Anyone else have a potterer?

[WaccaWacca]

DD is two and a half. She doesn't really enjoy doing the usual toddler stuff - swimming, groups, singing groups, park etc. she just asks to come home. If we do go to the park, she ignores the play equipment and prefers to potter about looking at leaves and watching the dogs instead.

She is happiest at home pootling about with me, reading stories, playing, baking, 'helping' etc. I used to do so many fun things with her brother, which she doesn't seem to enjoy, I feel bad. And I get quite bored at home, if I'm honest.

She has glue ear, which makes me wonder if she struggles at noisy places. She is on the list for grommets. Or maybe she is just a potterer. Her dad is too.

Anyone else in the same boat? Any suggestions to broaden her horizons? I don't want to force her into stuff she doesn't like, but she starts preschool in September and I'm worried it'll be a huge shock to her.

If I do take her swimming for example, she just potters at the edge with a few toys, while i sit there shivering. Same with soft play, she'll find a couple of balls or a soft toy to pootle about with. She plays with them imaginatively, but could be at home doing exactly the same thing! And would prefer to be too!

Both my DDs were the same OP. Neither have enjoyed classes, groups or clubs and to be frank I'm happy as I hate them too!

If I went with them to toddler group, they would just sit beside me...never wanting to join in the scrum of other children fighting over tricycles.

They are 11 and 8 now and have lots of friends and a good social life.

That's reassuring, thanks. We went to an outdoor toddler group this morning in the local woods. She managed about 45mins before wailing to go home (or to the cafe, she does love a cafe!) I managed to coax her into a half hearted game of hide and seek, but she'd much rather be at home.

But that's great she likes looking at leaves (and flowers, I hope) and watching dogs!

Shows she has an enquiring mind, and that's probably also how David Attenborough started.

She adores dogs, taking after my DM I think. Maybe a mini Barbara Woodhouse in the making! Suggesting we go and see if we can see some dogs is my main tactic for getting her to leave the house. Not much else works.

45 minutes is loads for a 2 year old! Don't make her play hide and seek if she doesn't want to! she sounds like my kind of kid! Short walks, a bit of nature and then a nice cake in the cafe!

If she loves dogs then she'd probably like a farm park or a zoo. What about getting her a rabbit or something?

You've just described about 90% of our excursions!

I don't really force her into stuff, I just get a bit antsy when I see other kids her age having fun doing different stuff and socialising.

She's currently in her bedroom alone playing playmobil, I can hear her chattering away making up stories with the little people. She will happily do that for ages.

We are toying with the idea of getting a cat, but we go away camping lots in the spring and summer so might not be fair.

Look OP...it's nothing to be :( about! It's a good thing...she can entertain herself and she knows what she likes. Nothing to worry about. She's her own little person and they just don't always like what we like.