If your child is at play but often keeps running back to you and telling you that that some other children are snatching away the toys… there are a few different scenarios and ways to react to such situations. Before you start to react negatively, you should first take things slowly before making it into a bigger issue than it needs to be and here are a few suggestions on how you can better react!
Simply Ignore it
Most of the time you can ignore playtime scuffles and problems with other parents just by ignoring the other child. Usually kids only want a toy just because the other child has it and as soon as the first child no longer shows interest, the child that took it will probably leave it alone or give it back all on his own. It is only when a child continually snatches away whatever toy your child touches, then you will need to pay a bit more attention to the situation around your child’s playtime with others.
Is Your Own Child At Fault
Though it may be easier to shift the fault onto others… sometimes it can really be our child who is at fault. This is because it can be natural for kids to be possessive of their own toys so when the other child tries to ask for your child’s toys there can be some form of reluctance and that’s when your child may lose out if the other kid is much more stronger and persistent in snatching the toys away.
You may wish to understand from your child if this is the case and if it is, you may want to highlight to your child the values behind sharing to avoid any further scuffling.
Talk To The Other Child
If you have talked to your child and gotten a better understanding of the situation around… you may want to try talking to the other child first before getting any caregiver to be involved. Explain, without getting angry and without having any big gestures, that your child had the toy first and that later on it will be the other child’s turn to play. If the toy belongs to your child, explain that the toy belongs to you and that it is not right to take someone’s playthings without permission and it would be very nice if they could give it back.
Go To The Parent Or Guardian
If you have tried everything you can think of to kindly improve the situation and they still cannot behave properly, then it is time to get another adult involved. Without blaming the other child directly, explain to the other person that you would really like both children to continue playing together and that you have explained to both children that they need to share, but maybe if the other parent or guardian explains it, the children would understand easier. Doing this in a nice manner brings the other child’s behavior to their parent and gives that parent the opportunity to remedy the situation.
If you do not know what to do when other kids don’t treat your child right, take a deep breath and try to let your child handle it own their own. When all else fails, talk to the parent or simply walk away and find an easier place for your child to play.