Hello, this is Lynda Williams with MyExpertSolution. I serve as a lecturer at California State University Fullerton in the Multiple Subject Credential program. I appreciate getting your question today.

Your question reads: "We recently relocated and my 8-year-old daughter is having trouble making friends. It' s really destroying her confidence and her school experience. How can I help her with this very delicate problem?"

I appreciate your question. It is difficult for parents to sit by and watch their children have few friends to play with. If I were you, I would take an active role in trying to help your daughter make friends. Here' s one thing you can try: contact another parent of someone in the class that is a possible friend, a nice little girl who may be able to connect with your daughter. Ask the parent if you can have her daughter over to your house. Explain that your daughter is trying to make new friends.

You may also want to make sure that your daughter joins Girl Scouts, sports or a church youth group. This way she will be surrounded by children who are her same age and are doing activities together. She may be able to bond and make friends with others in this way.

You may also want to actively teach her some social skills. Some children seem to need some direct instruction. I ask my children, "What words can you use to make friends?" I tell my children that giving attention to others, asking them to ask the other child about themselves and showing an interest in the other child' s interest will help them to make friends. Inviting another child along on a family adventure or over to your house to play will do a lot to help your child establish friendships with other children. Likewise, talking to your daughter about what she can do to be a good friend to others will help her make and keep friends. These are all important like skills and I am so glad that you are addressing them early with your daughter.

If you need to, you may want to elicit the help of a teacher. Ask your child' s teacher to help her establish some friendships with other children in her class. The teacher may be able to group them together for assignments or have them sit next to each other for an activity. All of you working together can help your daughter to make friends.

I hope this has helped. You may also want to read the article I included on helping children make friends. My name is Lynda Williams and this is MyExpertSolution. If you have further questions or would like to ask something about this again, please submit another question. Thank you.