No kids want to play with her *heartbreak*

[SugarDust]

I don't know what to say except give your little princess lots of hugs and tell her you love her! when she starts to make friends she will make them by the bucket load!

[Jennifer13]

I agree with River, at this age your DD is still learning how to interact with other kids and any experience of interaction (positive or negative) will help her develop social skills. If she plays and interacts well with the kids at playgroup or one-on-one settings (which are easier at her age) then I think she will be fine. All the McD's incident will teach her is that older boys who are rough and noisy are not nice to play with. Better she learns that one young!

I think the fact that she is willing to initiate interaction at such a young age is a good sign for her social skills and how well she'll make friends. When you look at a playground with older kids, it's the ones who are too shy to make the first move who often end up standing alone in the corner looking miserable, not those who will approach others happily.

BTW I think the mothers were irresponsible to not step in when an older child is obviously hitting a younger one. You're not teaching a child to get along themselves if you let them behave in that way without comment.

[Lolli]

Hi hun,
Everyone here has given you some good advice. I wish I was in your area- my ds would looove to play with your dd, they sound so much alike He loves to 'talk' to anyone and everyone and it does hurt when they won't talk back, or they talk over him- and that's children and adults alike!

One thing that helped me was to try and view it differently- where I was seeing social rejection, I tried to just be amazed at how open, honest, trusting, social and pleased by any small interaction my ds could be. I tried to look at it through his eyes- it didn't really bother if someone didn't eant to talk or play, he was happy just to be in the social mix of things, whether it turned out well or not.

The other thing I wanted to say was that if you do happen to know any mums through playgroup who youget on with, don't hesitate to ask them over for a coffee and a playdate. The same goes for mum's who you meet at other places, like the library. Adults- unlike our kids - are often so shy about putting ourselves out there and constructing new friendships. Most mums you ask would absolutley love to make new friends- I know I'm always up for it! One of my best 'mum' friends I met by chance at the library, and the other lived a few doors down and I'd say hi to her and her DD playing in her garden as we walked past.

HTH