I’ve got two quick questions about play dates.
Dd (6.5) is an only child. We have always done playgroups and play dates, she went to nursery 3 days a week and now attends school, so she is used to sharing. Recently, when she has had friends over for play dates she gets really angry and upset with her friends touching and playing with her toys, and gets really bossy about where they can and cannot go in the house. I find this really upsetting and embarrassing as she has always been taught to share and to make friends feel welcome. Is this a developmental thing? She can be really mean and I’m devastated!
Another thing I have noticed this year is that the child that we have invited will open doors and drawers that dd wouldn’t in a strange house. For example, the little girl that came yesterday went into my underwear drawer when she asked to go to the toilet and got some jewellery out and asked if she could keep it, and also went through the pantry and helped herself to food that she opened and then dumped on the floor. Every child that has come to our house bar one has helped themselves to things from the pantry without asking. Am I setting unreasonable expectations of 6 and 7 year olds? Dd would not take anything from home without asking, let alone in someone else’s house.