Dd said she’s had to play on her own at nursery

[apussinbooties]

My DD fell this evening and scraped her back on a wall. She was crying and then just out of the blue said something about friends that I couldn’t make out and that she had to play on her own. I asked her what she had said and with her crying I couldn’t make out any more than I did the first time. Just that she’s had to play on her own.

Her teacher had told me she does play with others but that she likes her own company. She’s was always happy to go to nursery and I thought she was happy although she never talked about any friends.

I’m devestated that she’s obviously upset about this and also that she’s never spoken about it to me before. I don’t think I will be able to get her to talk about it again and don’t want to push her.

I don’t know what to do now. With lockdown there aren’t any opportunities to see other children to help improve confidence and I don’t know what to do to help her. She does have 2 younger siblings in the house and they play well together.

Anyone got any advise or been through similar?

I would mention when she goes back to nursery she see if her key worker can try and integrate her discreetly into group play more.
It’s hard because you never want to make a child uncomfortable and it can be hard to tell if they prefer to be alone and self directed or part of a group.
Don’t panic though x

Is she attending nursery at the moment?
I'm asking because if she is she might be referring to the curent situation. I'm a Headteacher of a school that's open to the children of key workers (even tomorrow).
The DfE guidance (and common sense) says that we must ensure social distancing in schools. In our classrooms children are sat at their onw desks with at least 2m between them and their peers.
In nursery, we've put out some PE mats and each child is encouraged to stay on their own mat. They each have their own equipment/toys on their mat and fortunately we've been able to keep ratios so that each child has their own key worker on their mat- but they are not playing with each other in the way they would have done before this all started

Everybody is finding it really difficult. Last week one of my reception children was crying, which is most unlike him. He was obviously over wrought due to a combination of tiredness and the sheer strangeness of the situation. Usually, Id give him some physical comfort- pat his arm or give him a sideways hug. But all I could do was watch him and say "I know sweetheart" It was horrible.

Excuse the typos! Im using the fact that I'm not in tomorrow to enjoy a few proseccos

Sidalee she’s not in nursery just now and hasn’t been for 4 weeks. It’s just come so out of the blue she’s a very happy child at home and I’m just so devestated that this has been on her mind for so long and she hasn’t said anything.

Thanks Panic I will do that. Hopefully we can get back to normal soon I’m worried about the effect lockdown is having on her mind. It must be so strange for kids not to be seeing anyone else anymore

Enjoy your break off SIddalee. It must be so difficult carrying on teaching in such strange times.

It will be worth talking to staff when she goes back . However nursery children don’t always remember things as they are. She may of played on her own once . Struggled to join in.

If she plays with siblings let her enjoy that. One piece of advice don’t let her always win , get to go first , play games that involve talking turns . It’s all good skills that transfer