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9 year old lonely at school

7 replies

littlesos · 16/01/2013 09:44

This morning when I got to school with Dd1 she burst into tears saying she didn't want to go to school, she didn't feel well. After a little chat it turns out she is lonely and gets left by herself at playtimes, and this has been going on since September. She is a lovely quiet shy girl, who has never had many friends. I just don't know what to do. Whenever I ask about school and what she's done and who she's played with she's always come up with an answer. I am devastated that she felt she had to lie to me.

Outside of school she goes to judo and guides, but recently she hasnt wanted to go, complaining of having headaches and being tired. Its almost like she is trying to isolate herself, even though she is lonely.
I feel awful, and so helpless, and I'm sure that she thinks that I have let her down today by leaving her at school after she had confessed.
This has all come out of the blue, she's always loved going to school, she's doing well academically, I had no idea she was so unhappy. What can I do to help her?

OP posts:
Reaa · 16/01/2013 09:54

Can you invite another child or two home for tea after school?

Reaa · 16/01/2013 09:56

Is she being bullied at all? I would ring the school and just ask how she is getting on with other children and if the school has noticed any signs of bullying.

MolotovCocktail · 16/01/2013 10:10

Goodness, your girl sounds identical to me when I was that age.

Is she an only child? (I am).

I can only speak from my experience, which may or may not relate to your DD. In my experience, children could be very cruel to me, but I didn't realise how flippant children can be, also. As an incredibly sensitive individual, I've had to develop a tough 'outer skin' in order to prevent taking every comment to heart (I'm just 30yo now).

So, a child would say something unkind to me, it would wound me; break my little heart and it would take me ages to recover. Meanwhile, because I was hurt, I'd cry easily, probably wasn't much fun to be friends with and so would be left out.

I was bullied ... perhaps your DD is, too? You need to establish whether this is the case and tackle it head on, immediately if it is the case. Bullying did great damage to my already fragile self-esteem which contributed to issues I had later in my teens-mid 20s.

I felt 'safe' when in the company of a few, very trusted, friends. KB, KH and JG were girls who were never mean to me and inherently understood my gentle nature. My Mum included them (particularly JG) in many aspects of my out-of-school-life: sleepiness, days out and the like. This was an excellent strategy. I'm still in touch with KB to this day.

You seem to be tuning in to your DDs needs - stay vigilant, let her talk, don't judge or get cross (if she's anything like me, this would be internalized) and with the best will, you will sort this out together.

Good luck x

MolotovCocktail · 16/01/2013 10:11

'Sleepovers', even!

littlesos · 16/01/2013 10:11

I don't think she's being bullied, but to be honest, as after this morning, I'm not sure she would tell me, there are no obvious signs. I struggle with inviting friends around as I work(except Wednesdays and she goes to guides)
She had a little Christmas party and invited 2 girls, who were lovely, but they are more friends with each other, so she's a third wheel.
I think the problem is that she is very like me, and won't join in unless shes specifically asked because she feels that if she isn't asked she isn't wanted.

OP posts:
MolotovCocktail · 16/01/2013 10:13

Maybe in that case, work needs to be done in encouraging her to be less shy; to instigate social exchanges rather than waiting for them to happen?

MolotovCocktail · 16/01/2013 10:16

I have 'come out of my shell' since childhood, but it's been fucking hard work! I'd like to change the fact that I wasn't comfortable socialising until I was about 26yo! I'm still more comfortable on small groups, and thats okay - it was just quite painful for me growing up being so sensitive.

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