PLAYGROUND ZEN

There are a thousand baby books published, but is there one about politics at the playground? I think there may be a need because the politics at the playground is no laughing matter.

Toys - when you bring your toys to the playground it's open season and any child should be able to play with them..... but not take them home. Why do some Mom's like to quietly steal another child's toy? That's a no-no. My favorite episode is when another child takes YOUR child's toy and runs off with them, while your kid is like WFT? That was MY toy and why did she run off with them? Where is the Mom here? Why didn't she do anything?

Hitting - It's the parent or caregiver's job to watch your child. Especially if your child likes to hit, bite or  other toddler no-no's. It's their job to make sure the child doesn't throw sand or throw their toys and to teach them otherwise.  My friend Melissa says to me all the time, "I have no problem disciplining another child." But is that going to far? Is that okay? What are the rules here?

What about the older kids who run all over the playground and knock down the little ones? How are we supposed to handle these situations? I go back to Melissa's comment, "I have no problem disciplining another child."

How about when your child befriends another child and the parents are confronted with a budding new friendship and one is into it and the other is not. And if you child misbehaves, how do you handle? Or you are developing a new friendship with another parent and the child misbehaves. How do you handle?

The other day a man's 4 year old HIT a younger girl.  I couldn't believe it. The dad of the hitter didn't really discipline his boy. The girl's father talked to his daughter and made her feel better, but didn't say anything to the dad. What would you do? I would take further action and at least apologise to the little girl and father. What are the rules here?

Playgrounds can be a pretty rough environment and strange things do happen. There are too many child books in the marketplace, but I think there is a market for the Playground Zen book (for comic relief, of course).  I think we could all use a little help at the playground.