3yo not playing with others.

[Mooghulempress]

My son’s preschool teacher commented today that my LO doesn’t really play with others unless she encourages him to do so - he’s mostly happy to do puzzles or activities or play by himself. He’s an only child so I’m super worried already that he’s going to be a loner and now I feel really panicked that maybe we don’t play with him enough or something?? He’s got an incredibly active imagination and plays lots of made up games. Teachers say he’s very responsible and ahead of his age group, and he gets frustrated when others don’t follow nursery rules or are unkind and I am SO scared that I’ve somehow messed up parenting him. I guess I’m just asking for reassurance that someone else’s child has been like this and been OK. 😢

How experienced is this teacher I wonder? Playing alone at 3 is still totally normal loads of kids do it, mine did.

My child got out on SEN register for this. I took him to get assessed. The psychiatrist said that this isn't a problem. It's a sign of leadership and happiness and that as long as they do so when asked for an activity then all is fine. I am cross that I got out through all this worry because he enjoys playing by himself. It's ok. It's fine.

Sorry should say: put on the SEN register.

I’m following this with interest as my 3YO is the same! If we ask him who he played with at nursery he always just lists his favourite adults. Our existing friends don’t have kids and I’ve never really managed to make new mum friends so he’s never done play dates. That makes me think it’s all our fault 😢 He is quite bright and very verbally able and I wonder if he prefers adult company as he gets more back from them (and he can lead the play!!) I just really worry that the older he gets, if he’s still not ‘getting it’ that he’ll be so lonely at school.