https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Mon, 20 Apr 2026 20:16:07 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/encouraging-my-kindergartner-in-the-friendship-area#post-2844716 Tue, 11 Sep 2018 12:09:58 +0000 MsMini 2844716@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@hitchhiker: I think all of the elementary schools in my area have them! They are provided by the Kinsmen club I believe. The teachers/EAs really promote using them though, which is a huge part of the equation. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/encouraging-my-kindergartner-in-the-friendship-area#post-2844698 Tue, 11 Sep 2018 11:28:22 +0000 hitchhiker 2844698@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MsMini: I adore the idea of a buddy bench. Props to your school for implementing that idea! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/encouraging-my-kindergartner-in-the-friendship-area#post-2844696 Tue, 11 Sep 2018 11:24:22 +0000 gestalt 2844696@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My oldest was in a mixed class (prek-k) where all the girls were in the younger grade. For several months she kept trying to be part of their group even though she had absolutely nothing in common with them. She finally realized that the boys in her grade were more fun and started hanging out with them more at recess/lunch. We can only do so much, and i sometimes feel like we can make it worse by interfering. We recently started a new school and because she was sad about not knowing anyone, the principal offered to reach out to another parent and arrange a play date. When i told my daughter, she was not too happy and wished i had let her make her own friends. *Rolling my eyes*</p> <p>I agree with above posters to reach out to the teacher and see if you can get her insight and perspective. From there, you can come up with a plan to help your son. Good luck, making friends is the hardest part of school in my opinion! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/encouraging-my-kindergartner-in-the-friendship-area#post-2844613 Tue, 11 Sep 2018 00:03:36 +0000 MsMini 2844613@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Does your school have a “buddy bench” or something like that at the playground? It’s a thing around here where s kid goes to the bench if they want to play but are feeling shy about going up to groups and then kids will go and grab them into the games they are playing? I have watched it in action before and it seems to work really well! The kids are never on the bench long before they get scooped up into groups! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/encouraging-my-kindergartner-in-the-friendship-area#post-2844600 Mon, 10 Sep 2018 21:01:38 +0000 MrsDynamiteGal 2844600@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@crazydoglady: Never thought of it that way - that my child could possibly be selective and picky in this. </p> <p>The teachers take turns supervising recess, and recess is usually when these issues arise for my boys. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/encouraging-my-kindergartner-in-the-friendship-area#post-2844596 Mon, 10 Sep 2018 20:28:14 +0000 crazydoglady 2844596@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsDynamiteGal: Hmmm...I wouldn't drop in because (like @SproutBee: mentioned) you wouldn't get an accurate depiction. I have had students in the past who complained they didn't have friends and then I would see them sitting at lunch with other kids laughing. Sometimes it's not that kids don't have friends but they are very picky with friends...and that's totally ok.<br /> I think the most important thing to figure out is whether your child is being selective vs excluded by other kids. I would contact the teacher to find out. As a teacher, I do friend "match-making" all the time. I would see if she could do the same.<br /> What specifically is the teacher seeing? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/encouraging-my-kindergartner-in-the-friendship-area#post-2844592 Mon, 10 Sep 2018 19:47:58 +0000 MrsDynamiteGal 2844592@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@SproutBee: You do bring up a good point. I know with my oldest, his behavior would change whenever I came around. My main concern with asking the teacher is not knowing fully how aware they might be with all the students they are already busy with. It is worth a try though. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/encouraging-my-kindergartner-in-the-friendship-area#post-2844587 Mon, 10 Sep 2018 19:22:47 +0000 SproutBee 2844587@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrsbells: No, at our school parents don’t drop in for lunch. So I guess if that’s a norm it wouldn’t stand out. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/encouraging-my-kindergartner-in-the-friendship-area#post-2844586 Mon, 10 Sep 2018 19:18:59 +0000 Mrsbells 2844586@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@SproutBee: many parents drop in for lunch with their child at our school when they can. Is this not an option at your school? Kids are always happy to have lunch with their parents I cant imagine a context where they would embarrassed at such an early age. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/encouraging-my-kindergartner-in-the-friendship-area#post-2844584 Mon, 10 Sep 2018 19:02:37 +0000 SproutBee 2844584@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Personally, I wouldn’t check in on him at school. You may not get an accurate example of playtime if he sees you there. Also, I would worry about embarrassing my kid if no other parents were there. It’s hard, but I do see Kindergarten as a time to gently step back as a parent (my oldest started K this year too). </p> <p>I would ask his teacher about it first. The teacher sees the whole picture and should be able to give you some insight. </p> <p>Just my two cents, but if you’re worried, that’s where I would start. I’m also cognizant that this is a new experience for all the kids, so it will take time to adjust and make friends - that’s only natural. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/encouraging-my-kindergartner-in-the-friendship-area#post-2844568 Mon, 10 Sep 2018 17:49:51 +0000 MrsDynamiteGal 2844568@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrsbells: Yes, the school does allow it. That is a great idea and I may just drop in later this week when I'm off. I have often wondered, too, and getting perspective front and center would be so helpful. Thank you for suggesting this. And also thank you for teaching your little one to reach out! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/encouraging-my-kindergartner-in-the-friendship-area#post-2844561 Mon, 10 Sep 2018 17:18:03 +0000 Mrsbells 2844561@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsDynamiteGal: does the school allow you join him for lunch to see how he interacts with others? DD has been in the opposite where I have tried to encourage her to play with someone who was getting left out. In this case i got to observe it and saw that person would say no whenever they were asked to play </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/encouraging-my-kindergartner-in-the-friendship-area#post-2844538 Mon, 10 Sep 2018 15:26:03 +0000 MrsDynamiteGal 2844538@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>This is not an experience unique to us, as my 1st grader has previously gone through this. In the last couple of weeks my Kindergartner has expressed frustration that no one seems to want to play with him during recess. Here I usually ask for a little more detail. In the end I usually encourage him to keep being friendly, join in with the other kids, but to not stick with the same group of friends if they keep rejecting him. </p> <p>Am I doing this right? What would you do in this situation? My 1st grader went through a similar stage all-year last year. When brought up to his teacher, they pretty said it wasn't completely true what my child has said. As a result, my interventions have been mostly reserved. </p>