How can I build up my 3 year olds confidence with other children?

[imakingsmummy]

He's super confident with adults, absolutely no problem at all! But with other children he can be very very shy. Some he will really take to if they are quieter and gentle but if they are slightly louder then he shuts down totally and it's game over until we leave.

He does go to nursery and I'm told he's quite reserved so I'd really like to get his confidence up. It pains me to see him withdraw at such a young age 💔

More exposure to children?
My dc had social difficulty, and nursery suggested more days. We increased the day/hour to 5 days a week, 6 hours a day. Still had difficulty when he started school, but not as bad, and by yr1, teacher said she couldn't believe he had difficulty earlier.

Can you invite his nursery friends over for play dates? He may open up a bit more when he's in a one to one situation, with you there to help him feel secure.

He's very young, personally I'd just give it time. Maybe arranging 1:1 playtime with dc he might get on with.

Is he actually unhappy? Some kids are just quieter and less forthright.

He is 3 and still figuring out his world. He is comfortable with adults and he is selective about who is plays with. Why are you making this a problem? I can't see one.

in all honesty I think some of it is personality. I’ve got one extreme extrovert and one shyer, clingy more introverted child (my 3yo). I’ve done nothing different with both of them really. At 3 they can still often prefer to play alone but I can see the difference between my eldest and youngest. First one would approach other kids at this age, say hello I’m x do you want to play. My second is much more likely to cling to my leg if she sees an unknown child but she’s getting more comfortable all the time and I’m hoping she’ll naturally grow into being a bit more sociable. I doubt she’ll ever be like my first though.

@coffeeisthebest This is what I needed to hear!
I'm a worrier and struggled at school myself so really don't want him to struggle too.

Ok, I'm glad you feel like that, because you will have progressively more adults telling you it is a problem as he gets older, and he needs you to just let him mature amd grow in his own time. He doesn't have to be the life and soul of the party. He needs to feel loved and accepted by you for who he is. If he is quiet with other kids now, just let him be, don't buckle to other apparent experts telling you it is a problem. It isn't.