Let me start off by saying that I know with a 12mo, this is all about how I need to manage situations, not about anything my DD is doing wrong. But I've never spent a lot of time around LOs, and so this is all new to me.
So DD is a wonderfully curious and determined, very mobile cruiser/crawler. Lately, hanging out with friends who have somewhat older toddlers, she's been getting so into their spaces - just to say hi or to grab a toy, look at their book, etc. - that she's obviously intimidating them. I try to re-direct her, but she's so determined, it's exhausting! Obviously, I want the other mother and toddler to have a good time with us, so that's one reason for concern. The other is that I want DD to learn, however gradually, how to interact with other kids - but is it too early to worry about that at all? What's the general development/progression in terms of how LOs relate?
I guess part of my curiosity is b/c I sometimes find the other kiddos just as frustrating. I realize sharing doesn't come naturally... But when a LO (nearing 2) comes over and grabs up several of DD's toys, also has several of his own, then freaks out if she (also naturally, I think) wants to see any one of them, and the mother doesn't want to force him... OK, I get it, but I don't. It's been much more enjoyable hanging out with the mother of a different 2 year-old who calmly says "which toy would you like to share with (DD)?" and then reinforces it - "you must share at least one - which would you like to play with and which would you like to share?"
Any thoughts?
So DD is a wonderfully curious and determined, very mobile cruiser/crawler. Lately, hanging out with friends who have somewhat older toddlers, she's been getting so into their spaces - just to say hi or to grab a toy, look at their book, etc. - that she's obviously intimidating them. I try to re-direct her, but she's so determined, it's exhausting! Obviously, I want the other mother and toddler to have a good time with us, so that's one reason for concern. The other is that I want DD to learn, however gradually, how to interact with other kids - but is it too early to worry about that at all? What's the general development/progression in terms of how LOs relate?
I guess part of my curiosity is b/c I sometimes find the other kiddos just as frustrating. I realize sharing doesn't come naturally... But when a LO (nearing 2) comes over and grabs up several of DD's toys, also has several of his own, then freaks out if she (also naturally, I think) wants to see any one of them, and the mother doesn't want to force him... OK, I get it, but I don't. It's been much more enjoyable hanging out with the mother of a different 2 year-old who calmly says "which toy would you like to share with (DD)?" and then reinforces it - "you must share at least one - which would you like to play with and which would you like to share?"
Any thoughts?
