Toddler group what should i expect?

[mrshedgehog]

I attend a local baby/toddler coffee group and some of the other childrens behaviour is making me feel uncomfortable - not sure if I'm just a paranoid first time mum !! Hitting other children is becoming common and today a 3 year old pushed my 1 year old over 3 times. They were told to say sorry each time but carried on the behaviour regardless with no further consequences. I don't think saying sorry repeatedly is enough - am I expecting too much? I'm thinking about not taking my child any more !!

That's a good point, homebird. I had two children when I first started going to a local toddler group, and I stopped once I had four because my eldest was too old for it.

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if you're thinking of not going anymore then perhaps that does mean the behaviour is a bit rougher than it should be. I personally can't stand the 'say sorry' approach when it has no effect whatsoever on the child's behaviour and some kids do seem to learn that they can do what they want so long as they 'say sorry' afterwards. but perhaps the kids at this playgroup are not as bad as that?

I've never seen a 3 year old repeatedly push over a 1 year old at a playgroup if it was on purpose - by accident while stomping around doing their 3 year old thing, yes, lots of times! I'd take mine home if he did that 3 times but I seem to be quite strict compared to other mums posting on here. But there is nothing you can do to make another mum discipline her child differently/more effectively etc so if it is making you feel uncomfortable, I would change groups cos they are not all like that

How about stopping the child BEFORE the hitting is done? I guess i have been to too many baby groups where mothers are too busy gossiping to discipline their children and im a little cynical. I certainly would NEVER shout at my child but if she persistently hit another child at playgroup, especially a younger child then i would tell her this was not kind, if she persisted, then i would take her home and made sure she understood why she wasnt allowed to do this. But hey, i have never had a pasta jar or naughty step - YET!

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well seeing as my child is so perfect i wont have to bother my head with such things , i don't know (LEM hangs head in shame as her crappy parenting knowledge is revealed), maybe i would just distract her so as she didn't feel the need to grizzly macduff the other child (she does have a worrying habit of punching either me or daddy whenever we ready about grizzly mac DUFF (thats when the punch comes). Fortunately this has not been a problem at play group, im just waiting for the baby music lady to read slinky malinki as her cool down story cos then i may have to tie her hands behind her back or something.

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in general, and i stress, in general, i have noticed that boys tend to be more "manic" than girls, is it just me? But then you see, when you get to school, the boys will have a rough and tumble, while girls bitch in the corner

Here we go again - girls getting slagged off on mn yet again

oh no emily, they boys got slagged off too there

no gender stereotyping or anything

im sorry if people thought i was slagging off either sex, but it just seems to me that boys have SO much energy and well, girsl, as they get older, do seem a little more sulky and many many mothers have said this to me, but i certainly wasnt meaning this in a derogatory way.... sorry sorry sorry

Ignore me! I'm just overly sensitive to criticism of girls. When my 2nd daughter was born not only did people commiserate me but told me how our lives were so gonna suck when they got older and turned into bitchy girls. When DS was born the world when mad, as if he was my salvation in an all girl family. So i feel the need to feel very defensive of the girls