Nearly 4 year old doesn’t like playing with children

[Kel145]

My lo has started school nursery in September and school have asked us to go in for a chat. From the snippits they’ve said lo seems stressed at nursery and doesn’t play along side or with other children, lo will play with the adults.

Lo was at a preschool before this and didn’t display stressed behaviour there. They did comment in his observation/things to work on was developing relationships with other children-playing with rather than alongside. But it sounds like at the new nursery lo doesn’t even want to play alongside and only wants to play with the teacher or TA

Lo plays really well at home (he’s an only child), or with family and our friends at their homes, at the park etc, in fact I’d say he loves it! He plays well with his cousin.

Lo speech and language is very good, they love cuddles, demonstrates care for others, is starting to be able to read, very good with numbers.

Lo is very happy to go to soft play, farms etc, go on holiday etc and be around other children.

They just don’t seem happy and settled at nursery and they seem to only want to play with the adults there and seemed stressed
At the prospect of/not want to play with the children

I wondered if anyone has experienced similar? What can we do to support lo and to help them feel comfortable at nursery and playing with other children there?

What did they say when they spoke to you?

We’re awaiting the date and time of the meeting but from what they’ve said so far is that lo is withdrawn and seems stressed when they’re at nursery, like need coaxing to play and when the teacher moves on to see how the other children are doing then lo will go back to not playing again. This is the only situation where they are like this, they were confident and happy in their previous setting and same at home ir at family and friends.

If you haven't had the meeting yet, I'd ask them honestly what they think the issue may be and if SENCO can have a look at them.