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Worried about my 5 yo DD making friends

2 replies

Campaspe · 17/01/2012 10:13

My 5 yo DD is in Reception and is doing well academically. My worry is that she doesn't seem to have any confidence or skills when it comes to making friends. She has a special friend - a little boy - who she plays with all the time. She does not wish to play with other children, and when I have arranged playdates with others, they have not gone well as she does not enjoy sharing her toys and tends to get a bit sulky with the other child.

I have spoken to DD's teacher, who recognizes that there is a problem. They have encouraged my DD to separate from this boy and play with other children, but with no success. It's now reached a point that when this little boy is off sick or away from school, my DD does not want to go.

How can I help her to broaden her horizons and develop more social skills when she doesn't want to? Should I ask for her to be moved to a different class to force the issue? Does anyone have any experience of this sort of situation? It breaks my heart to think of DD sat alone in the playground when her special friend is absent.

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Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
crazygracieuk · 17/01/2012 10:30

Our school offered social speech therapy and nurture groups to help with social skills. My oldest wouldn't talk at all during lessons (to the teacher or in group situations) and benefitted from social speech therapy. My youngest is August born and needed help in becoming more confident with children he didn't know from nursery and he went to a nurture group with similar children in the class.

dixiechick1975 · 17/01/2012 13:10

What is she like at activities out of school?

Something like rainbows (girl guides) may give her chance to practice social skills in a smaller group.

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