Friendships/rejection in reception

[LollyLollington]

Seen DD have a few knockbacks so far by girls she wants to be friends with (eg refusing to be her partner in PE, saying she's not invited to same girl's birthday party, then this morning trying to talk to another girl and getting the brush off). Didn't seem to affect her before but had tears about the incident this morning and also think she has an imaginary friend that she plays with at lunchtime. I know she can't force these kids to like her so anyone got tips about how to build up her confidence/explain away these incidents? Feeling really sad about it this morning, and a shit parent! Don't want to project my own social anxiety about the school run into her!

Aww that’s made me really sad :(
Get her involved in some clubs like drama or sports so she can make friends outside of school. Have a play date at your house with a kid one on one so they get to know each other better? I don’t really know what to say. Kids are cruel little shits at times

I’d just keep an eye on things for now, reception is mainly to teach them how to sort these things out and behave around big groups of other kids IMO. Just encourage her to play with lots of different kids.

I remember a similar incident with DD1 where she said hi to another girl who completely blanked her. She nearly cried and I felt so heartbroken for her. However, not even 5 minutes later another girl from her class came over and said hi to DD1, and she blanked her exactly the same!! They’re in Yr4 now and all generally get on well.

Thank you both. Feeling a tiny bit more rational about it now. She does seem to play with kids at after school club though it's normally bigger kids who want to look after her, quite sweet really we do go to a few clubs which she seems to enjoy though she doesn't seem to have made any particular friends there. The shame about the girl from this morning is she is we have had a few play dates before and she was one of the few kids at school that we knew before we started. Thank you

Also have a tearful reception child- don't forgot their exhausted and everything is new and busy. Tiredness explains a lot I think.
I'd focus on the good bits she reports or if you have photos from school or info from what a she's been doing, say how great that is. If she complains about friends be light and breezy about it or shall notice your anxiety.

Thank you- that's a good point about tiredness. I think I need to work on my anxiety as sometimes I find it really hard to hide it and like you say it will be damaging if she picks up on it. Though I enjoy this age much more than the baby bit I just wasn't prepared for how much this first real socialising bit would get to me. Nursery was such a walk in the park in comparison!