A couple of my children have been struggling with friend issues recently. They are normal childhood issues that all children go through as they learn how to behave in social situations. I have always felt that as a parent, my children need room to make mistakes and learn from their choices. Obviously, I won't tolerate any physical disagreements, nor would I let a child be picked on by others. What I do is check on the kids throughout the "playdate" to ensure that no guests are excluded and I may offer activity suggestions.
After the friends leave, I talk with my child and get them to think about what happened. We talk about situations from various people's viewpoints and if necessary, how to improve things the next time. Sometimes, children (and adults) don't have much in common with each other. That's normal. It's important for children to learn to be gracious hosts, even if they are not thrilled with their guests. That being said, children need to pick their own friends. If a child if forced to be friends with someone they don't like, it makes both kids miserable.
No comments:
Post a Comment