hannah's mommy

So, my 5 year old just started kindergarten about a month ago. Within the month, she has had several different best friends already. It seems like she feels like you can only have one friend at a time, and if one of her friends is playing with someone else, they're not her friend that day, but the next day they're friends again. I can't keep up! And I don't get it - is this normal behavior, or should I be worried that she doesn't understand the nature of friendship? Or is this just how she is learning about it?

formerposter

The same thing happened with our daughter last year. She was in kindergarten at the time as well and she did the same thing. Sometimes she even told us in detail why a certain child was no longer her friend. The reasons were very minor, of course, and usually by the end of the week (if not sooner) all was forgotten and they were friends again. I think this is pretty normal as they haven't figured out how all those minor issues don't mean the end to a friendship. Now that my daughter is in first grade, she doesn't do that much at all anymore.

tater03

I am finding that this is normal in really all children. I was hoping that this would change. Only because when they were younger like you stated they were friends again the next week and really never thought about it. Now my sons are seven and five and they are doing it and other kids are doing it to them. The only problem is my oldest son really seems hurt when this happens now but he still gets over it fast. I am the one that has trouble with it all.

fallon

I have a little kindergartener on my hands right now too. Over dinner she explains to us who her frinends are that day, why they are her friends, why she didn't play with so and so. I think it's totally normal

hannah's mommy

Well I'm glad I'm not the only one whose child does this, then.

I don't really have any friends with kids my daughter's age, so I'm glad to have you all to voice all of these silly little concerns to!!

fallon

I know what you mean, all of my friends kids are younger or way older than DebraLyn.

Kaytee

I did the same thing when I was little. We fought made up moved on! Its normal!

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SageMother

I have noticed this among some kids, boys and girls, around kindergarten and first grade. One thing that teachers try here is to instill the idea that "we are all friends", to ameliorate some of the exclusionary behaviors, which are normal when kids are young. Unfortunately, the behavior tends to return in another form during the teen years, and then persists through out adulthood, in many people.

mamab

I don't have a little girl, so I don't know if it's normal or not. I think my boys have done the same thing, but not to that degree.

jenilouise

That is very normal. I find their little reasons entertaining.

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