typical 2-3yr olds behaviour playing with others...is this 'normal'?

[SarfEasticated]

My DD will be 3 in October, and if allowed will spend all of her time at nursery in the home corner reading. She seems to like being surrounded by the other children and does join in when they are doing structured activity, but would rather just spend the whole day sat on a chair reading.
Don't get me wrong, I am happy that loves books, but shouldn't she be playing with the others by now? When does 'parallel play' finish and proper interaction start?
I expect that she is just like her father who is a book obsessed introvert, but as she is going to be an only child, I am wary of her not mixing with other children at all.
Any words of advice?
Thanks

I don't know the answer to when parallel play is supposed to finish but I wouldn't worry about it overly yet. My DS is 2.6 and sometimes he will play with others, other times he would rather be with me or by himself on the slide or playing with a toy in a corner. He doesn't do sharing very well yet - doesn't like other children taking "his" toy. He isn't a bookworm like your DD - but he likes the company of other DC. If your DD is happy in the company of other DC, then I'd say let her go her own way for a bit longer.

Thanks for your reply Thumbwitch, i was holding back a bit waiting for the flood of advice before replying myself...

I won't worry just yet....

Aren't the staff encouraging her into doing other activities? Its perfectly normal that they do parallel play for quite a bit longer. I think she should be encouraged to do other activites not neccesarily play with other kids. Must be very easy on the nursery staff to let her just be but I wouldn't be happy with it.

Perfectly normal not to be playing with others yet. DS didn't start playing with others properly until he was well into first term of preschool, 3+.

She sounds so sweet. Can you write her a story about her playing with her friends at nursery?

I was exactly the same, a real bookworm. I always felt a little bit apart, because I always felt the playground games were a little bit childish, involving running and being silly.

I had friends at school, but never too many, and I was happy in my own company. This changed when I was a teenager and playground activities changed to more adult themes like talking about boys and music. Then I started being more open, and I am good at forming friendships now.

Some quiet, bookish children are like this, it's not a bad thing. They will find their niche. But she is very young to put her in this category .

"Aren't the staff encouraging her into doing other activities? Its perfectly normal that they do parallel play for quite a bit longer. I think she should be encouraged to do other activites not neccesarily play with other kids. Must be very easy on the nursery staff to let her just be but I wouldn't be happy with it. "

You can't make children do anything though, they have to be able to choose. There'll be a mix of adult-led activities and child-led/free-play during the day.

OP, lots of 2-3 year olds are like this - even in the pre-school room there are children who prefer to play on their own.

I disagree Missus84 - I know its all meant to be allowing a child to do what they want to do but in my observation a good pre-school will make a point of stimulating/encouraging/enthusing the child to do different things. I wouldn't be worried at all about not playing with others but I would be worried about her not doing a range of activites.

OP has said her DD does join in structured activities.

Hi there, thanks for your input everyone I really appreciate it. DD does join in with everything at nursery, and the carers there are lovely, she just prefers to be on her own reading. i suppose I just worry that she might be lonely/feel left out but that may be me projecting! I am very much a people person, so am learning how a more introverted LO may act.