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Year one girl with no good friendships

8 replies

ForTealBiscuit · 07/11/2024 17:33

Hi everyone,

I thought I would come on here for some experience and advice as I’m a first time Mum and I’m struggling with big anxities around my 5 year old DD and her school relationships.

My daughter been at her school since reception. She is happy at school and says she always has someone to play with but my concern is she hasn’t really got any close good friends, even though she may think she has.

When ever we are in parties or get togethers she always seems on the outside. All the other girls tend to flock to one another, calling out each others names on arrival and sticking together, it breaks my heart that no one ever calls out for my DD. She’s been on a few play dates but dosnt get asked regularly and it seems she may of only been asked as I asked their children first. She’s starting to notice this as other girls in the class are constantly. I also know there’s been things over half terms where girls have met up but she never gets asked. Only if it’s a group meet and this is as I know the mums!

She did have a good relationship with one little girl which I thought was going really well but the last few weeks another little girl has come into the equation which has pushed my DD out, now the little girl blows really hot and cold with mine. Last party we went to she barely acknowledged her and when she did she was quite unkind, which was horrible to witness.

I’ve tried to encourage her to find more friends but she just says but they only play with this person or she only plays with this one. I’ve tried explaining anyone can join in but to be honest she is right. When I’ve witnessed the class together they do tend to stick to their “best friend” or group they’ve made.

She says no one is unkind to her or says she can’t play but it’s so upsetting seeing her shunned or only wanted when the little girls other friends aren’t available. I don’t think she notices this much but it’s quite obvious on times for me.

She’s a lovely little girl, really chatty, imaginative and loves everyone! Really happy go luck personality, extrovert! I don’t really know what’s going wrong for her!

She’s in a class where a few parents are really good friends. So do things outside of school. Even though I get on with the parents and I’m not really that close with them. I don’t know if this makes a difference really as the kids have kind of forged their own relationships outside of the parents, it’s just no one looks at mine as “first choice” It’s like she’s just kind if there but wouldn’t matter if she wasn’t. It’s really breaking my heart to think what’s happening when I’m not there at school.

I’ve spoken to the teacher in reception and also her current one and they just say “she’s fine and gets along with everyone”

If anyone who been through these early stage friendships is happy to comment I’d really appreciate it! I’m a single mum with no little ones in my family so no body I can ask for advice really!

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Tattletail · 07/11/2024 17:44

Aw op didn't want to read and run.

I have no experience in this. But perhaps year one they are still in that fickle age where they can play with one person one minute then happily switch to play with another person. I think children at this age live in the moment, they are happy in the here and now and so long as they are playing with someone that's all that matters.

If she is happy and content then try and let that soothe your mind.

If it changes and moves into the realm of her being picked on by certain children then the school is there to support you.

She will find her tribe.

ForTealBiscuit · 07/11/2024 17:50

Tattletail · 07/11/2024 17:44

Aw op didn't want to read and run.

I have no experience in this. But perhaps year one they are still in that fickle age where they can play with one person one minute then happily switch to play with another person. I think children at this age live in the moment, they are happy in the here and now and so long as they are playing with someone that's all that matters.

If she is happy and content then try and let that soothe your mind.

If it changes and moves into the realm of her being picked on by certain children then the school is there to support you.

She will find her tribe.

Thank you for your kind words. I really hope so x

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Everintroverte · 07/11/2024 18:02

I had this experience with my daughter, she was always on the edges of friendship groups and struggled to find a friend. I spoke to the teacher who buddied her up with another little girl who was quite quiet and experiencing the same thing and that helped for a while.
As PP said, if she's happy and content then I wouldn't worry too much about it, but if she's noticing and upset maybe another word with the teacher?

They are all finding their feet at this stage and you will find that they friendship groups evolve as they move through the school anyway. As a note of reassurance now my daughter is 17 and has a lovely group of friends now, all really close and spend lots of time together.

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Floofypuppy · 07/11/2024 18:05

Work really hard on finding and making friends outside school. As they get older friendship issues only get harder and it’s a godsend for them to have friends away from ‘drama.’ Year 1 is also really young and things really do change rapidly with young kids.

ForTealBiscuit · 07/11/2024 19:13

Thank you for the advice. I will try speak to the teacher again. I just don’t want them to think I’m one of them mums as they seem to not notice anything at school. But when you have a large class of kids, I feel they aren’t going to notice small things that go on if no one is visibly upset over it

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Cloouudnine · 07/11/2024 19:20

My dd was a bit like this - her preschool bff went to a different infants school and my dd was very slow to try and form new friendships.

Y1 slowly improved and by year2 she had 2 good friends. Their group waxed and waned and she ended up with about 8 really great friends.

I wouldn’t worry until your dd tells you she is feeling sad about it. Meantime - lots of play dates, get some extra curricular so she can make friends out of school (Rainbows/Brownies?), and don’t worry

ForTealBiscuit · 07/11/2024 20:04

Thank you :)

It’s really hard. As I only see them as a group or class maybe once every few months in parties or when the class have parents open sessions etc. but what since she’s been is what I described above. I tried to be rational and think she’s happy so must be getting on ok, but after this week I seen it again and then her only good friend being abit mean it brought it all right back to the surface again.

The girls in her class seem really head strong, can say mean things, and really dig their heels in to get their own way. Whereas my little one although loud and chatty, She would never be intentionally mean and has never hurt anyone and is so thoughtful and kind, she always backs down to these girls, if they want to be something in a game she just lets them even though she never gets to be it, I am trying to teach her to stand her ground abit more, as I don’t want her to become the “extra” as she counts just as much as anyone else!

I kind of thought they were all the same but apparently not! I didn’t realise all this happens at such a young age! I thought they just all got along and played with who ever but there just these little clicks. She does try but they are just not bothered 😕

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ForTealBiscuit · 08/11/2024 20:50

Little bump for some more experiences

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