DD 5 seems to have no special or indeed any friends

[orangeandlemons]

DD went to the preschool attached to her school. She was very happy and made lots of friends.

Then in reception she seemed to have a few friends, but definite friendship groups were formed, and she wasn't really part of any. This carried on into Year 1 when there was some bullying, but this seemed to be sorted.

They are a summer birthday class, and she has had very few party invites, whilst lots of parties seem to be going on. She never mentions any special person at school, seems to drift from one to another whilst all the others seem to have settled into groups. She tells me she prefers playing on her own at break time which I don't believe.

Her school disco was tonight. She hovered on the edges, eager to join in, but it never really happened. Am heartbroken for her. She is much taller than the rest, and seems to have quite good social skills, so I just don't understand it. She never gets invited for tea or to play, although I have had friends over. When DH picked her up tonight she was sat on her own

Poor dd. My ds2 is a bit like this. Try this book it's got some good ideas you can talk through with your dd. I think you can do a lot by inviting friends over at that age as well.

I don't want to invite them over . They've all been horrible to her in he past. I know kids of this age are nasty to each other, but if I knew they were going to be nice to her I would feel more charitable towards them.

I have invited them over in the past lots of times, but it was never returned or ended up in tears, so I have sort of put it on hold for the time being. All of them seem to know each other outside school, and were this way long before they even started in reception. I work, so don't can't really do playground bonding.

I didn't really have a special friend through primary. I remember suddenly realising that the main part of the girls were divided into best friend groups in about year 2 and that I wasn't in any.

BUT it didn't bother me, I was very happy at primary, and, looking back, was probably more popular (although I didn't realise it) for not having an exclusive friendship.

I think about year 4 I wished I had a best friend but it was more from a practical point of view, having the security of knowing that there was always a partner for trips/games etc.

At secondary I made some very close friends, a few I still keep up with. However one of the people I've kept up best with is one from primary, who was probably the nearest I had to a best friend, however she had a best friend-whom she hasn't seen in 25 years, since she left the school.

However I recognise what you're saying and it doesn't stop me worrying the same about my dc.