AIBU to worry that 5 yo dd doesn't know how to make friends?

[globygol]

I don't know if this is the right place to post but here goes. So, my 5yo DD started part time nursery at 3yo and last September started reception. She's not very agile and I've heard other children saying she is slow or can't do certain things. She never responds she just stays quiet. She has a few friends in her class but I've noticed that she has a difficult time approaching children who are in her class that are not her friends. She asks them if she can play with them and if they don't respond she will just walk away.I've noticed there is a large group of girls who play together but they don't include her and she doesn't impose herself but rather goes off and plays on her own. If she is waiting her turn to go on a slide and another child pushes in front she will allow them to do so without objecting. Is this normal? Have I just socialized her too late and is it something that will resolve itself? AIBU to be worried about her development? I would really appreciate any advice on how she could approach and make new friends in the playground. Thanks in advance.

We went to a toddler group from 6 months, a toddler music group from 1 year, gymnastics from 1 year and playgroup from 2 yrs 4 months.
My daughter is now 8 and she sometimes finds it hard to get to play with the group of girls. She often does play with others, but it is also not unusual for her to not have anyone to play with.
At 5 she would also wait her turn and not say anything when others pushed in. She is more likely to say something now.

They all develop different skills at different rates. If you are concerned discuss it with her teacher.

Op, as a teacher, I would say, speak to her teacher and just make sure that the things you have seen are isolated incidents and check that she is ok over the school day friend wise.
As a mum of a non friended child, I would say try hard not to look because it just breaks your heart. Speak to the teacher and see what their perception is. And do say: please be honest, I'm very concerned. Don't be fobbed off.

I’d suggest asking her if there are particular children she gets on with or has played nicely with and had fun & invite them over after school or take them to an activity. That way she gets to bond individually & that tends to carry back into school.

I second PP about talking with the teacher and see if she has any concerns. She might also be able to suggest potential playmates you could ask for a play date. She might also be able to help DD find her place in the playground.

She may be better one on one. Groups are hard for some kids.

She sounds as if she's like my dd so my advice is ask the teacher to pair her up with another kid who isn't joining in much.

Not with a popular kid who will want her to become part of the group if they get in.

It may just be that she is comfortable playing with the few friends she has and doesn’t need or want to play with the big group. Sometimes parents project their own feelings and desires onto their children.

I never had many friends as a child but i always had one or two. I would have been content with this but my dad was always putting pressure on me to be more sociable and as a result I developed low self esteem as I learned that there was something wrong with me. I spent years feeling anxious about friendships. Its only recently that I’ve accepted that its perfectly fine to be me and I’m lucky to have the few friends I do - its enough for me. I love spending time alone but enjoy meeting people too.

She's not very agile and I've heard other children saying she is slow or can't do certain things

You can self-refer to an Occupational Therapist who could check her movement etc. that could be a start to help her to be able to do the physical things her peers do.