Children who don't get on

[naptime]

My DS1 (2.9yr) and my good friends DS (20month) really don't play well together. I am a bit concerned as we are going away on holiday with our friends, and I hope we can encourage them to play together. At the mooment my friends DS cannot talk much, so he lunges alot at my DS for attention. My DS reacts really badly to this and throws himself on the floor crying. Its really frustrating as he plays really nicely with lots of other children, though they are more his age.
Any advice?

Sorry, I don't think I've ever met a closer-to-3-year old boy who enjoys playing with children who can't talk much and are effectively still babies. You could talk to him about how babies can be a bit annoying sometimes, because they don't understand how to play properly like a grown-up boy like your ds, but that they do learn quickly and love playing with older children when they are allowed. It might interest your ds to see if your friends' ds learns any new words over the holiday, or if your ds can enjoy seeing how the your friends' ds tries to copy him and the games he is playing and begins to understand that this is actually quite flattering. Anything, basically, to turn the 20-month old from an irritating menace into an object of interest. He might be a bit young to take that message on board, though!!!!

The alternative would be to try to keep them entertained separately a lot of the time!!!!

My 3 yr old still doesn't play well with other children, he tends to get annoyed that they will take toys off him and get in his space etc.

I think it's nice if your ds plays well with other children but don't forget that a 20 month old is still a baby and will be frustrating for your ds. They don't know how to interact or share anything.

Agree with entetaining them separately!

Mmmm thanks for replies... yes separate playing may be the only option!!! I will try to explain to him a little bit, but I won't exect any miracles

COme on, in terms of development he is 35% older than this child. It's like asking a 15 year old to go and be bestest friends with a 10 year old. It's not going to happen.