[crick]

Sugar - do you do any "play date" type things where it's just 1 child over to play for a bit? Or you and babe go to another child's house for some play? It may be the crowd thing or too much noise and stimulation too that bothers him. Maybe start out slow and just have it be a one on one situation for awhile would help?

2 1/2 is still young though for structered play. Sure, some kids really like it, but really it isn't a necessary part of their development at this age either. Just my opinion...of course! Being around people is good I think, but if it stresses him out that much, I wouldn't push it and maybe just do the one on one thing.

With the meltdown...while I do believe kids respond to stress of their parents, I also think sometimes they just have off days where they want mom and dad. Unless you see a pattern developing where he is distressed everytime he goes to Grandma, I would try not to read too much into it.

I'll also say that my 8 year old while not exactly reserved and will play in a group, prefers to be on his own. Just the way he is. Some kids think he's weird but usually after they get to know him a bit better, they like him. I try to encourage ds to participate a bit more in the beginning of things so that other kids get to know him a bit. But I don't push...he's perfectly happy going off on his own searching for bugs or whatever it is he sees. Sometimes group play just doesn't appeal to every kid all the time and that's okay.

Crick