Teaching Your Child to Make Friends: A Parent's Essential Guide

Friendship skills don’t just happen by accident. Many parents wonder how to help their child build meaningful friendships. The good news is that these skills can be practiced intentionally and developed over time. This guide will walk you through what friendship looks like at different ages, how play supports social skills, and how workshops like those offered by KEBM provide a safe space for children to practice making friends.

Children develop friendship skills through play and interaction in safe environments.

What Friendship Looks Like at Different Ages

Children’s understanding of friendship changes as they grow. Knowing what to expect at each stage helps parents support their child’s social development.

Toddlers (1-3 years)

At this age, children are just beginning to notice others. They may play alongside peers but not yet with them. Sharing and taking turns are emerging skills but often require adult guidance.

Preschoolers (3-5 years)

Children start to engage in cooperative play. They begin to show preferences for certain playmates and can express simple feelings like liking or disliking someone. Conflicts may arise but are valuable learning moments.

Early Elementary (6-8 years)

Friendships become more stable. Children understand the idea of friendship as mutual liking and trust. They start to communicate more clearly and resolve conflicts with less adult help.

Tweens (9-12 years)

Friendships deepen with shared interests and emotional support. Peer approval becomes important, and children may form close-knit groups. Social skills like empathy and negotiation are more refined.

Understanding these stages helps parents recognize where their child is and what skills to encourage next.

How Play Supports Social Skills

Play is the natural way children learn to interact with others. It provides a low-pressure environment to practice communication, cooperation, and problem-solving.

Role-playing games

Pretend play allows children to explore different social roles and perspectives. For example, playing “store” teaches turn-taking and polite conversation.

Group games

Games with rules encourage children to follow directions, wait their turn, and handle winning or losing gracefully.

Creative play

Building with blocks or drawing together fosters collaboration and sharing ideas.

Through play, children learn to read social cues, express themselves, and build confidence in social settings.

How KEBM Workshops Help Kids Practice Safely

At KEBM, we focus on building social confidence through guided play. Our workshops provide a structured, supportive environment where children can practice friendship skills with peers.

Guided activities

Trained facilitators lead games and exercises that target key social skills like listening, sharing, and empathy.

Small groups

Workshops keep group sizes manageable to ensure each child receives attention and feels comfortable participating.

Positive reinforcement

Children receive encouragement and feedback to build self-esteem and motivation.

Parent involvement

We provide parents with tools and tips to continue supporting friendship skills at home.

These workshops give children a safe space to try new social behaviors, make mistakes, and grow their confidence.

Helping your child make friends is a process that takes patience and practice. By understanding what friendship looks like at different ages, encouraging play that builds social skills, and considering supportive environments like KEBM workshops, you can guide your child toward stronger, happier friendships.