The sun is shining today so Pea and I got out of the house to meet our friend at the park, it was the busiest I have ever seen this park but we were having a great time running around and climbing. Pea is just starting to take a liking to kids and approached a young boy playing with his toy truck, she got down on his level and said "Hi" and thats when the dayscare provider spoke and said "NO NO NO, DON'T YOU TOUCH THAT TRUCK!!!" Pea looked up at the lady and ran in the opposite direction. I wish I had said "Let me parent my own child please" or something along those lines but I was in such shock that by the time a comment entered my head Pea was halfway across the playground. I listened as she scolded other kids the ones in her daycare and random people's kids. Not once did she say "please" or talk to the children in a friendly manner. If a child went to sit down beside her she told them to "GET" and "GO PLAY" in an annoyed tone. I think what bothers me most is this little boy didn't seem to care that other kids wanted to say hi and possibly touch his truck, he repeatedly left it in arms reach of another child and waited to see what would happen but every single time the daycare provider or a child's parent would step in. If this little boy had wanted a playmate he was denied it because the daycare provider wouldn't let him share. Also, when we bring toys to the park I expect that others will want to play with them, had the lady told Pea nicely that the little boy may cry if she takes his truck I wouldn't have been angry, also if Pea had reached out for the truck and the boy didn't like it and I very certain he would have let her know that he wasn't ready to share. Pea does bring toys to the park once in awhile and it is up to her whether to share or not I don't normally intervene unless it's really needed and most of the time Pea happily shares her toy. How would you have felt if this was your child? What do you think the daycare provider is teaching this child? What is your stand on toys at the park?
<3 S
If Sofia approaches a child with toys I say "those belong to the little boy/girl" at that point the parent usually says "no it's ok, 'kid' share your toys". If the child clearly doesn't want to share then I distract Sofia with a fun activity.
ReplyDeleteIf the toys are Sofias and another kids wants to share with her I tell her to take turns (if she doesn't start herself), or facilitate cooperation "How about you take turns putting rocks in the bucket".
That daycare lady was out of line with the truck from the perspective you viewed it. But what if the kid was mentally disabled? He could lash out if someone touched his truck?
If Sofia is having a 'bad day' or if the child whose is playing with her is particularly forceful I let Sofia choose one toy that is all hers and that she doesn't have to share.
Sure he could lash out at someone touching his truck and I didn't expect him to share his truck however there is no reason why she needed to YELL at MY child for any reason, especially when she didn't even touch the truck it's not like I wasn't there monitoring what my child was doing, I was standing RIGHT there. There are kind ways of asking a child not to touch something. I do the same things as you as far as sharing toys at the park, but we usually don't bring toys there anyway.
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