What to say to a crush?

[Ann-Marita]

A 6 yr old boy has a crush on my 10 yr old dd. It's so cute - he wrote her a card that has "I like you." and hearts and a drawing of a boy and girl holding hands (stick figures).

She asked me what she should do - she doesn't have any romantic feelings toward him - and I don't really know what to tell her.

Should she tell him she doesn't like him in the same way (she does like him as a friend), or just let the crush die a natural death?

This is dd's first time on this side of the equation. She's had crushes on boys, but never had someone crushing on her.

DD sees this boy every few weeks or so. His mom and I both work at the same music/dance/art studio, and occasionally our kids come along to various functions.

[Liz]

:

Wow, that's a tough one. I was the crushee a lot when I was a young - boys and girls - and I can tell you it was very uncomfortable and I never learned how to deal with it. I'm very interested to hear what others have to say.

[ThreeBeans]

Is there any possibility he's purely expressing friendship and fondness? I had a little friend who was a boy at about the age of 6....when I had the chicken pox he sent me a handdrawn card with a picture of the two of us holding hands inside a huge heart

It was merely a get-well-soon card, no other message intended.

There's such an age gap between them, I think DD can get by with saying, "You're such a sweet little boy" and that will be fine.

[Ann-Marita]

I think dd has decided on the whole "you're such a sweet little boy" route and otherwise just being his friend and letting the crush die away.

Thanks!