A recent study from the University of Michigan Health C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital has found that a large number of children are struggling to make friends. The survey was sent out to 1,031 parents of at least one child between the ages of 6 and 12 in August and asked parents about their children’s social habits. Nineteen percent of parents (nearly 1 in 5) reported that their child either has no friends or not enough friends. It also appears to be involuntary isolation, with 90 percent of parents reporting their child would like more friends. Seventy-one percent of parents are actively involved in helping their children socialize, with 41 percent arranging play dates, 40 percent enrolling their children in activities to meet children with similar interests, and 24 percent making friends with parents who have children of a similar age to their own. Thirty-three percent of participants also give their children advice on how to make friends.

There was a wide variety of reasons why children struggle to make friends, with 21 percent reporting their child struggles with social awkwardness or shyness, 18 percent stating their children not having time, and 16 percent stating there were few places to play or get together. Other kids already having friend groups, being men, and a child’s medical condition or appearance were other reasons that children struggle to make friends. The study also found that most parents (59 percent) want to know the parents of their children’s friends and that 29 percent of parents are concerned about their children’s friends leading them into doing something they don’t approve of.

Researchers stressed the importance of childhood friendship in helping a child’s development. “Children are still developing their social skills, and they practice these skills while making and maintaining friendships. Parents should expect children to make mistakes and be ready to listen and offer advice when misunderstandings occur. It is important for parents to remember that developing social skills will take years and that making mistakes can be valuable learning experiences,” the report stated. While 63 percent of parents stated a preference that their children make friends with children whose family had similar backgrounds to their own, Sarah Clark, M.P.H., co-director of the Mott Poll encouraged parents to let their children branch out. “Limiting a child’s friends to only those from similar backgrounds may hamper their ability and comfort in navigating diverse networks in the future,” she stated.