play dates: how do you handle it when

[warthog]

'muuuum i want to go home. i don't like it here'

'ok we'll leave in 5 mins'

'but muuuum i want to go NOW'

'it's rude to say that - we'll leave very soon. ooooh look at this amazing toy truck.'

ad nauseum.

because it's bloody embarrassing.

I tell my ds1 that he can go and sit by the door until I am ready to leave.
He soon gets bored and goes back to play. After a good old cry that is.
Depends whose house it is, if there's a reason he doesn't like it or if he;s just being a pain as well.

If it's a playdate, surely it's because he wants to be there? If he doesn't want to be there, what's the rationale for staying? You can always make an excuse to leave?

I think I'd be firm and say no - we'll go when I'm ready (am guessing you've also gone to have a chat with friend etc). Then not leave it too long. Otherwise, where does it end? Remember my 3 yr old being quite manipulative in this way. Not quite sure what age your ds is though. Certainly at age 4.5 onwards I think they can understand it's rude and need to know it's not on.

thanks all. it's a case of all of us being invited round somewhere more because it's a friend of mine than a friend of dd's so understandable really.