DD has always been clingy. At baby/toddler groups she was always the one who took the first hour and a half to feel confident enough to actually go and play, and even then it had to be with me in attendance. I know a fair few families where we live and so she's known a lot of the local children all her life. When we've been at other people's houses she's never wanted to interact with the children and I've never forced it. She's always been fine with her baby friends at their houses.
She started school in September and is still really worried about play times. It's only a small school and she knows lots of the older children from ouside of school, but en masse it's a real problem for her. I've talked to both her and her teacher but there's only so much they can do in terms of suggesting a quiet place to sit away from the crowds. She loves running around with her friends but is just scared of bumping into someone big.
Recently she's been asking not to go to certain friends' houses because she knows there will be older children there. Even if I tell her she can stay with me and the other children will probably be in bedrooms or watching tv she still doesn't want to go.
Does (or did) anyone else have a DC like this? I don't doubt for a minute it's very common, I'm just wondering if it's something that will change in time, something I can support her with in terms of confidence, or if it's just how she'll always be. I'm reluctant to push her into something she's not comfortable with, but at the same time there will always be times in her life when she needs to just go with it. I don't want to limit her experiences by allowing her to hide away whenever it's a bit scary (if that makes any sense).