(almost)7 yo F doesn't want to play/socialize with other children

My daughter doesn't want to interact with other children.  I have tried to encourage her, even gone to the lenghts of pushing her into a 'play-date' situation with no luck.  She has two older sisters and a younger brother (4yrs younger).  The 2 oldest often play together leaving her the'odd man out' but she plays well with the younger brother but not friends her age.  I have her in Girl Scouts, which she enjoys, and her teachers at school say she gets along well with everyone.  I am afraid she's lonely and doesn't know how to convey it or is she just an introvert and I need to back off?  I want to do right by my child by helping her, but what should I be doing?

[Kevin Kennedy, Ph.D.]

The feedback from school is encouraging, and you are doing the correct thing by 'keeping her in the mix' by having her particpate in scouts. Unless she has said something about being lonely, don't assume she is. That may be more your worry than hers. As long as you are keeping her engaged with peers you can pull back and not try to exert too much pressure.