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Behaviour/development

Talk to others about child development and behaviour stages here. You can find more information on our development calendar.

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Original poster

Is it possible to be too attached to mummy at 3?

11 replies

Pippinella · 27/11/2008 12:43

My eldest daughter has just turned 3 and she is generally a gentle, funny litle girl, happy to play on her own and with her little sister.

But when I took her to a cousin's birthday party where there were lots of other children she became really clingy and wanted me to go with her round all of the soft play equipment, she wouldn't go on anything where other children were playing and didn't speak or play with any of the other little ones there. She would rather be with me all the time.

Is it normal do you think, or is it that she is too attached to me/would rather just hang out with mummy than play with other children?

What do you think?

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Anna8888 · 27/11/2008 12:44

Totally normal. Don't worry a bit.

belgo · 27/11/2008 12:45

I think that's normal, especially if it's a new situation and she doesn't know the other children very well.

Original poster

Pippinella · 27/11/2008 12:47

Thankyou so much. Just having a small paranoid mummy moment!

OP posts:

GivePeasAChance · 27/11/2008 12:47

IMHO it's not ideal but completely and utterly normal.

Don't make an issue of it, and take very small baby steps in getting her to gain confidence with other kids. Big groups can be very intimidating and so a one-one play date would be better for now etc.

quickdrawmcgraw · 27/11/2008 12:47

If she didn't know the other children well then I wouldn't be surprised at all that she stuck to you. I'd still be like that now in a similar situation and I'm 36.

ZoeC · 27/11/2008 12:48

My 3 yr dd is not at all like this, but my 6 yr old dd still is in new situations.

Original poster

Pippinella · 27/11/2008 13:06

Thats good to know, I think because she is my eldest I have such expectations of her...its nice to know its just me being silly!

She does start pre-school in Jan so i guess that may help her to integrate with other children?

OP posts:

comma · 27/11/2008 13:06

I think its irritating.

CapricaSix · 27/11/2008 13:10

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

chipmunkswhereareyou · 27/11/2008 21:16

Ds was rather like this and after almost a term at pre-school he is MUCH less so. He still has his moments but is considerably more confident (which includes testing the boundaries with me a bit more - as he was previously really quite compliant- so there's a flip-side be warned!)

My point is it could well improve without you doing anything.

alarkaspree · 27/11/2008 21:25

My dd was like this throughout her first year at school, even at her own birthday party. She would always sit down and eat with the other children though and sometimes would join in after the food. Now she is fine and joins in with everything.

It can be annoying and frustrating - more so at soft play parties, less so if all you have to do is watch a puppet show with her. Just don't take her to all of them until she feels more comfortable.

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