"parenting" someone else's child

[PumpkinZulu]

Why didn't Parent B do something sooner? I'd have gone over and asked if everyone was having a fun time playing, what was up etc. I have no qualms in nicely interacting with other children, and kindly reminding them to play nicely. Parent A should probably have been watching her child a little more, but she may have needed that break, who knows. All she saw was her child being pushed, I don't think it's unreasonable to say please don't push, and when Parent B's child said her child was being mean, I think suggesting he say stop is a good one. Dunno, if I were Parent B I would have checked the situation a little sooner. I think it's important to teach kids good conflict resolution as well as keep them confident; so I wouldn't swoop in and take DD immediately away from the situation, because that teaches her nothing about being an individual, but I also would teach her to let children know what she does and doesn't find okay.

[little_O]

Hmm see as an outsider watching I thought parent B may have said something to parent A, but she let it go.

It made me think though, is it better to let children go and sort things out themselves. To me parent B was letting her son sort things out in the sense of boys are boys they'll work it out. Is it good for them to fight their own battles?

For myself I would have probably just taken my child away from the situation before they reacted and told them to play away from those boys.

I know I would have gotten annoyed at parent A though if she had confronted my child like that.

[RhiChiChi]

Why didn't Parent B do something sooner? I'd have gone over and asked if everyone was having a fun time playing, what was up etc. I have no qualms in nicely interacting with other children, and kindly reminding them to play nicely. Parent A should probably have been watching her child a little more, but she may have needed that break, who knows. All she saw was her child being pushed, I don't think it's unreasonable to say please don't push, and when Parent B's child said her child was being mean, I think suggesting he say stop is a good one. Dunno, if I were Parent B I would have checked the situation a little sooner. I think it's important to teach kids good conflict resolution as well as keep them confident; so I wouldn't swoop in and take DD immediately away from the situation, because that teaches her nothing about being an individual, but I also would teach her to let children know what she does and doesn't find okay.

Totally agree with this.... As the parent 'b' I would have stepped in sooner

[TaRhLi.]

When DD goes to playgroup there is one little girl there who is VERY dominant and bossy. I have had instances where she has been mean or pushed DD and I will always say to her "xxxxxxx don't do that, it isn't nice to push etc", normally when I speak up the mum will then call her daughter over and talk to her about her behaviour but I don't like to step in immediately as DD needs to be able to stand her ground and learn how to manage the situation - even though she isn't quite 3 - it is still an important lesson for kids to learn.

However when DD starts getting upset or was being ganged up on, I then go over to DD and support her and tell her that we will go and play with some of the other girls who are nice to play with.