
Dear TinySprouts®: "What Do I Do When My Child Asks Other Kids to Play, and They Say No"
"I want to know how I can best respond to my 5-year old daughter when she asks other kids if they want to play with her and they say no.
When we're in playgrounds she will often say, "No one wants to play with me." I'd ask her if she's asked other kids to play.
She’s great at approaching kids after I suggest she asks them to play, but she often gets a no in response when she does ask them.
I’ve noticed the question she asks them is, “Do you want to play with me?” Should I encourage her to word this question in a different way?
I also find myself saying things to reassure her when she’s upset because other children have said no. I feel like reassurance by itself is doing her a disservice in terms of developing resilience. I’d really appreciate suggestions on what I could say to build her resilience and self-confidence rather than simply offering her comfort and reassurance."
