Banish Playdate Problems
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Embarrassed by your child’s play date behaviour?
Often misbehaviour is a means to get parents’ attention. Parents can get carried away visiting with each other and lose track of the behaviour of the children. If your kids are age 4 and under, you need to be within reach at all times to catch things before they turn into misbehaviour and help the kids to work it out. Other steps to include a happy and successful play date for all:
- Be sure that your child knows what is expected (how to treat the visitor). Discuss it together and then have them tell you what the expectations (and consequences) are. If your child typically yells at the visiting child, try telling them: ‘When you choose to treat your friend kindly you can keep playing. When I hear yelling, you are choosing to spend time on your own until you are back in control of your voice.’
- Plan the playdate with your child ahead of time. What are the activities your child wants to do? What are the toys they are willing to share? What toys need to be put away before the visitor arrives?
- Communicate and share a plan. When the visiting child arrives, have your child ask what their friend might like to do on this playdate. Work with the kids to determine a simple schedule for what they might do. Set up the schedule so that they play for a bit and then do something with you (snack, painting, go for a walk), before returning back to independent play, and then back to you if necessary.
Breaking up the independent play means that the kids are getting your attention at times when the behaviour is positive and not just when there is misbehaviour.
Keep play dates short, follow through with consequences and set the kids up for success.
Image of kids playing from Shutterstock.
