What is everyone else doing about their crazy, friendly toddlers?

[CircleTime]

My older toddler - 3 years now, so probably more a pre-schooler - is very, very sociable. We turn up at the playground and, within two minutes, they seem to have made a friend and are playing ball and chasing them and going up and down the slide and on the climbing-frame together. And it's really hard to stop them doing this...they just really seem to connect with other children wherever we go and immediately want to join in and have fun.

I'm not sure what to do about this as it makes it very hard to maintain social distancing, but we can't just sit in the house all day. I do stop them when they try to play with older children who won't want a little one tagging along or when the parents seem worried or are trying to keep their distance. But it's harder when the parents are friendly and the other child wants to play. And my child is an only, so no siblings to play with at home.

What would you do in this situation? It just brought it home to me this morning as my DC made friends with a girl about the same age in the park and they were chattering away and sharing toys and scooters with each other .

What would I do?

Absolutely nothing.

If this was another child at nursery they'd be sharing toys, chatting and playing together. If the other parent has no objections then let them play together. I suspect most of the parents are just as happy as you are that their child is having fun and playing with another child.

As above, if the other parents are happy I wouldn’t do anything.

Of course they should be playing. I would be sensible and try to gauge the other parent’s view and don’t let them share snacks, but really they have to learn to interact.

I wouldn't do anything if a toddler tried to befriend mine in the park (would be thrilled actually!). If other toddler-owners can't handle them being near children, they shouldn't bring them to the park.

I wouldn't do anything, young children don't understand. Even older children struggle to follow the rules when they see someone who wants to play.

Almost broke my heart the other day, a wee one of less than 2 was trying to come up to my LO and play with her scooter, mum led him away a few times and when he did get his hands on it, she came back with wipes to clean where he had touched... I tried to say it wasn’t necessary but there was a language barrier.
Feel so bad for parents of onlies/eldest toddlers in this, they have got to play together and the risk from them is so so low.

Let them play. It is so important!

My 6 year old is always so excited when we go to the park at the weekend because he is able to find other children to talk to and play with. His mental health and wellbeing trumps any social distancing nonsense.

Just let them play. Mine was having a great time on the slide with about 4 other children this morning.

When playgrounds reopened last year there was some element of checking it was ok but since then it's been relatively back to normal here thankfully. I'd tell DS to leave alone if there was a parent who was definitely keeping their child away from others though.

Don't do anything, they need to be children and the risk to them is tiny. I assume that any parent taking their kids to a playpark is open to them mixing. Otherwise why take them to an enclosed space full of children?

Thank you for all your responses! Feeling better about letting my child just be a child! I've tried but I can't explain the rules to my DC in a way that makes sense to them and isn't scary.

I'd let my little one play - he is 3 too and only child at home atm (baby due in few weeks!) honestly I'd just be bloody chuffed he wanted to play with another child as he hasn't been to a single toddler group for nearly a year and he doesn't go to nursery yet.

I would just make sure the other parents are happy with them mixing as you don't know their personal circumstances. I don't have this issue as mine have always been antisocial buggers.