Win a Mini Microscooter plus a bundle of Alfie books

Read stories about friends having fun together.
Chat to them to find out who their friends are and what they like to play with.
Arrange to go to soft play, messy play, outside fun, book bug etc with parents/grandparents and their children/grandchildren so you get to know children with their families and form relationships.
Grandson only 2 ½ so too young for playdates but these could be arranged when he is old enough.
Don't interfere too much but be aware of what is happening.

Elainel, I think you've hit the nail on the head. Being aware of what's happening is so important, as is being sensitive to individual differences. In the case of my eldest grandson, now age 9, he has always been friendly, sociable and outgoing, with a ready smile and a happy knack of being liked by all. Making lots of friends has always seemed to come easily to him. By contrast my youngest grandson, now age 4, is quite shy. Fairly hesitant in new company, he responds well to lots of gentle, quiet encouragement. No pressure.

I have two grandchildren Sophie who is 12 and Max who is 5. They are both very sociable children and seem to make friends with everybody they meet. Both there parents have a wide circle of friends so I think probably because their parents socialise it seems to come natural to my grandchildren.

My top tip is to invite the neighbours children around to play that are the same age as your grandchild. Certainly, enhances your grandchild's sociable skills.

Speak to the children and grandson soon joins in.

Just getting children to mix with other children from an early age;baby groups/ nursery/play group etc. And making the time to talk to them if they have any sort of dispute with their friends, pointing out if they're in the wrong.

Talking to them about the importance of friends and sharing good standards that will help them through life my youngest son has just been on a weekend away with school friends he has known since his comprehensive days and they areal hitting 30 this year! My dear granddaughter is Seven and she sets great store on her friendship with her favourite classmate always telling me of the fun they have together I always told my sons treat people the way you like to be treat yourself and you won't go wrong!

Make friends with people with children around the same age who live close by or go to the same kids clubs. Having gatherings/barbecues with adults and kids, a glass of wine, dads playing football with the children breaks down barriers and everyone gains. Everyone gets to make new friends.

Help them mix with a whole range of different children and encourage them to talk and give their opinions about things but understand other children may think differently. Teach them that to make good friends you need to be a good friend.

Introducing them and talking to the other children, asking their name and age etc

Listen to what they have to say and who they mention.
Invite the child round for a playtime and or tea.

Take them places where there will be others there age and encourage them to play with another child who is on his or her own.
And making friends with other grannies helps - then we can have play dates

To mix socially with other children from a young age, so they can learn to interact with each other.

Hold a garden party for the kids from school - they then mix

you have to give them opportunities to play with other children through toddler groups and such like.

Being a friendly person yourself helps to show children that it's okay to communicate with people who aren't family members. Talking to other grandparents who might regularly frequent the same park, library or play space with their grandchildren gives your grandchild the opportunity to meet the other children on a regular basis and make friends. (It's also a good opportunity to make new friends yourself - an added bonus. ?).

I loved reading the Alfie books to my son. The adventures of him and his little sister Annie Rose were delightful without being overly saccharine. I must look them out for my grandson who is just learning to read.

encourage them gently to talk to other children about what they are doing/playing with ie toy, book. offer help ie push on swings and share sweets.

Make them self confident in all the little ways without over praising them. Give them lots of different experiences so they are not over awed by doing different things. Let them make choices whenever appropriate, what they wear from a choice supplied, what they eat when they go out for a treat, which path you take on a walk etc.

I don't think you can teach 'making friends' but a self-confident child will find it easy.

Sorry, not read the thread so may have repeated what others have said.

I break the ice by introducing or if we haven't met then I talk about the new person and remind them of the similarities they have and work on that.

DGS likes to take his time. He finds it easier to form friendships at the park rather than be introduced.

Luckily she is a very sociable little girl so I don't have to do much to encourage her to make friends.

toddler groups and just smiling at others parents/grandparents and chatting to them - it helps if the adults communicate and encourages the children to do so.

Have come round for tea days/evenings these work well, I found mixing with other parents and children a gift as everyone starts chatting and the children play

Take them to places where there are lots of children i.e playgrounds, beaches, play centres