attention seeking friend

[Timeforanap]

My dd isn't "popular", but she gets on well with all her classmates. However, there have been "friendship issues" in her class recently, with several of the girls ending up having to have interventions from the senco on a regular basis etc. DD is not directly involved, but it obviously has a knock on effect. Today, one of her friends (who has been involved) got really upset with one of the others, cried for ages, told DD she just wanted to cry in the cloakroom/run home/cry herself to sleep etc etc. They were s'posed to be doing PE - all the group were trying to cheer this child up, giving her easy passes so she could get the ball etc but she was just sulking and morose (my interpretation). DD was upset that she couldn't comfort her friend, I am really cross that this attention seeking behaviour has distressed my DD so much and wrecked a PE lesson for about 10 children, from what I can make out.

This isn't the first time this sort of thing has happened. The girl in question is a sweet girl, but an indulged only child and very used to getting her own way. I want to give my DD the tools to deal with the situation compassionatly, but without being sucked in to this attention seeking behaviour. Any ideas?

I have 3 girls an i think this is just typical girly behaviour. I have a lot of problems with my middle daughter 6. When she went to nursery she had a speech problem (now rectified). The kids couldnt understand her so she was just left in a corner on her own. This has carried on into school. The girls from the nursery click rarely play with her and all the mums are friends so they see each other outside of school. She is confident, happy and outgoing at home but nothing like this at school. I think little girls can be very bitchy especially the pampered ones. My eldest daughters popular loves school and is in the 'click', her and her friends can be really nasty and i have overheard many a conversation aboout another girl in the class so i would imagine this goes on at school. I quite often ask my eldest to have a peek at the 6yr old and she says she just sits on a seat with an apple by herself. It breaks my heart.

Hi fifi thanks for your reply. I think you're right about it being typical girly behaviour. I spoke to the teacher and she said DD should try to comfort the child concerned, but that if she just carried on crying etc the tell the teacher and let them deal with it. Makes sense, but not the magic wand type answer I was hoping for!

I feel really sad about your situation with your middle daughter. I hope that she finds a really good friend soon. I know what you mean about heartbreaking - it's hard just to read about it.