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Encouraging your child to spend time with others

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Wellbeing & Mental Health Wellbeing for kids & teens

We all know how strange the last couple of years have been. And the hardest thing for many of us has been the lack of contact with our friends and family. Many of us will have been grateful for phone calls and video chats, but it isn’t the same as seeing them in person.

This will have been especially tough for children and young people. They are still learning about and establishing friendships, and may have been quite lonely being separated from their friends.

It’s important that children spend time with others. Playing and spending time with their friends is a crucial part of all children’s development, no matter how old they are. However, some children may be feeling nervous about being with others after all this time. We have some advice if you are worried that your child is anxious about seeing people again.

What do I do if my child doesn’t want to spend time with others?

Children will have spent a lot less time around others over the last two years. They’ll have had to entertain themselves and get used to playing on their own. It’s understandable that some might need a little help. Lots of children will be feeling the same, and the changes over the last few months will be hard for them to process. But there are things you can do to help make it easier for your child to start seeing people again.

In this short film, Cherie Morgan from Play Scotland explains how you can help reassure your child if they're anxious.

Tips to encourage them to meet others

The benefits of spending time together

In this short video, parents and carers from Glasgow explain how their kids have benefitted from spending time with other children over the summer holidays.

Last updated: 2 May, 2023