Hi,
DS is 2 and 4 mo and this year we decided to wait on preschool (did not like the only one in our area that allows his age). Instead for some social outlets we have about 10 hours of babysitting a week (he is fine with this), library storytime/playtime for one or two hours a week (he really likes this), and recently joined a playgroup with 4 kids his age that meets once a week for 2 hours (not sure yet).
I was really hopeful for the playgroup but so far I'm not sure its a positive thing. To be brief, they're all around 2 years old and 2 of them are pretty difficult to be around (push/pull hair/bite, major tantrums etc), DS happens to have well behaved type of temperament, the other one is 2.5 and also an easy kid to play with.
My general idea has been that whether or not it's really enjoyable, these playdates are good because DS has to learn how to manage around other little kids and the interactions about sharing etc are important ones. And that as the year goes by most likely the younger kids will grow and get more polite.
But then yesterday we ran into a aquaintance with her 2 year old son and DS turned and ran the other way saying something like, "no no please lets go, we have to go now." It wasn't clear exactly what he was feeling (and I could be completely off base, maybe he was just wanting to avoid parents talking forever while he had to stand there bored), but I'm concerned he thought we were having a playdate and that he's getting averse to kids his age. I certainly would be if I was him.
This week luckily DS has a cold so we are abstaining from playgroup. But what to do? The playgroup organization assigned us to this one based on age, perhaps there's a chance of switching if I say my schedule's changed, perhaps not.
What's the point at which social interaction for a group of 2 year olds, is bad versus good? I just feel bad for him, he is a sensitive kid and I'm not sure how much of it he can take without starting to just dislike other kids.
Polly
