How to Handle the Play Date from Hell

Not all play dates live up to your expectations of giggles and fun. Sometimes its just a total disaster! Here are some tips on how to handle that touchy situation.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

1. Rule Numero uno...Never, ever touch the other child unless they are in harms way. This means that if your child is being hit or anything else, the ONLY thing you can do is pick your child up and remove him or her from the situation. You cannot even hold the other child back from doing harm to your child. This may sound crazy, but that's the way it is.
2. Feeling left out. If you are the host, try very hard to find things to do that they can do together without actually playing together. Perfect examples are painting, coloring and making cookies. Sometimes children just don't click for whatever reason and that's ok as long as they aren't treating one another badly.
3. If you are the guest and you see things are not working out, politely tell the host that you think its time to go and that you'd love to try it another day. Perhaps the children are just having a bad day. If you decide to try again, having the play date out is essential. Try the zoo or some other activity that doesn't involve real one on one time.
4. If you are the host. Always be polite. Do not suggest that the play date end. Let the other mom decide. Otherwise it will come off like you are throwing them out and that's not very polite. It may also give your children the wrong message about how to treat people. Remember, your children learn by example. The only time the host should call off a play date is if the host child is getting repeatedly hurt and the mother is not intervening.

Tips & Warnings

• If your friends and neighbors warn you about a particular child, there may be a very good reason for it. Avoid having one on one play dates with children who may pose a problem.
• Never say anything bad about another child to their mother or any one else for that matter. How would you like it if friends and neighbors were talking negatively about your child?