Alone in preschool

The successful playdate with Dylan has been really important to me, considering that Ivan doesn't seem to have made a friend at the preschool.

Last week, Ms. Person's said he's very busy running around and exploring everything there is to do--he apparently spends a lot of time at the art station, as his artwork proves--but that he plays on his own.

On Friday, when Andy went to pick up Ivan, he was in Ms. Fowler's arms, crying. (At least we know that they hold children when they're upset.) Apparently, Ivan wanted to sit on a bench next to some three boys. But there wasn't enough room for him to sit, or at least, that's what the boys said, so they wouldn't let him sit. He started crying. Ms. Fowler was trying to resolve the situation when Andy arrived.

Maybe I'm overexaggerating, but this friends issue is really upsetting me. At home, Ivan constantly says "all my friends" will come over. He said that while in daycare and he's repeated it now at preschool. But when I prod him who his friends are, or who he plays with, or who he'd like to come over to play--I had mentioned Dylan to him; the thought hadn't originated with him--he ignores me. He simply doesn't answer. It's like there's a disconnect between reality and his imagination, or at least his speech. And I'm not sure what to make of it sometimes.

I guess all we can do is help him make friends.

P.S. Actually, he did ask can Maya come over to play. He and Maya have a great time whenever they play. In general, he has a good time, when he's playing with another child, but if it's a group setting, then he balks a bit.