https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Wed, 22 Apr 2026 15:03:11 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-friends-playing-together-is-supposed-to-look-like#post-2453296 Mon, 08 Feb 2016 10:12:28 +0000 rachiecakes 2453296@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think it's due to personality. I mean, I'm not friends with every 35 year old :)<br /> My son plays much better with older kids than younger kids, usually. He's really into sports and games. Doesn't care much for characters or arts &amp; crafts. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-friends-playing-together-is-supposed-to-look-like#post-2453276 Mon, 08 Feb 2016 10:01:27 +0000 mediagirl 2453276@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Ms maths: yeah, I think it's also just different personalities because one of the other kids she plays with is a daycare kid. Some kids are just more abrasive while others are more easy going. My kid is more of a follower than a leader but she doesn't do well with being pushed around. She knows it isn't right. </p> <p>@Cherrybee: that's so amazing that your lo played so well with the 5 year old! And I agree, the 2s are tough with age differences. and being able to play together nicely. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-friends-playing-together-is-supposed-to-look-like#post-2453270 Mon, 08 Feb 2016 09:58:09 +0000 Cherrybee 2453270@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>At E's age (2.5), kids are developing at their own pace and even a few months either side of an age can seem like an eternity. E is really sociable and likes to play, which has led to some very difficult play dates over the last few months. My BFF's lad is 8 months older and just doesn't play that way. Another friend's daughter is still learning to share and throws tantrums instead of playing...... Then, a few weeks back, we were at a friend's house and another friend of theirs was visiting with their 5 year old. She just clicked with E and was so patient with her - they played together all afternoon and it was so lovely to watch. They were playing house in the play tent and E was lapping up being told what to do next, when it was time to get up etc! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-friends-playing-together-is-supposed-to-look-like#post-2453267 Mon, 08 Feb 2016 09:57:31 +0000 Ms maths 2453267@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My LO definitely has different play experiences with different kids. We sometimes get together with friends with a kid our older LO's age (~2), and he often seems to be on a mission to exclude our kid: taking toys from him, telling him he can't play, crying if he gets too close, telling him "No!" when he offers a toy. Our LO seems oblivious to the whole thing, so I try to just ignore it. But I also have stopped initiating outings with them because I find it stressful to watch.</p> <p>But when our LO plays with the neighbor's granddaughter, they are just so happy to see each other. (Although my LO, who is older, sometimes gets very attached to the neighbor's toys. But I work on that with him :bummed: )</p> <p>I wonder if the daycare playdate also worked well because they learn how to play together well at daycare? (I think one of the things that goes wrong for my LO with friends' kid is that he tries to interact with them like he does at school, but the other kid has a different set of interaction "rules" that don't seem to mesh well with what my LO knows.) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-friends-playing-together-is-supposed-to-look-like#post-2453220 Mon, 08 Feb 2016 09:40:14 +0000 pwnstar 2453220@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mediagirl: That makes perfect sense . . . your neighbor not being a nice kid (at least initially!) because her big sister is probably not nice to her. That makes me sad for her. :( </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-friends-playing-together-is-supposed-to-look-like#post-2453212 Mon, 08 Feb 2016 09:35:40 +0000 mediagirl 2453212@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Freckles: the one down the street has an older sister who is not the nicest kid around. I'm really not a fan of them playing together but it's the only other 3-4 year old in our neighborhood that I know. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-friends-playing-together-is-supposed-to-look-like#post-2453193 Mon, 08 Feb 2016 09:16:28 +0000 Freckles 2453193@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Are the kids down your street older? Some older kids are just not nice! </p> <p>DD plays the best with kids her age - and I agree, it makes me so happy! Glad your play date went well. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-friends-playing-together-is-supposed-to-look-like#post-2453187 Mon, 08 Feb 2016 09:12:18 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 2453187@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>:happy: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-friends-playing-together-is-supposed-to-look-like#post-2453184 Mon, 08 Feb 2016 09:08:46 +0000 mediagirl 2453184@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My lo has only had play dates or played with a few kids her age. There is a girl a few houses down she will play with and a girl at school. My lo talks about them and wants to play with them but neither of these girls seems very good at actually playing with my daughter. There is a lot of bossing her around and just not playing nice. </p> <p>This weekend we had a playdate with a new friend (from daycare) and they played beautifully together. They looked out for one another, helped one another and listened to one another. I was so happy to see her play with a friend who just seemed genuinely happy to be with my LO. </p> <p>Have you experienced this yet? Where you were just so happy your LO finally found someone to play with who was on the same level? </p>