My daughter’s friends keep leaving the country, and she isn’t taking it well at all. Do you guys know of any activities that are fun, but don’t depend on other friends that she might actually lose?
It’s funny, but we recently read the same concern on a couple of online forums; must be the season for it. Anyway, there are plenty of activities that foster a team spirit – and so contribute to social skills – but also encourage individuality and personal achievement. We can recommend team sports, especially martial arts such as karate and judo (Abu Dhabi Combat Club; 02 443 0355). These encourage developing relationships, but also keep the kids’ individuality front and centre. Sports that focus on solo efforts but include other people also apply; junior golf is a good example (Abu Dhabi Golf Club; 02 558 8990). Children who register for these classes tend to have parents who are thinking longer-term, and are less likely to move, so your daughter might have a better chance of making lasting friends there.
Some mothers swear by Facebook, and while we’re loathe to recommend activities that require your child to stick to a screen for hours at a time, there might be some wisdom in encouraging her to keep in touch online, if only to ease the separation sorrows until she’s had a chance to move on. Other mothers believe these kinds of problems are solved by making the child more dependent on the family for love and support; but this will likely work far better if your daughter has brothers or sisters.
And it’s not all bad news. While research does indicate changes in a child’s life might cause difficulties later on, this only applies if the changes are numerous and unreasonable. Better still, a child who has got used to dealing with disappointment at an early age might learn to adapt better, and have an easier time as a teen. However, do watch out for a decreased interest in school and learning – some kids can start resenting the school environment if it keeps changing. Talk to your daughter’s teachers if you have any concerns.
The best thing you can do is keep her busy and interested in plenty of activities – it’s difficult to recommend any since you haven’t mentioned her age – and teach her that friends will come and go, and that distances are no longer an issue in this modern world. Head to our kids listings on page 57 for activity ideas, and best of luck to you and the little one.
