DD has recently turned 3. She's always been a shy child which is fine - some children are shy etc (I know I was when I was a child)
But I'm starting to get a little concerned. For example, she's been at preschool for over a year and still gets very upset when she realises it's a preschool day and when I drop her off. She just wants to be with me/DH all the time.
We were away a couple of weeks ago, and while other children her age (and younger) were happy to play in the splash pool etc, she wanted us by her side the whole time, was worried about getting her hair/hair clips wet, and wouldn't go down the tiny baby slides. (I know if she went down once she'd love it! She loves a slide/swings/bouncy castle etc)
If another child came near her, even a baby, she'd get anxious. At one point a child was going up the steps of the tiny slide as she was going back down them, and just the fact that another child was there and she had to walk past them resulted in sobbing and struggling to catch her breath.
We went to a soft play birthday party. She loves soft play, but wanted mummy or daddy to go in with her, whereas every other child was happy to run in on their own (there were only 12 children so not overly busy, and they were all her age or younger). If another child went near her at the party (even a baby) she'd look worried and back away.
She rarely talks to an adult when they talk to her. I end up repeating the question and then she'll nod or whatever.
However occasionally she will chat away to other adults and children. So she can do it.
Should I be concerned about her? Or is this just normal "shy child" behaviour?? I'd be really interested to hear from anyone else with a shy child and how best to deal with situations. I feel like I must've gone really wrong somewhere.
She goes to preschool 2 days a week and we do groups on the other 3 days, although at the groups she doesn't really interact with other children and likes me to be next to her all the time.
(I'm sure there's more I've forgotten to add!)