3 year old reluctant to play with other children

[incywinci]

My 3 year old DD is reluctant to play with other children at playgroup. She's an only child and has had one to one care for now, so is not used to environments with lots of children. She also seems a little over whelmed by all the noise and chaos when I took her to visit nurseries.

Is this something I should be worried about? We don't have family near by and I know we don't interact much socially ( perils of moving into a large city).

Just give her time - it will come.

Sorry no advice for you, but am watching this thread closely as I have the same problem with my DS (2.5). I'm actually nervous for him starting preschool! I assume it's something that he'll get used to over time though. I'm a shy person myself so I think he just takes after me!

I wouldn't worry in the slightest. My 3 yr old is only starting to play with others but I know many that aren't yet at all. Maybe make sure to play together at home so she gets the idea for when out with others in a play setting but 3 is early to worry about it.

I was that child, nursery didn't really help me but school did. Apparently my mum cheered the first time I actually stood up for myself and didn't let another child push in front of me at a slide!

Also I think it is fairly normal at 3, I've normally found that toddlers don't so much play with each other as just play near each other!

Just put yourself in her shoes. Of course it's overwhelming for her but this isn't something to worry about, she will get used it, I'm sure.
At this age, I think it's parallel play that the children do. Just play alongside other children and not actually with them.
Have you asked the staff what she's like when you are not there?

Could you do smaller 'play dates' at home? My 4-year old is currently going through a shy phase so recently we have just been having friends over to play instead of big group activities and he seems to cope much better in his own house and with only 2 or 3 other children. Sometimes kids find the noise and chaos of big groups overwhelming - as parents do too at times