Parenting is working on an article about school-aged friendships and social groups -- what's in, what's out, how kids fit in to the group, or don't -- and we need your anecdotes. If any of the following scenarios have happened to your 6- to 12-year-old child, please e-mail Margaret Renkl, the writer of the article, at margaret_renkl@hotmail.com, with your child's story.
The scenarios include:
- Your school-age child has found a group of special friends for the first time
- Your child is suddenly being excluded from a group at school
- Your child is worried about not having the "right" clothes, hairstyle, shoes, lunchbox, etc.
- You catch your child being part of a group that's excluding another child
- Your child plays happily at home with kids of the opposite sex (siblings, cousins, neighbors), but says that opposite-gender kids at school are gross and won't play with them
- Your child understands what's expected of him or her to be socially accepted but refuses to adapt or play that game
- Your child isn't interested in some games/clothes/toys/movies but pretends to be to get along with the group
