When the Best Friend Drifts

When a best friendship slowly fades, it’s usually part of growing up, and it helps to say you’ve noticed.

A two-minute read, three things to try, for ages 7 to 11.

Where to start

Mention the friend’s absence once, side by side, without expecting an answer.
Let the after-school hour be slower than usual for a few weeks.
Keep up the activities your child already does, and don’t impose new ones.

The rest of the tip, and why it works, is in the library.

Source

Place2Be, Parenting Smart articles on friendship change

It goes with

When the Best Friend Moves On. For parents whose child’s best friend has drifted away, with no falling-out to explain it.
The Move to Secondary School. For parents whose child is about to go from being one of the oldest at school to one of the youngest.

The first chapter you open here is free to read in full.

Free on this subject

Friendships. What to do first, what helps, and who else can help. Free to read and to print.
Emotional regulation. What to do first, what helps, and who else can help. Free to read and to print.

The rest of the library

The Parent Book is a library written by therapists: chapters on the situations parents bring to our therapy rooms most often, quick tips for tonight, things to do together, and every sheet to print. One subscription opens all of it, from the day you join.

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If you need help right now

Published by Kensington Square Therapy. Company No. 16707111. Written by therapists registered with the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) and the National Counselling and Psychotherapy Society (NCPS). This page is not therapy, and not a substitute for professional support. The full library is at theparentbook.com.