Friends are important for all of us, at all stages of our lives as they enrich our lives and act as constant companions. They make our lives more colorful and fun, being with us through thick and thin, through high and low tides. So let’s take this Friendship Day to celebrate all our lovely friends, parents, and children alike! Our lives would not be the same without our amazing friends! Yet when it comes to friendship, as parents of children with special needs, you may worry about your child’s friendships as they struggle with their social interactions. And this is completely normal as you naturally want your child to form nurturing relationships with others.

Let’s be there to support our children as they grow and make new friends. After all, we all deserve the warmth and comfort our friends provide us. As you help your child through the journey of blossoming friendships, you can talk to them about the importance of friendships! You can give your child the gift of new friendships by preparing them for new playdates! Engaging in role-plays with your child if they are apprehensive about talking to new people can be a big help as well. 

All parents want their kids to have beautiful peer relations – and you can take the first step! If your child struggles to initiate conversation or play with other children, you can take the lead here and organise play dates for your child. This designated playtime with other kids can make your child feel more comfortable with others. It helps to start small with short play activities with one or two children, in order to make sure your child doesn’t feel overwhelmed by the new people around them. Slowly, your child will grow into friendships after your initial push. 

A tip for this can be to engage your child in group activities based on their interests like music or dance! This can help children engage with peers who have similar interests, thus giving them confidence in their first steps of friendship. Remember that your child is doing their best. We cannot let our own expectations of friendship come in the way of our children creating new relationships, so remember not to push them or yourself too hard!

Lastly, parents, remember that you are a friend too! Take time to meet your friends and take care of your social needs as well. Let’s appreciate and connect with the awesome friends we have, and try to be awesome friends as well!