He Won’t Play with Me
This is a very common phrase in preschool. Small children attach to people and things very easy. They put down a toy and come back 20 minutes later and say someone took it. They play with a friend and when that friend plays with someone else – or even says “ I’m not playing with you .” It’s hard! It’s one of the MAIN reasons we come to preschool.
If I can help then navigate social situations better as they grow those later tears will be so easy.
So what does MsDebbie do if a child says “ She won’t play with me.” I reply “ oh man. That hurts your feelings. I can tell. You like playing with her. She’s busy right now ( or wants to be alone ) what else would you like to do?”
I also have conversations in private with the friend . You don’t have to play with him or her but I do need you to recognize their feelings are hurt. See their face. I wonder what would happen if you said “I’m not playing with you differently? What about – I’m tired ( or angry or hangry or …) can we play later?”
It’s our job as a preschool family to take care of each other. We will learn how to solve conflict and be better humans as we grow.
Pictures And him / her interchanged freely. This post isn’t about one child. It’s about how we live.