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Behaviour/development

Starting Playgroup/Nursery

6 replies

MelYoung71 · 10/09/2006 09:57

My 2.9 year old has just started playgroup. It's a very friendly and small group with just 5 other children, however, my son seems to be scared of the other children. He won't interact with the other children at all and if one comes near him he walks off in the opposite direction. He's happy if he's playing on his own with no other children around. He's fine with the adults and interacts with them. We have the usual problem of crying when I leave him but this doesn't last long - it's the other children being there that he doesn't like. Can anyone offer any advice please?

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orangegiraffe · 10/09/2006 10:08

My dd started playgroup and would'nt talk to anyone for months, the manager asked to have a word with me, I thought it was really serious, she voiced her concerns about her lack of talking.
I remember it taking months for her to talk to anyone even the other children and then it just happened all of a sudden, dont worry they do come round, take him someplace where their are lots of children, that normally helps.
Good luck
Oh yeh there is a great book called the secret of happy children which offers good tips and advice

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Elibean · 10/09/2006 10:57

Mel, my dd is the same age - and is only just beginning to initiate relationships with other kids (ones she doesn't know). From what I've seen, most of the kids her age still need some degree of adult help in making friends/interacting...if left to their own devices they tend to be a bit wary of unknown children.
Does your ds like playing with other children he knows, at home or at their houses? Might a few playdates out of playgroup hours help?

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gigwig · 10/09/2006 11:25

My DS took a while to get to play with other children at pre-school - it can take a while so just give him a bit more time and see how he gets on - its a lot for them to take in when they first start.

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MelYoung71 · 10/09/2006 16:28

In response to Elibean's message, a few of my friends have children and he doesn't really like any of them. He's much happier when on his own. When we go to the park, he'll stay with me and not go on any of the facilities and will only venture out if someone (an adult he knows well) goes with him.

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Elibean · 10/09/2006 18:10

Ah well....sorry, thats no help then.
I'd give him some more time. dd did go through a phase of much preferring adults to other children (she was a bit nervous of other kids for a few months, partly because one had come up to her smiling in a playground then whacked her in the face - fair enough!) and it just seemed to change of its own accord.
Maybe the playgroup staff have some ideas? It can't possibly be the first time they've seen this sort of thing.

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MelYoung71 · 10/09/2006 19:37

Yep, I guess I'll just have to wait and see. He's only just started and these things take time I know. Thanks for all your advice.