Park Etiquette

[SparkyMalarky]

How can I teach DS a bit of park etiquette? Generally, DS is well behaved - and is a generous, gentle boy, but if we go to the park DS (4) is drawn to and starts chasing any older boys - lots of whom don't want to play with him. DS then gets cross, and the 'play' gets more physical with him pushing them, shouting at them and today pulling at them when they were climbing up.

I've told DS to play nicely, and that he should ask if someone wants to play before he starts chasing them, and we've talked about how if someone doesn't want to play with him, he should just go and find something else to do - but it all vanishes the moment he sees a 'big' (and I mean about 6!) boy in the park.

DS starts school this year and I want him to learn how to play nicely with people he doesn't know - and I am sick of being the screaming mother yelling at her son to stop hitting/chasing/pulling whilst I chase my one year old round the park.

Any tips gratefully received

I tended to pick out some kids his own age, introduce everyone and try to get some sort of game going, ringmaster style. Our park has an elaborate sandpit with pulleys so a 'Bob the Builder' game was popular!

Oh that's a good idea. I think I tend to leave him to it and then jump in when I see them all pulling each other.

DS and I have just been talking about how it's nicer to ask someone if they want to play, and find out their name etc so will try that next time I want to torture myself-- take them to the park

Thx - any other good ideas?

next time you go remind him of this chat!

so spot any boys there before he does and suggest he goes and introduces himself, help him if necessary.
then, if it seems they don't want to play encourage him to do something else

if it all ends in pushning and pulling them about tbh i would tell him that it is dangerous and that you'll have to take him out unless he can stop doing it

It was getting dangerous today so I was the shouting mother dragging a sobbing child out of the park (oh joy!)

Think I will try and identify potential playmates for him - he's actually rather shy with new people but uses bravado in his games (being a superhero or knight etc) to chase about and make himself seem braver I think - it doesn't always come off!!

Thanks