Being a Better Buddy
By Cindy Schweich Handler
Toddlers love to play with their pals, but as any parent who's refereed a preschool playdate knows, learning how to get along with each other isn't always fun and games. "Kids this age are the most energetic and impulsive that they're going to be their whole lives, and they have short attention spans," says Michele Borba, Ed. D., author of numerous parenting books, including Nobody Likes Me, Everybody Hates Me (Jossey-Bass). But this is the perfect time for tuned-in parents to teach toddlers the skills that will serve them well for the rest of their lives.
"If you show them how to play, they'll have a model to copy," Borba says. Here's how you can lay the groundwork for future social success:
Do your advance work There's a lot you can do before a playdate starts to pave the way for a good time. Schedule a get-together for a couple of hours, tops, between your child and one friend -- with kids this young, three is often a crowd -- in the morning or after a nap, when they're feeling freshest.
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Categories: Toddlers,
Pre-Schoolers,
Children,
Tags:
play dates,
playdates,
toddlers,
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