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Please help me help my Year 2 DD

5 replies

RibbonRibbon · 28/02/2015 09:47

This will be long sorry!

My DD is 7 yrs old and in Year 2.

She's having trouble with a girl in her class who I'll call Libby.

Libby was friends with a girl called Becky in Reception. The teachers told their mums that they should widen their friendship group as they were too dependent on each other. Libby then started playing with my DD and they've been firm friends since.

Libby was very possessive of Becky and didn't like her playing with anyone else and really struggled with Becky playing with another child. Libby was still included in their games etc but she still wanted Becky all to herself.

Fast forward to Year 2 and there's still the same issues of Libby being possessive of Becky and not wanting my DD to play with her. Trouble is Becky wants to play with my DD and not so much Libby.

I've encouraged DD to play with other kids in her class at break, which she will do, but then Becky wants to play with her so follows her and Libby obviously wants to play with Becky so follows as well so she can't get away from her!!

Libby does things like letting everyone else hold her teddy and then when it's DD's turn she'll say 'My bear doesn't know you, you can't hold her'. This is after DD has shared her bears with her. Also things like 'I'm only Becky's friend, not yours'.

There's many more things like that but I can't list every example! Just general unpleasantness.

I always tell DD to be kind and still include Libby in her games because that's what nice people do but then I'm worried that I'm sending the wrong message to her that she should put up with horrible behaviour no matter what??

Even though she'd being upsetting my DD I do feel sorry for Libby. Not many of the kids want to play with her as she bosses everyone about and sabotages their games. Then when Libby doesn't get her own way she runs to the playground helpers/teachers and tells them that 'everyone is being mean to me'.

Is this just what girls are like?

How can DD not play with Libby without looking like the bad guy? I've told her not to do a massive 'I'm not playing with you anymore' thing and just quietly slip away at break but what I said above about Becky then following and Libby then following happens.

What shall I say to the teacher? I've written a few times and been in to speak to the teacher but Libby's behaviour towards DD never changes.

DD was sobbing last night saying that she doesn't feel comfortable at school because of Libby and that she wants to 'run away from school'. She told me that the only reason she's still going to school is so I don't go to prison for not sending her!! It's really affecting DD now and she's having trouble sleeping, tears in the morning before school etc.

I know that DD isn't a perfect angel and I'm sure she's said thing out of turn to Libby before but whenever I've spoken to the teachers they say that DD's name has never come up and it is Libby that they need to talk to.

DD's brother is in her class as well and when I've asked him (separately from DD) he backs up what she's saying and says that Libby is 'aggressive to DD' and 'gets in her face'. When I've asked if he ever sees DD being mean to Libby he said that no he doesn't and that Libby is 'mean to everyone'.

Please help! I don't know what more to do...

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Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
RibbonRibbon · 28/02/2015 09:47

Apologies for grammar, English isn't my first language!!

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nonicknameseemsavailable · 28/02/2015 15:35

ok unfortunately this seems quite common with girls. we are having issues with a girl being very controlling of DD1 at the moment.

I think in your case I would go into the school and ask to speak to whoever is responsible for 'inclusion'. this might well be the SENCO (special educational needs) but not necessarily as the roles can be separate I believe. I would say what has happened, that you have spoken to the school before but nothing has changed, how it is affecting your daughter now and say that you would like the school to help HER learn how to deal with this situation and remove herself from awkward situations with this girl. This way you aren't talking about the other child all the time, you are hopefully getting them to equip your daughter with skills that she will inevitably need in the future anyway (and shouldn't have to learn yet but won't do her any harm) and they will then have to go away and speak to the other girl anyway as well as helping your daughter. Does that make sense?

RibbonRibbon · 28/02/2015 16:09

Thank you for your reply.

That's a great idea, I will do that on Monday.

Last week this girl was very unkind to DD at break time so DD went and hid under the table at the playground. DD then got told off by the teacher for being under the table!

She came out as soon as she was asked to (DD's brother told me this as well) but just wanted to get away from the girl.

DD's school year has a much higher then average number of children with SENs and a lot of the time is spent managing behaviour so, although I'm not happy about it, I can see why there's not a lot of time/staff to sort out more 'minor' issues like DD's problem.

I hope you get things sorted for your DD too.

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nonicknameseemsavailable · 28/02/2015 20:05

it isn't a minor issue though if it is making her this unhappy and she is as entitled to having help as any of the others whatever their problems may be - if they are that severe then they should have their own TA or helper.

Thanks - I am trying to use it as a 'learn to stand up for yourself' lesson and getting her to assert herself and just calmly say that the child hasn't been very nice to her so she would like to play with someone else and walk away. Will see if it works but I explained she had to try and stay calm and polite, say why she didn't want to play with the other girl so she can't be accused of being nasty herself and the teacher and TA are aware.

RibbonRibbon · 28/02/2015 20:34

4 children have a statement so I assume they do have their own TA?

I've also said to DD about always being polite and calm to Libby too. Hard isn't it?

I'm drafting an email to send to the teacher as it's not always possible to speak to her in the morning without little ears around...

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