Playdate etiquette
snookums
17 years ago
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Full StoryGosh, girls can be so NASTY to each other.
I have a 6 year old daughter who has a friend that she's always had a love/hate relationship with. I think it's because they are very similar to each other and so clash, rather than complement each other.
We had said friend over for a playdate yesterday. Basically, it was a total disaster that left both girls in tears and my daughter telling her friend that she wanted her to go home.
A recent playdate at this friends house I think resulted in something similar, including my daughter calling me at home several times asking me to come pick her up.
Yet these two BEG to play with each other!
One of the issues yesterday was sharing. My daughter didn't want her friend playing with certain toys. Normally she's a gem at sharing! Next time (IF there is a next time with this other girl), I'm going to have her choose certain toys before the playdate starts that she doesn't want to share and we'll put those away, with the understanding that everything else is open for sharing.
A typical conversation heard yesterday:
(In the pool)
E: Let's play with these noodles.
A: Nah, I don't want to. Noodles are boring.
E: Well then I guess you're not my friend.
(E gets out of the pool and tells me that A is not being nice.)
(In the playroom)
E: Let's play with the Stylin' Head (Barbie).
A: Okay, let's put this in her hair.
E: NOOOO you're going to ruin it! Don't touch it!
A: Let's play with these My Little Pony's.
E: Okay, this is the 5 year old and this is the 6 year old (A is 5 and E is 6).
A: NO! I want to be the 6 year old! (tears)
E: I'm the 6 year old! You have to be the 5 year old! (tears)
Just a few examples. In each instance I was right there and attempted to intervene with distractions, mediation, etc...NOTHING worked with these two. E eventually went into her room and sulked and I took A downstairs to play with me until her mom got there. Then when her mom got there, they both said sorry and hugged and asked for a SLEEPOVER! AHHH! Just kill me now!
Does anyone have any other tips for me?
cupofkindness
Mimou-GW
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Mimou-GW
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