Nursery World - The lone ranger

'An eight-year-old boy in our after-school club rarely joins in group games and prefers to read or play by himself. I know that he is a quiet, only child and have tried encouraging him to join in, but the next session he'll go back to solitary play. Should I continue to help him interact with the other children, or is it OK for him to entertain himself?' Dr Richard Woolfson replies:

Dr Richard Woolfson replies:

The answer to both these questions is 'yes'. Let's take them one at a time. First, you have raised the issue of encouraging him to join in. Learning social skills is part of growing up and this child, like all others, needs to know how to get on with children his own age. The ability to interact with others is crucial for his progression in school, and for success and happiness later in life. So do your best to gently encourage him to take part in group games, but avoid unnecessary confrontations. He should not feel compelled to join in group activities.

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