School friends

[SophiePop35]

Asking for honest advice please - my 10 year old has asked me for advice what to about a situation happening at School - she has a friend that only wants to play with her and not interested in playing with anyone else. She doesn't want to come across as mean without saying she wants to play with the other children sometimes aswell. When she does say she wants to go and play with the others then the girl gets upset and says they don't want to play with anyone else. How can I give advice to approach this sensitively please? I was thinking of talking to the class teacher but I don't think there is a great deal that can be done? I feel for the other girl not wanting to mix in but I also don't want my girl to feel restricted. She came home tonight and had an open conversation with me about it is starting to annoy her and she doesn't know what to say without upsetting the girl. Any advice appreciated.

I think she needs to say to this other girl that she wants to play with other children too, and would you like to join me? If she says no, that's fine. But your dd wants to. It's perfectly okay to set boundaries and expect them to be respected. This is an important life lesson. I don't think she needs to be tiptoing around this girl's feelings. It's kind of her to be mindful of her, but it's controlling of this girl to limit who she can play with. It's not kind or healthy behaviour, and it's perfectly okay for your dd to say, I'd love you to join me, but I'm going over here now.

She needs to make peace with the fact that the girl will probably get upset, but that other than inviting her to play with the others, there's nothing else she can do.

Explain the phrase "Don't set yourself on fire to keep someone else warm", and give her some examples to help her understand it.