Saturday, June 6, 2009

Be a Good Playdate Mom!


Part of kids growing up is learning how to play nice with others…but sometimes the moms forget this important lesson, too. When your child is attending or hosting a playdate, it is just as important for the moms to play nice, be a good group member and to bring something positive to the table.

Here are some tips on how to be a good playdate mom!

Keep your own child in line.
Make sure your child is sharing and not pushing, pinching or hitting others. Sounds simple enough, but sometimes moms can get wrapped up in talking to one another and may not deal with all the inevitable “squabbles” that comes with playgroups. Be the first to make sure your child is being a good friend and not crossing any lines that may cause other moms to feel uncomfortable. Of course, letting kids work it out on their own is the best option, but if that doesn’t seem to be working, you should step in to keep the peace.

Bring toys and snacks to share.
If you are bringing a special toy or snack to the playgroup, make sure your child will share the toy with others and that there is enough snack to share with the group. Demonstrating how to share will help your son or daughter learn how to share, too.

Don’t be a know-it-all or bossy with other people’s kids.
When it comes to parenting, no one likes a know-it-all. Sometimes moms just want to vent or have a listening ear, so do not feel the pressure to have all the answers. Also, when it comes to other people’s kids, let their own mother discipline them rather than you trying to take charge. Every mother has their own style of discipline, and leave it to them to handle their own children.

Don’t overstay your welcome.
Every playdate should have a start and a finish time. Try not to stay past the point the rest of the group is leaving. Your playdate host may have somewhere they need to be or things to do around the house, so do not stay too long. Also, kids have a threshold of how long they can play, and if you stay too long, your kids may become cranky or unruly. Know your child’s playgroup time limits and adhere to them as much as possible.

Playdates are a fun social interaction for both moms and children! Just follow these simple steps to help make all your playgroups a success!

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