Simple Steps to Find Your Childhood Friends 

We all have our reasons for wanting to find old friends from childhood, whether it’s to reminisce about the good old days or reconnect with someone who helped us grow up and become the person we are today. Regardless of how long it’s been, reconnecting is never too late.

Finding your childhood friends isn’t as hard as you think it is. Sure, some have gone on to have lives completely different from the ones they led back in high school, but that doesn’t mean you can’t find them.

Here are ten simple steps you can take to track down your childhood buddies using technology and other strategies you may have never considered before.

1. Use social media.

Social media is a great way to find old friends. You can use sites like Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn to find people you went to school with or who live in your area. Just enter their name into the search bar and see what comes up.

Here’s how to use Facebook to find your old friends:

• First, go to Facebook and type your school name in the search bar.
• Once you’re on your school’s page, click on the People tab.
• You will see a list of people who have liked your school’s page. Scroll through the list and see if you recognize any names.
• If you find someone you think might be a friend from childhood, send them a message and introduce yourself.

Another way to find old friends is to search for your hometown on Facebook.

• Once you’re on your hometown’s page, click on the People tab and scroll through the list of people who have liked the page.

Of course, if you’re unsure about someone, you can always send them a message and ask if they remember you.

2. Alumni associations

Another great way to find old friends is through alumni associations. In addition, many schools have online databases where you can search for people by name, graduation year, or even major.

If you’re having trouble finding someone, try reaching out to the association’s president or an administrator. They may be able to help you track down the person you’re looking for.

3. Use online databases

There are many online databases that can help you find your childhood friends. Using Nuwber, you search for your friends by name, location, or phone number. Once you find them, you will get their contact details and social media links.

Another site to try is Leadar. If you have any idea what profession your childhood friend has, that will help sort through the results. If you have their old phone number, head to PhoneHistory. There, you can find any number’s history and see who owns it now. Perhaps, your friend still uses this number?

4. Ask family members

Another step in finding your childhood friends is to ask your family members. They may be able to provide clues as to where they are. If you have a picture of them, that would also be helpful. If not, try looking through photos on Facebook or other social media sites.

5. Visit your old neighborhoods

If you’re looking for your childhood friends, you should start by visiting your old neighborhoods. Talk to the neighbors, and see if anyone knows where your friends have moved. You might find some old photos or mementos to help activate their memory.

6. Contact organization

Old employers are a great place to start if you want to reconnect with old colleagues. Start by contacting organizations they were involved in when you were both children. These organizations can be valuable because they may have information about your friends’ whereabouts or contact information.

You can also find out if they are still part of the organization and get their contact information from there. If they’ve changed jobs, it may be difficult for you to find them on LinkedIn. But if they’re still at the same company, you’ll have an easier time finding their contact information.

You may also want to contact their current employer if you know who it is, so they will give you their new address and contact information if they are still employed there.

7. Check newspaper archives

Assuming you don’t have your friends’ current contact information, one of the first places you can look is in newspaper archives. You can search for your friends by name, city, and state. Often, you can find an address and phone number as well.

If your friend has a common name, you may need to narrow your search by including a middle initial or maiden name.

8. Check yearbooks from your old schools

If you want to find your childhood friends, one of the best places to start is by checking your old yearbooks. This can be a great way to get started, especially if you don’t have much information to go on.

9. Make a personalized ad yourself

A personalized ad might work better than a generic post because people who grew up with you will be more likely to recognize you. In the description, include your contact information and a photo of yourself from when you were younger. Don’t forget to mention any groups that you might have belonged to.

If your childhood friends live nearby, it would be worth putting an ad on Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace. If not, try a college alumni website or search for them on LinkedIn.

10. Hire a professional investigator

A professional investigator can help you find your friend using their resources and databases. They will also be able to conduct interviews and run background checks. Hiring a professional investigator is a last resort, but it may be the only way to find your friend if you’ve exhausted all other options.

Final Thoughts

You have no excuse not to find your old friends. The steps outlined above are straightforward and beginner-friendly. However, if you’re still having trouble locating them on social media, there are several other services that can help you find old friends.

Whether it’s an old email address or phone number they used when they were younger, there is no limit to how many ways you can try and reconnect with your childhood friends!