Meeting DP's DC for the first time. Any tips?

[kat287]

DP and I have been together for 5 months and we're ready for me to meet his DC next month. She is only 3 years 6 months. I'm nervous as I hope she likes me. I'm not usually around kids so I have no idea what to do. Has anyone got any tips ? Should I bring a toy?

My SC were older but a toy wouldn't hurt to start off a play interest, make sure you give her and her dad lots of space together still I think this is massively important :)
Don't go in all cinderella doing everything for her as you won't want to be a entertainer every time you're together and just have fun!

Some toddlers are really shy and it comes across that they don't like you. My daughter is just 4 and is a bit like a cat, cos if you kind of ignore a cat they cover over to you.

Do you have space where you could do something relaxed like colouring or crafts? Either way just don't put too much pressure on the first meeting.

Also if allowed, kinder eggs go down well.

Where are you meeting? Depending on weather, you could go to a playground or park or maybe for hot choc and cake or similar - something not too extravagant or time consuming (at 3 and a half I wouldn't plan a long first introduction) but at the same time providing opportunity for interaction and takes the pressure off trying to find things to talk about.
Find out her interests and a small gift wouldn't be a bad idea (colouring book and crayons, stickers, cbeebies magazine etc) but dont fall into the habit of doing it every time you see her or it could get expensive lol!
Good luck

Just "be there" as opposed to making the event about meeting you, if that makes sense. I was far more nervous about meeting DSC than they were about meeting me - they didn't know (and for some time after that) that I was someone special in their dad's life, I was introduced as "this is my friend Peach" and that was more than enough for them to take in (they were 4 and 5). As PP have said, if there's something you can do, or they can help you with that is better than an "introduction", but don't be surprised if they are there one minute and gone the next, their attention span at that age is very short, and it will be no reflection on whether they like you or not - that's just how they are! And all of you take it slowly, follow the DC's pace rather than feeling you need to do too much or achieve something. Good luck!

Do something as an activity so it's less 'formal'. I met DP's DC recently, who is older, but we kept it short, less than 2 hours, and did something which made the focus not about us meeting, but about the activity.

My step kids were a similar age when I met them.
I met them all in a park along for a while then left them to it.
Next time we went to wildlife park and that worked well too.

I think if you’re just friendly and cheerful it will be fine. I would try and be quite casual and let your partner lead the way - he knows her and will know how confident/shy she might be.

I also wouldn’t be couply at all with your boyfriend as it might confuse her. Short meeting and agree with others that an activity would be best so it’s not too formal

When I met my partner's son for the first time (he was much older) we went bowling. I think it's good to do something to make it less formal and less awkward. Having something to focus on helped a lot, and by the end of the evening we were chatting happily.

I was super nervous about him not liking me, but there was no reason for him not to, really. That sounds big headed haha but you know what I mean.

Just be friendly, play with her if she's open to it, but let her dad take the lead. It might be great from the start, it might take a few meetings for you to warm up properly with each other - but it will be fine! It'd take something pretty catastrophic for a 3yo girl not to like someone!