I have a 3yo girl who just won't play or mix with other kids. in playgroup, preschool, parties or at the park, she just stays with either my wife or I and won't associate with other kids. Yes, an only child, but she does enjoy playing, going on the rides at the park etc, but only alone. She is the same with adults, shies away from anyone who goes near her. Anyone else experienced this and what can we do to make her feel more at ease with others? She has almost daily exposure with other kids, so its not that she doesn't see other children often.
thanks
mark
2007-09-12 11:58:55 · 8 answers · asked by mark b 1 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Toddler & Preschooler
I'd be worried. Are her other developmental milestones being met? Is she talking well? I think I'd take her to a developmental psychologist. I don't know if they can get any info from her, but maybe from you they can form an opinion as to whether your child is normal.
Most parents want their kids to be quiet. Now you've got a quiet one!
Take care,
TX Mom
Not an expert, but both my kids visited with this type of dr.
2007-09-12 12:08:01 · answer #1 · answered by TX Mom 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
My daughter is slow to warm up. Most children like this (shy) do well in small groups. She does have siblings, so that helps. My daughter interacted more when I started babysitting a boy around the same age. Are the groups always large or do you just have one friend over? Get involved with the play and when you see that she is feeling comfortable, slowly start to withdraw and see if she continues the play. Even though having the boy there, it doesn't change her personality. When we go to the park and church, she still doesn't talk much. I think the best thing is to have one friend over at your house, where she is comfortable, introduce some activities that start working near each other, and see if they start to interact. Also, if she is a new 3, she will be quieter than if she was a late 3. The older they get, the more they will (slowly) open up to people the care about.
2007-09-12 19:09:35 · answer #2 · answered by nanners454 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
How long has this been happening? Her whole life? A few months? My suggestion would be to make sure to make it a DAILY affair to have her interact with other children. One way you might make it easier is if there are children in your family that are near her age. She will probably be more willing to interact with those kids than strange kids. Make sure that she sees you AND your wife interacting and playing with these other children too. Now that could go sour, but you can always stop doing it. Practice makes perfect. I went to school with a little boy that had a twin and his twin loved to be around other kids, etc., but the one I knew didn't want ANYONE to be around him or close to him at all. If you've moved or changed something in her regular day to day living that could be the root of the problem and time will take care of that. Good luck!
2007-09-12 19:07:08 · answer #3 · answered by Christy 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My son was that way too at 3 years old. I just kept encouraging him to join in the play with other kids and sent him to preschool and worked with the teachers. WIth lots of socializations by 5 years old she should be more social. If she is having problems after a year of preschool though I would talk to her Dr and look into a behavioral specialist. Some kids just don't have the social skills because of different reasons including lack of confidence in themselves and/or just feeling the need to be a loner and they can evalute children at age 3 for such disorders.
2007-09-12 19:09:32 · answer #4 · answered by momof3boys 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
my 3 yo son is the same, he just takes a long time to warm up at kindy. he is only child too atm.
i just think for 3 yrs of age its a hell of a lot to go though to have a sense of Self to get up and mingle with other children. I know as parents we want that because we know its better to mingle etc. and we want it for our kids too. But she has her whole life ahead of her and she will come into 'Her own', when she is ready. Dont push her, but let her persona be what it is.
being an only child, she is used to being on her own, a sense of independance already and i think thats fantastic. she actually doesnt really need other children to make her happy. I think she is well adjusted. I wouldn't worry about it.
when she is older she will find her way to meet other children.
2007-09-12 19:12:41 · answer #5 · answered by dot 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Our daughter was like this too, what worked for us was goin with her and playing with her and other kids til she warmed up with them and then we would sit down and watch. If she came rnning back over to us we would encourage her and let her know the kids wanted to play with her and now she is fine playing with them :)
2007-09-12 20:19:10 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Does she make eye contact with people? Will she separate from you and your spouse? Without more specific information, she sounds like she may have anxiety problems or may have Asperger's Disorder.
2007-09-12 19:06:48 · answer #7 · answered by brwneyes 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Gosh, that's a tough question. I am thinking seperation anxiety. Most assuredly she will grow out of it.
2007-09-12 19:05:59 · answer #8 · answered by midnitrondavu 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋