Worried about 3 1/2 yr old - am I mad?

[LILLYPIP]

First timer - her goes!

My 3 1/2 year old goes to little village school where choice of friends is minimal. But she has latched on to a girl that is not very nice to her - not sure what to do? Only 10 children in her year and she seems to gravitate towards this child even though the girl tells her she doesn't want to play with her, pushes her,and tells her she isn't her friend amongst other underhand things including bashing my daughter with her lunch box. Yet my d still goes to her all the time?? My D then reacts badly (she has firey temper) and will have tantrums at school/crys a lot has even retaliated and pulled this girls hair.So rang her mum and she said I think it is just kids. But my daughter is picking up this behavious and coming home and saying to my 1 year old - I don't want to play with you, your not my friend!!!Help! Don't think it is bullying but I am concerned.

This is an matter for preschool to handle , don't get involved directly with the other mum. The staff on hand need to intervene and distract your dd to play elsewhere. Girls are like this unfortunately, part of life, and at 3 it isn't bullying as such just an expression of feeling lacking the social nicetiies acquired as they get older.

Some girls may be like this, but my DD and her friends certainly are not and I would be really unhappy if my DD was ever unkind to another person.

If the other child really doesn't want to play with your DD, then I think you need to encourage other friendships and tell your DD to leave this child alone. Try to see it from the other childs point of view too. It must be very annoying to be followed around all the time by someone you don't like.