I wouldn't call this "hothousing" social skills, and maybe I'm a "mean" mommy, but since our son was old enough to have games like Candy Land (past putting things in his mouth), if he wouldn't give me my turn, or if he took my pieces, I would get up and say I didn't want to play with him.
Of course, he cried. Then I explained that it makes the game not fun for me and that other kids won't want to play with him either if he acts that way.
It only took a couple of times for him to catch on I meant business. His self-control improved greatly.
I've tried to put myself in the place of any child my son would be playing with, and act as I imagined they would in that circumstance. If he hit me on purpose, I would cry out and say he hurt me and tell him if he hits, no one will want to be his friend. If I didn't get an apology, that would end our play.
Much of this he learned last year when he was three, but he still occasionally needs a reminder.
Now he's still learning about possessions: I have a trinket that my grandmother gave me that is very old and has childhood memories for me. My son has asked to hold it in the past and I have said no. He pouted, but I stood my ground. Now that he's more careful of things, I told him he could look at it "for a minute and just right here with me". When I wanted it back, he started to throw a fit.
I sent him to his room and told him that when someone lets him borrow something of theirs and wants it back, he absolutely DOES NOT start crying, but says thank you- with a smile- and gives it BACK! I told him that no one will want to let him borrow anything of theirs if they know he is going to act like that when they want it returned.
For me, teaching social skills are one of the most exhausting parts of being a parent!
