8 Activities to Help Children Make New Friends: Fun Ideas for Building Confidence and Friendships

Making friends is an important part of childhood. Friendships help children develop confidence, communication skills and a sense of belonging while creating memories they’ll treasure for years to come.

While some children naturally make friends wherever they go, others may need a little extra encouragement, especially when starting nursery, school, moving to a new area or trying a new activity.

The good news is that joining clubs, classes and group activities gives children the opportunity to meet others with similar interests in a relaxed and supportive environment.

At Club Hub UK, parents can discover thousands of children’s activities, clubs, classes and family events across the UK, making it easier than ever to help children build new friendships.

In This Article

1. Join Sports Clubs That Encourage Teamwork
2. Try Dance and Performing Arts Classes
3. Explore Creative Classes for Children
4. Attend Baby and Toddler Classes
5. Join Holiday Clubs During the School Holidays
6. Visit Family Events and Community Activities
7. Support Shy Children with Confidence-Building Tips
8. Find Children’s Activities Near You

Why Friendships Are Important for Children

Friendships play a vital role in children’s emotional, social and personal development.

Strong friendships help children:

• Build confidence
• Improve communication skills
• Learn teamwork
• Develop empathy
• Improve problem-solving skills
• Feel included
• Build resilience
• Support emotional wellbeing
• Learn conflict resolution
• Create happy childhood memories

Meeting other children through shared interests often leads to friendships that continue for many years.

1. Join Sports Clubs That Encourage Teamwork

Team sports are one of the easiest ways for children to meet others.

Working together towards a common goal naturally encourages communication and cooperation.

Popular sports include:

• Football
• Rugby
• Cricket
• Basketball
• Netball
• Hockey
• Tennis
• Athletics
• Gymnastics
• Swimming

Children don’t need to be experts to join. Many clubs welcome beginners and focus on participation, enjoyment and confidence.

2. Try Dance and Performing Arts Classes

Dance and performing arts classes are fantastic for children who enjoy expressing themselves creatively.

These classes often involve partner work, teamwork and group performances, helping friendships develop naturally.

Popular choices include:

• Ballet
• Street dance
• Musical theatre
• Drama
• Singing
• Cheerleading
• Tap dance
• Contemporary dance
• Acro dance

Performing together also helps children celebrate each other’s achievements and build confidence.

3. Explore Creative Classes for Children

Creative activities encourage children to chat, collaborate and share ideas while working on exciting projects.

Great options include:

• Art classes
• Craft workshops
• Pottery
• Creative writing clubs
• Coding clubs
• LEGO clubs
• STEM workshops
• Science clubs
• Cookery classes
• Photography clubs

Working alongside other children helps conversations develop naturally without pressure.

4. Attend Baby and Toddler Classes

Friendships begin much earlier than many parents realise.

Baby and toddler classes give little ones opportunities to socialise while also helping parents meet other local families.

Popular options include:

• Baby sensory
• Baby massage
• Music classes
• Baby signing
• Stay and play sessions
• Toddler groups
• Soft play sessions
• Messy play
• Gymnastics
• Swimming lessons

Many lifelong friendships begin through regular weekly classes.

5. Join Holiday Clubs During the School Holidays

School holidays are the perfect opportunity for children to meet new friends outside the classroom.

Holiday clubs often bring together children from different schools who share similar interests.

Popular holiday clubs include:

• Multi-activity camps
• Football camps
• Dance workshops
• Theatre schools
• Coding camps
• Forest School
• Art camps
• Science workshops
• Gymnastics camps
• Outdoor adventure clubs

Many children return year after year because of the friendships they’ve made.

6. Visit Family Events and Community Activities

Not every friendship starts in a classroom or club.

Family events provide relaxed opportunities for children to meet others while enjoying fun activities together.

Look out for:

• Family fun days
• Community festivals
• Seasonal events
• Charity fun runs
• Library events
• Museum workshops
• Nature trails
• Outdoor cinema events
• Farm events
• Christmas and Halloween celebrations

These events encourage children to mix with others while enjoying shared experiences.

7. Support Shy Children with Confidence-Building Tips

Every child is different, and some need more time to feel comfortable.

You can support them by:

• Choosing smaller group activities.
• Letting them try a free taster session.
• Staying nearby at first if appropriate.
• Encouraging them without applying pressure.
• Praising effort rather than results.
• Arriving early so they can settle in.
• Choosing activities based on their interests.
• Giving them time to build confidence.

Remember, friendships often develop gradually through regular attendance.

8. Find Children’s Activities Near You

Looking for the perfect activity to help your child make new friends?

Club Hub UK makes it easy to discover thousands of children’s activities across the UK.

Simply search by:

• Location
• Child’s age
• Activity type

Whether you’re looking for:

• Baby classes
• Toddler groups
• Sports clubs
• Dance classes
• Drama schools
• Swimming lessons
• Holiday clubs
• Art classes
• Coding clubs
• Martial arts
• Music lessons
• SEND activities
• Family events

You’ll find trusted children’s activity providers ready to welcome new families.

Why Regular Activities Build Confidence

Attending the same club each week helps children become familiar with their surroundings and the people around them.

Over time they begin to:

• Recognise familiar faces.
• Start conversations.
• Build trust.
• Work together.
• Celebrate achievements.
• Feel part of a community.

The more comfortable children feel, the easier it becomes to build meaningful friendships.

Helping Friendships Grow

Friendships aren’t built overnight, but every new experience gives children the chance to meet someone new.

Whether they’re scoring goals together, performing on stage, creating artwork or exploring the outdoors, shared experiences help children build confidence, social skills and lasting friendships.

If your child is ready to meet new friends, why not explore the thousands of children’s clubs, classes and family events available through Club Hub UK? Their next best friend could be waiting just around the corner.