how does your nearly 3 yr old play with other children?

[Clare123]

My son just doesn't seem to "get it" at all when it comes to playing with other 2 or 3 yr olds. He is often disruptive (will take toys for the fun of it) or just run around being silly near his "friends". He can play with them nicely occasionally, but often struggles. Will he grow out of this?

How does your LO get on with others?

How is his speaking? Can you do an activity together with him? Will he pay attention?

I think that's probably quite normal. My just 3yr old plays quite well. Waits her turn, initiates quite complex role play games, talks to the other children. But can be bossy and jealous at times too

His talking is ok (lower end of average).

What about sharing an activity together?

Well your son sounds normal.Most boys that age are the same ime,girls are usually a bit ahead with social skills so don't compare them.My DD has just turned 3 and she plays well but then she is usually playing with her older sister,and she was an early talker.I think most boys are 4 ish before they start to play together well.

Yes, he can share ok, but definitely needs an adult around to manage it. Its just more that this kind of disruptiveness that I am worried about.

Varies from person to person.

DS1 4.5 is just as you describe your son. Ds2 2.10 plays very well with others (well, not Ds1 but I can't expect miracles!)

Might be because he's the younger sibling, but I think it's down to personality.

Yes, sounds pretty normal for a 3 y.o. My DD2 (2.7) plays by observing, copying, snatching, and sometimes even taking part alongside.

My dd3 will be 3 in July.

She plays great with her [older] sisters, she loves role-play and really get's into character. She takes turns and shares beautifully.

She doesn't, however, play with children the same age as her, she isn't interested in them at all.
If I introduce her to a child of her age, she'll say hello, then either play with me or play by herself.
She can be quite an anti-social little soul anyway though.

She's starting playgroup in September so I hope that helps her to play with her peers better.

my 2.9 yr old is the same. not particularly disruptive to the other kids but my god he doesn't 'get' the concept of playing with children. he spends the whole time whinging to me that 'xxx is not sharing his toys' or 'xxxxxx is being naughty and snatching' etc, so whilst he isn't doing the snatching, disrupting, he is just impossible for other kids to actually enjoy playing with. he hates it when they get too rough or hyper around him, yet when he's on his own with us he is hyper all the time and climbs/ jumps all day long but whinges about other kids doing it near him .

he just watches them mostly. doesn't have any 'friends' as such, just likes to boss the other kids about and comes whinging to me when they don't listen to him !

Mine (ds) plays sort of with / sort of near other boys. he will go up and introduce himself an say 'will you play with me?' but that usually means running around after each other or climbing near each other, not really playing like girls do.

He does play with another child but she's a slightly older girl and I think it's because she's more developed than him.

Sounds normal to me!

This is absolutely normal. Children of this age still play together (in the same space) but doing completely different activities.

Children spend a lot of their reception year (4-5) refining their ability to take part in the same activity and take turns.

I wouldn't give it a second thought at this age.

My 3 yr old ds is just like that sometimes hes more social than other times just depends what type of mood hes in I suppose. However with children and adults he doesnt recognise he just goes so shy and wont talk is this normal ? im hoping its just a phase as its only been the past 3 monts since his birthday.