DD(7) struggling with the minefield that is the yr2 playground. :-(

[MissWimpyDimple]

My little DD is nearly 7 and is a very kind and sensitive soul. She found a best friend last year who she went into this current class with. This friend has found someone else and my DD is heartbroken. DD is sensitive but even I witnessed her friend blanking her and running to the new friend .

She has cried herself to sleep and doesn't want to go to school tomorrow.

Why are little girls so mean to each other?

I don't know what advice to give her as she worries so much about making any one else feel "sad" that she won't stick up for herself.

I would encourage her not to go for a 'best' friend but just to generally friendly and play with different people. Invite some home for tea. Join things out of school like Brownies.

I agree that it's good to steer them away from "best friend" relationships - much healthier to encourage close friendships with a number of different children. Girls' friendships can be very changeable at this age anyway - you might find it will all be back to normal in a day or two, but if not, it's fine to ask if the teacher can do anything to help your dd form new friendships/encourage them to all play nicely together!

Our school has a friendship bench, if you sit on it, children come over and ask you to play. It works really well.

I wanted to talk to her teacher but she has been off sick since the 2nd week of term (whole other issue), but I might be able to talk to the TA if I can get hold of her.

Why are little girls so mean to each other?

Human nature! They always have been. Life is a journey and they work out relationships in the playground. I would suggest the friendship bench to the school,if they don't already have one.

Just writing in sympathy, with little in terms of practical advice except what has already been said here, and being there for her, as you obviously are, encouraging her to stick up for herself and ignore mean girls/ retaliate when she feels like it and try to spend time with the nicer children in her class.

My daughter is in year 2 as well and like yours, sometimes a bit too kind and sensitive for her own good. What I try to do above all is not show too much that I worry for her - and to avoid probing too much as long as she's fine.

I just have sympathy to offer, my Year 1 DD struggles too. There are some very tight-knit female friendships in her class and she can't seem to find a group to play with every day. She tends to float between them, and sometimes even plays with the boys (she visibly flinches when she says this!).

I can remember at that age preferring to play with the boys, none of the crap to deal with, the boys were more straightforward and we could play superheroes, or Peter Pan.

My DD's had more success trying to look for children in the year below to play with, maybe you can advise your DD to buddy up with some younger children? My DD adored the girl from Year 1 or 2 who "adopted" her for a while last year, when she was feeling really lost.

And if your school doesn't have a buddy bench, they should!

I agree that it's best to avoid the whole best-friend scenario.

Your poor DD, I hope she finds her way soon.