How many friends does your 3 yr old have?

[tanya345]

Hi, I feel this is silly but it's something that is worrying me and I can't seem to shift it. My little boy is 4 soon, He goes to nursery and has little friends who he plays with there. We don't have any friends with children his age and his cousins live 2 hours away so outside of nursery he doesn't socialise with other children on weekends etc. I see on social media children who are having play dates with friends every weekend and we don't do that, I feel guilty he doesn't have friends outside of nursery. I feel bad about it and wondering if anyone can tell me if this is normal. Feeling down at the moment!

I’m watching this with interest as we’re in the same position. Mine is younger though (2.8). He doesn’t really mention nursery friends yet (other than in passing) and when we ask him who he played with he lists the adults 😂 They’ve not raised any concerns though so I’m sure he is playing and interacting fine but it does make me worry.

My 3YO is lovely with other kids. She's a bit shy sometimes but really enjoys other kid's company. I also don't really have any little friends she can meet up with regularly either though. She has cousins who live up the road from her but relationships with my SIL are a bit strained for reasons I won't go into. Nevertheless I do try and invite out for playdates etc but it's rarely reciprocated to a point I give up trying. A shame as she adores them but if she wants her and her kids to be in my kid's life she's gonna have to do some of the work. My sister also has kids that my dd loves but they live a fair drive away. As for friends I don't really have any lol. Again I've tried and will always put myself forward in baby groups etc but I never get the same back. I just get a bit of snubbish responses back or I get looked at like I'm bonkers for daring to start a conversation. I've come to the conclusion that I'm fundamentally unlikeable haha and yes that's heartbreaking coz I want to give my LG the best opportunities but tbh there's only so much we can do.... Mine goes to preschool and makes friends there and the rest of the time is just as happy getting attention from me and daddy right now and seems to have good social skills. In their own time I guess they will make their own little friends and I just plan to be as accomodating as I can with playdates etc. I hate the idea that my lack of social skills is hindering my dd but at the end of the day we can't force these things and as long as we're there for them and love them they'll turn out fine in the end