Primary school play dates and friendships

[pollylocketpickedapocket]

Hi so I’m a bit worried about my little girl, she’s almost 5 and in reception (kw place)
She is extremely sociable, an only child and I suppose a bit spoilt.
School started wonderfully and at parents evening in November I was told she was making beautiful relationships with children and staff.
Since lockdown there’s also a little girl who she is friendly with, they went to the same holiday club at half term, but this week she has told me she won’t play with her.
I’m really upset for her, is this how it goes at school??
I did ask her to play with others kids but she said they wouldn’t. I spoke to the teacher who said she’d keep an eye on things and my dd came home yesterday saying the dinner lady got her playing with another child.
With being an only child when all back at school I want to be a bit more proactive in helping with play dates etc. How did you go about this.
Without wanting to drip feed I had a pretty crappy time in school and I really don’t want this for my little girl.

They are still very little and figuring out friendships at that age. It's really not the time for playdates (unless you are in Aus/NZ where this would be more acceptable). But normally, I would just find out who possible friends are she might want to invite over and then approach the parents at pick up and see if we could plan an afternoon when they could come over. I would either meet them in the morning to put the carseat in my car and would collect them both, or parent could drive over with me to drop their dc off. At the moment, I don't think having someone over to your house is sensible, but you could suggest meeting up a playground if the other parent would be happy to bring their dc and either drop them off for an hour or stay there too.

Once things are back to normal(whatever that will be) just ask the parent of whatever child she talks a lot about to come over for a playdate, go to the park etc.

I always asked first , offered alternatives and tried to be flexible , some worked out as great friendships ,some fizzled out, some I made friends with the mums too. Some we got invites back,some just the once,some never. I just let DD lead and made decisions based on how easy going the kids was.

I much prefer it now they're older and I just get the kids and not the adult included too. Much easier to plan and be spontaneous. Even though, quite a few people were more than happy to leave their kids with me even at 4.