Overfriendly DD7

[totallybonafido]

I've seen threads like this about younger children, but nothing about children as old as DD who is 7! She is very over familiar with some of the parents of her friends, usually dads. They are family friends who we know well and spend a fair amount of time with, but DD is just all over them and it seems really inappropriate to me. She's done it this morning and the dad looked really uncomfortable, she was trying to hug him constantly and climbing onto his knee. She has always gravitated to men since she was a baby but she really is getting too big for this kind of thing now and I'm wondering if I should be worried? Will definitely be having another chat with her about boundaries. Does anyone else's DC do this?

[CadyEastman]

She probably is a little old for behaving like this. Did you tell her that you were making the Dad feel uncomfortable as guide her towards doing something else?

[totallybonafido]

I did try to redirect her a couple of times, she was very persistent! I did talk to her later and I put it as gently as I could but she was upset about it, which made me feel terrible.

[CadyEastman]

I can understand you feeling a bit upset but I feel that's it's our job to guide them gentle towards behaviour that will be appropriate as she's getting older. Sometimes she'll get things wrong and she does need a bit of guidance.

It would be much more cruel to let her continue to make people feel uncomfortable around her.