We went to a wedding reception the other day. Lil D and I didn’t know anyone there since it was someone from DH’s office. However, that was hardly a deterrent for her. Within 5 minutes, she had made friends and was soon running about in the hall, playing hide and seek with her new pals.

DH and I marvelled at the ease with which she slipped into the groove — a far cry from both of us!

On the way back, I told Lil D that I envied her ability to make friends at the drop of a hat, and asked her how she did it. She proceeded to enlighten me with a step by step procedure, which I reproduce below:

1. First of all, you have to ask your parents if you can go and play with them. If they say yes, then you can go, otherwise you should just stay where you are.
2. If you can go, first, you ask their name, and then they will ask your name.
3. Then, you ask them how old they are and which school they are in, and then, they will ask you the same.
4. Then, you can ask them if you can play with them. And if they say yes, you can play with them. Simple!

However, I had some “doubts”. I asked for her advice in my case, since (I explained to her) I could not ask my parents if I could go and make friends, I could not ask someone their age, and of course, I couldn’t ask which school they were in.

She thought for a bit, then advised me sagely that I should say Hi to them when I meet them for the first time, and then, if I keep on meeting them, then I should speak more and more to them and thus, become their friend.

So, if you need any advice on how to make friends, you know whom to get in touch with! 🙂