Parenting Perspective 

Normalising Change and Building Inner Stability 

When a child’s friend group reshuffles each term, it can quietly shake their confidence. One term, they are surrounded by familiar faces; the next, they may find themselves sitting beside new ones. Parents often sense this emotional turbulence, a mixture of excitement, uncertainty, and subtle hurt. The most effective way to support your child is by normalising this change rather than fearing it. Explain that friendships are like rivers, often flowing and reshaping over time, yet the most genuine bonds find ways to stay connected. You could say, ‘The people around you may change, but the goodness you bring to your friendships never fades’. This perspective helps your child see stability as something that comes from within, not from external arrangements. 

Maintaining Connections Through Small, Consistent Acts 

Encourage your child to take active but gentle steps to maintain older friendships. A simple message asking how they are, sitting together at lunch once a week, or sharing a private joke can keep the warmth alive even when daily schedules differ. Explain that true bonds are not built through constant presence but through consistent care and thoughtfulness. Children learn emotional constancy when they realise that friendship does not demand possession, only kindness. These small gestures teach empathy, which is the ability to remain connected even when life moves people apart. 

Fostering Adaptability and Social Courage 

Changes in friendships can also be moments for growth. When a child learns to adapt to new groups without losing touch with their old friends, they gain resilience. Help your child to reframe these reshuffles as opportunities to practise social courage. Encourage them to think, ‘I can be kind to everyone and still have my close friends’. Teach them to approach new classmates with curiosity instead of fear. You can model this in your own relationships by reaching out to old friends and welcoming new people at gatherings, showing through your behaviour that connections can evolve without disloyalty. This combination of stability and openness builds a strong emotional foundation, preparing children for life’s social transitions with grace. 

Broadening Their Social Circle 

Remind your child that school friendships are just one part of their life. Encourage them to maintain bonds through shared activities outside of the classroom, such as sports, study groups, or faith-based gatherings. When friendships are rooted in shared values rather than just convenience, they are more likely to survive changing timetables. A child who feels anchored in multiple circles learns that their sense of belonging is not fragile. They begin to value the quality of their friendships over the quantity, and depth over popularity. 

Spiritual Insight 

The Quranic View on Brotherhood and Mercy 

Allah Almighty states in the noble Quran at Surah Al Hujuraat (49), Verse 10: 

‘Indeed, the believers are brothers (to each other); so, make peace with your brothers; and seek piety from Allah (Almighty) so that you may receive His Mercy.’ 

This verse beautifully captures the Islamic perspective on relationships, teaching that believers are bound by faith before friendship, and that this unity is a mercy from Allah Almighty. It encourages both children and parents to prioritise compassion and reconciliation. When a friend drifts away or joins another group, Islam teaches us not to interpret it through the ego but through mercy and goodwill. Encourage your child to respond with dignity, to greet others warmly, to wish them well, and to maintain a heart free of resentment. By doing so, they protect their own peace and embody the noble character that Allah Almighty loves. 

The Prophetic Guidance on True Companionship 

It is recorded in Sahih Muslim, Hadith 2564, that the holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: 

‘A man is upon the religion of his friend, so let one of you look at whom he befriends.’ 

This hadith reminds us that the company we keep shapes who we become. Encourage your child to value friends who uplift their manners, faith, and integrity. Teach them that even when groups change, the principles of good friendship, such as honesty, kindness, and loyalty, remain constant. True companionship is not measured by the amount of time spent together but by how it strengthens one’s character and brings one closer to Allah Almighty. 

Friendship in Islam is an act of the heart, a bond maintained through sincerity, forgiveness, and the remembrance of Allah Almighty. When children are guided to nurture relationships for His sake, they stop fearing change. They learn to let people move in and out of their lives with grace, carrying the calm assurance that love given sincerely never disappears but continues to bless them.