5 year old won't make friends

[Liverpoollass2]

5 year old won't make friends at softplay and wants to just sit at the table the whole time, I've tried to encourage him but starting to get frustrated and feel its a waste of money going

Kids all develop at different stages. I'm fairly sure I read somewhere that in general boys social development lags a little behind girls. My two DS barely showed any real interest in anyone in their class until about 7-8. I remember other children saying hi to one of mine on the walk to school and getting blanked! But they got there in the end and have numerous friends now. I think at 5 my two just wanted to play with me in the soft play!

I don't think soft play is the best kind of place to make friends. Yes sometimes kids might hit it off with another child but often people go in their own groups and play in those group which can be difficult to join. Take an existing friend to soft play with you. Or look for a more regular classes/activity where they will see same children each week and will be easier to develop friendships and social skills

My son doesn't make friends at soft play but he doesn't want to sit at the table. Can you go in with him for a bit then encourage him to go round himself while you have a hot drink?

Or maybe he just doesn't like soft play or is bored of it if you go a lot.

My 6yo DS has only really started making proper friendships this year; he just wasn't bothered before, and was quite happy to potter around by himself most of the time. I think it's pretty normal at that age, especially for boys.

If he just wants to sit at the table then I would suggest he isn't keen on soft play. Find another activity that he enjoys. He might prefer just to run about and play solo at a play park.

My 5yo likes to play with me at a soft play, it's not really an ideal place to make random new friends as kids usually visit with their own friends or siblings, and it's not like a weekly activity where you might see them regularly. She likes imaginative play, pretending it's our castle or forest etc. It's a nice way to spend one to one time with your child.

I wouldn’t see soft play as a place to make friends. It might happen randomly that kids get on, but not a given. If they sit with you then they probably want you to go in with them, or maybe it would be better to go with an existing friend. It can be intimidating for them at busy soft plays to just mill about on their own. By age 5 I probably wouldn’t take a child on their own, as they’d enjoy it more with a friend.