Advice on how to support dd’s friendships

[Runaway1]

Hi, wondering if anyone has any tips for supporting a year 2 extrovert child whose friendship group has recently fallen apart please? She was very good friends with boys in reception and year 1 but the boys and girls have really diverged since Christmas and been playing more in single gender groups. This has left dd without close friends and it’s not immediately obvious to me or her class teacher who she might click with.

I’m trying to host play dates with children she does like, give her lots of time to play with me at home, but wondered if anyone has other ideas at all? Or has anyone experienced similar and can give some reassurance that she’ll find her niche? Thanks!

As well as what your doing does she see any other children (girls or boys) not from school outside of school in any other activities? Or does she have cousins of a similar age, do your friends have any children similar ages or anyone from nursery that doesn’t go to her school, does she have any siblings?

If she isn’t used to much interaction with other children (and maybe spends a lot of time with adults) maybe create more opportunities for her by asking her if their are any activities she fancies trying outside of school etc.

My daughter had an older brother and was also more friendly with boys, girls who had a brother and were maybe a bit more rough and tumble etc.

That seems a strange comment from her teacher does she or you maybe suspect behavioural issues or is the class and school extremely small and closely knit.

Friendship groups change all the time hopefully things will sort themselves out.

Thanks, she does do activities outside but they’re pretty structured (gym and dance). She really values the girls she’s friends with at those activities though. I’d love her to try brownies/cubs but they are totally booked up here. Perhaps I can see if she’d like to try a team sport.

She gets on great with my friends’ kids who are similar age, but unfortunately many of my friends have kids who are older. She’s had no issues until now -
it’s this gender thing that has thrown a curveball. I guess it’s a developmental stage and will pass. That’s what I’ve told her and she seemed to feel better thinking it’s a growing up thing as they all get new interests.

The teacher is really supportive and just meant that while she gets on with most people in the class, it’s not obvious who might replace her close friends who have drifted apart.

Yes, maybe try other things structured and unstructured play and friendship opportunities going down to some local parks etc whatever is in your area.

I must admit my DD started to get left behind a little around the latter years of primary but I think it was more around year 5/6. A lot of other girls had shifted to attracting boys, desperately wanting to be popular at all costs, leaving people out, telling lies and more and more dressing up like mini porn stars to the end of year discos etc and my daughter still just wanted to have fun and get dirty without all the meanness and game playing.

They grow up to quickly.

Is the gender thing football related? Would she be interested in playing?

Clubs is also available for girls and she might find other similar minded girls there.