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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

My toddler is friendlier then others and it annoys me when others are not

216 replies

Lozzak21 · 15/04/2022 20:27

My ds has just turned 2 and is always full of smiles going up to other kids saying 'hi I'm xx' and trying to interact with toys and games etc at play groups or the park and I just feel like like other kids his age aren't as friendly as him and it's sometimes not very reciprocal. He is a such a sweet little boy and there would be no obvious reason why other kids aren't as friendly back.
He's about to start pre school so just hoping his joyful, happy, confident little self is embraced there.
Anyone else felt this way? Or is it normal at this age for other kids to be a bit 'off' with kids they don't know.

OP posts:
Organictangerine · 15/04/2022 20:27

We all feel this way about our kids, OP. It’s called mummy goggles.

JustLyra · 15/04/2022 20:29

They’re all different

And yours may change. One of mine went from that type of temperament to one that had a delightful stage of saying “don’t look at me!” every time another child so much as looked at them.

Then moons changed or something because overnight six months later they switched back to being Chatty McChatterson

Cocomarine · 15/04/2022 20:29

@Organictangerine

We all feel this way about our kids, OP. It’s called mummy goggles.
🤣
Marynotsocontrary · 15/04/2022 20:31

This spunds like you're criticising other toddlers for being shy, OP.

Cocomarine · 15/04/2022 20:31

Children of that age tend to play alongside rather than with. It’s a bit… over-interpreting? - to say they’re being off with him.

But yes, you have the most wonderful and socially advanced and adept child of all you’ve come across 😌

KERALA1 · 15/04/2022 20:31

Other peoples kids are often a disappointment and far inferior to your own. Organic is right its mummy goggles.

uffington · 15/04/2022 20:31

Eh? They're two! Kids are no where near fully developing their social skills yet.

So you are 100% being unreasonable.

@Organictangerine lol

Hugasauras · 15/04/2022 20:31

Because toddlers have a massive range of verbal ability and emotional intelligence, not to mention temperaments, personalities, etc. There are phases upon phases to navigate, and part of learning to be a human is dealing with different social situations and times where other children don't want to play. It's just as important to teach respecting other children's wishes as it is to teach being friendly.

Some kids at nursery will want to play, others probably won't, some will change on a day by day and activity by activity basis.

DietrichandDiMaggio · 15/04/2022 20:31

Do all adults that you encounter behave exactly the same, or do find some people are more naturally smiley and friendly than others?

MyCousinDaphne · 15/04/2022 20:32

Mine are very shy even now they are older and would run back to me whenever someone talks to them, child or adult. They are all different! Don't most little ones just play next to each other at this age anyway? I am sure pre school will be fine.

ReadyToMoveIt · 15/04/2022 20:32

My toddler has ASD so he’d struggle to interact with yours, yes.
I’d love for him to be able to.

Organictangerine · 15/04/2022 20:32

Reminds me of About A Boy ‘Wow, that’s amazing for a 2 year old’ 😆

ZoyaTheDestroyer · 15/04/2022 20:33

Oh bless you, OP.

I give this thread fifteen minutes.

Hugasauras · 15/04/2022 20:33

And yes to mummy goggles. DD is the sweetest and most delightful child and I always feel sorry for other parents that they don't have a child like her Grin

Didiplanthis · 15/04/2022 20:33

Most 2 yr olds behave like the other chiidren... not yours.. they are not being off. They are being normal 2 yr olds. Your expectations are way off !!!!

Hockeyboysmum · 15/04/2022 20:34

Get a grip. You know nothing about these other children so stop judging. My child has various disabilities that arent immediately obvious - i wont apologise for him not being able or willing to be what you expect.

Mrsbclinton · 15/04/2022 20:36

@Organictangerine 😂😂😂

Didiplanthis · 15/04/2022 20:36

Also I'm 48 and if someone comes up beaming saying 'Hi I'm X'... I still want to run and hide in a cupboard
.

BendingSpoons · 15/04/2022 20:36

Most just turned 2yos don't do this. They need to have the language snd social interaction skills. I wouldn't necessarily expect a child to do this until about 3/3.5. It will probably work better at nursery with consistent people.

BertieQueen · 15/04/2022 20:36

@Organictangerine

We all feel this way about our kids, OP. It’s called mummy goggles.
😂😂

@Lozzak21 this isn’t going to go well for you…

TabithaHazel · 15/04/2022 20:37

Is this conformation bias? - perhaps you are not registering all the times your toddler is not friendly to another kid! OP everyone thinks their kid is the best at x,y, or z :)

CoreyTaylorisHot · 15/04/2022 20:37

@Hugasauras me too! Except they will never have her as she's mine! I definitely have my mammy goggles and know it!! 🤣

Thesearmsofmine · 15/04/2022 20:37

A very gentle YABU, the mummy goggles comment is spot on. I am sure your little boy is lovely and I am sure the parents of the other toddlers feel the same about theirs.

Herewegoagain84 · 15/04/2022 20:38

Two year olds don’t play together - they haven’t reached that developmental stage. The other toddlers are being normal.

bloodywhitecat · 15/04/2022 20:38

My toddler has hidden disabilities including no vision in one eye. He is nervous around other children so no, it's not obvious why he is hesitant around other children but it doesn't stop him being a sweet, delightful, happy little soul to me.