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Behaviour/development

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just poor social skills or something else?

6 replies

bigmouthlala · 31/01/2013 22:22

Hello all, just wanting some guidance from lovely mumsnetters about reception-aged DD.

She is nearly five and in many ways very mature for her age. However she is cycling through friends at a rate of knots. She will be really pally with a particular for around a month and invariably they then tell her they don't want to be friends/ play with her and more.
This has also happened with a cousin who she adores but who is slightly older and finds DD too much.

Basically she is a really intense child who demands the full attention of the person she is with. Everything generally is her way or the high way r(!) and has been since she was old enough to have an opinion. She always wants to play one particular role-playing game which I think the other kids get bored with. She also scripts others roles for them IYSWIM.

So aside from talking to her gently about friendships and letting other people be in control somwtimes + the importance for most people of having some personal space.... is there anythin I could usefully be doing to help?!

OP posts:
bigmouthlala · 31/01/2013 22:23

Sorry for awful typos. Been proof reading all day at work and can't bear to do it in time off too.

OP posts:
JiltedJohnsJulie · 31/01/2013 22:24

Have you spoken to the teacher?

PoppyWearer · 31/01/2013 22:37

My own reception-class DD is having a few friendship problems at the moment, I also think due to her intensity.

I bought her a book from Amazon called "How to be a Friend" (Dino Guide) and she and I read it last weekend. It really seemed to resonate with her and we used it to
talk through some scenarios and examples together.

Too early to report back on results, but might help?

PoppyWearer · 31/01/2013 22:38

Could she have Asperger's BTW? I suspect I am on the spectrum myself and recognise some of my social awkwardness in my DD.

bigmouthlala · 31/01/2013 23:19

jiltedjohnsjulie not very recently. The last time was a couple of months ago and the teacher said "everyone loves DD!" and while she didn't have one special friend as of yet it wss nothing to worry about.

*poppywearer I have thought about aspergers but I don't think she has the clasdic triad of impairments..... I have been reading about PDA which rung a LOT of bells.

Thank you for the book tip - excellent idea.

OP posts:
JiltedJohnsJulie · 31/01/2013 23:30

The book does sound good. It might be worth talking to the teacher again if you are still worried after trying the book. You might want to ask to speak to the stencil person at school too.

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