Tantrums when leaving other children

[OnaPromise]

I have posted this in one child families because I wonder if this has anything to do with dd's behaviour. She generally plays well with other children, has lots of friends, teacher says she is popular and sociable. But when we go to leave play dates she screams and cries to the point where i am now finding it embarrassing. Tonight for the first time she went round to a school friends house for tea. When I turned up at the door they were busy telling me what a pleasure she'd been and she completely went off on one, was lying on the floor screaming and hanging onto my leg, and begging to be allowed to stay. I was really mortified, and worry that she won't get invited back if she carries on like this. She didn't even say bye to her friend or thanks to the mum.

On the way home she continued to cry and kept saying it's because she has no-one to play with at home.

Any advice on how to deal with this appreciated. She is nearly six.

[bigTillyMint]

I think this is very normal behaviour for children of that age, regardless of whether they are an only.

I would talk to her about it when she is calm and if necessary, have something nice lined-up for her to come home to if possible - I agree rewards/sanctions should work well.

[Acinonyx]

Very common indeed. I've had a few kids carried out wailing and screaming by parents after perfectly nice playdates! Dd often tries to resist but I can generally get her to come without too much fuss. One little friend ran clear off when I mentioned it was home time (we were at the park). I was panic-stricken!

Rewards an/or sanctions seem to work for this behaviour.

[gingysmummy]

Hi my ds now 7 used to go through this when he was 5/6 he would hid and run away from me it was very stressful ,he said he was lonley and had no one to play with,he has got a lot better i did have to say to him before he went to play that he needed to come with me when it was time to leave as he couldn't act like that in other folks houses,i think that helped.His behavior is always good in ever other way so i do understand where your coming from

[OnaPromise]

Thaks Takver, I did just pick her up and cart her out of there sharpish.

[Takver]

I never suffered from this but I have to say when dd was smaller it was really very common amongst her friends, I remember too many occasions when the visiting child was basically carried out kicking and screaming. I wouldn't have said there was any correlation with number of siblings, it just seems to be a thing that some dc go through!

I wouldn't be embarrassed, but I would make sure you get her out the door regardless, nothing more annoying than being stuck with not only visiting child but also parent when you just want to get on and cook tea.