How do you find a friend for a kid? Back in the day my friends were the kids who lived down the street. But here’s our problem.
I’d like to have Z find some local playmates. But, she goes to school an hour away from us. She goes to church with the SO but she’s the only kid in the congregation. We don’t have any neighbors with kids either. We live in a purely kid-free environment. We walk to local playgrounds but have never seen another kid there. I’m thinking of walking Z up and down the street with a sign around her neck that says, “Friend needed!”
What Kim said:
“As an only child who lived out in the country, I can relate. I had my horse, my dog and my books. I don’t remember being particularly lonely.”
Wow, I could have written that myself! I remember long days spent, just me, myself, and my dog, carrying my backpack around with a good book and usually a notebook and pen. I was always a writer, always wanted to record everything. I did have friends, but I didn’t spend nearly as much time with them as I think was expected. I loved my time alone. It gave me a lot of confidence.
Of course none of this is to say that Z shouldn’t have friends, and yeah, I’d find that very difficult too if there was just no one. Right now, Miles goes to school and has his friends there, and Beth goes to daycare a few days a week and has her friends there, and the evenings and weekends are mostly just family time. We don’t know a lot of other parents in our small town. I wish we did.
Are there any youth groups in the area, like a community center, something like that?
As an only child who lived out in the country, I can relate. I had my horse, my dog and my books. I don’t remember being particularly lonely. Do kids still just sit in the middle of a field and look at the passing clouds or are they in need of constant stimulation of electronics? I’m still content alone and outdoors. And I still don’t always play well with others – too bossy, I guess. ;o)
What about swim lessons, or something like that? Maybe the town has a parks and rec or the local school that may have some activities? Summer is coming up…
It’s hard since she isn’t with you full time. Otherwise I’d recommend scouts or some type of class where she’d meet kids her own age.
You could always put an ad on craigslist looking for playdates.