Spent the afternoon watching my 3yr old trying and failing to make friends in the park, help?

[squirral]

After asking me if he could play with a group of boys he ran off to ask returning shortly afterwards nearly in tears because the boys had said no. I downplayed this and tried to find another child for him to make friends with but he only had eyes for the football boys. I eventually explained the situation to the boys mother's and they asked their boys to let him play but he simply wasn't fast enough to get into the game and after trying for some time ran back to me v.upset saying they wouldn't let him play, I tried to help him play but he'd lost all his confidence. I've been left feeling lost about the best approach to support him. He doesn't go to nursey yet and although we go to a lot of groups and see my friends children regularly he doesn't know any boys his age that share his interests. The only boys we know are v.quiet and not interested in charging about the park. Sorry this is so long.

Were they older than him? At 6 my DS has no interest in playing with 3 year olds if he is playing football but would help them go on slides at soft play. Your DS will get faster so don't worry about it!

3 is too young for proper frienship skills, don't worry, it'll come.

ithink you answered your own question - other 3 year olds don't play like that ....your little boy wants to, but isn't quite up to it yet..older kids indeed find littlies a bit of a bore. Always hard when thy cry thouh.

Thanks for your comments.

Do you have any toddler football classes? You could put him in something like that, it would get him both playing and part of a group.

My ds would love charging around the park with a 3 yr old boy. (He's just turned 4) (I'm in south london region you anywhere close?)