Can a (nearly) three-year-old feel "left out" with playmates?

[TinTinsSexySister]

I might be being over-sensitive rather than BU but...

We've been invited on hols with friends of ours (couple one) and friends of theirs (couple two).

Each couple has one DC, all are roughly the same age and at the time of the holiday will be around three.

So far so good but here's the rub:

The DCs of couples one and two attend the same nursery and are firm friends (it's v v sweet to watch), as a result they always play together.

At other events our DD has been v much on the periphery of this but as she is only two-and-a-bit right now there's little actual play and more just parallel play so it hasn't really mattered at all.

Will this still be the case by the summer when they are all three though?

If so, will DD be old enough to feel "left out?" And will it even matter since DH and I will be there to entertain/play with her?

I think IABU/over-sensitive because I had a terrible time with a group of girls "leaving me out" when I was at little school and I remember it felt awful - but I was obviously older.

my dd and her cousin both the same age, are great friends and see each other all the time,round at each others houses then nursery, and now school etc as we all live close by, however when we add the other cousin who they only see occaisionally and who doesnt live close, she is a fascinating new addition and they are more likely to take turns vying for her attention, this happened from them being toddlers to now they all nearly 5, you will probably find the other two more likely to want to play with her than each other.

I remember feeling "left out" at a playgroup I only went to up to the age of (just) 4....but I was a bit of a sensitive flower as a child!

Once they're all playing together I bet there will be no problem.

Thanks Life, and Train.

That's made me a bit less concerned

Depends. If one of the two friends is very possessive of the other one, there may be problems.

I think you should do a fair bit of socialising of them before you go, because any friction whilst away could ruin your holiday.