turn acquaintances into friends. An advantage to this approach is that you will know your child's friends.
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