Let the kids come up with the solution. That way they're motivated to stick to it. Making a habit of discussing relationships has enduring benefits. Once children enter school, parents' influence does not evaporate. For starters, parents can often choose what school their child attends.
Any school can be a jolt, however.
But it's equally crucial to tell a child to try again. With a younger child, your child can gain confidence, learn social skills and take the lead. If a youngster doesn't have a lot of friends because she's interested in science, say, and the other girls are into makeup, parents can enroll her in a class at the local natural-history museum to increase her odds of finding a kindred spirit. More troubling than shyness is bullying, which can take both physical and verbal forms. I teach them strategies to slow down so they don't act impulsively because they don't actually want to hurt people.