[-erin-]

at a public place, or when other kids are around...

how much do you hover over your LO? or totally leave them alone?



We were at Ikea yesterday and they have all the kids toys/stuff out for kids to play on. Juliet is still so young (and there were lots of other kids there) that I didn't want to totally step back, but I also worried that maybe I hovered too much.

[survey77777]

I try not to micromanage his interactions...but I also figure it's a good time to teach healthy social interactions. So I generally help him to start out. "Say hi" and then throw in a few reminders if needed. "Show the boy your toy" "Now it's his turn" "Be gentle" "Say bye" etc. For the most part they seem to be at the stand in front of each other and stare phase. Then G starts talking up a storm and the other kid will look at him like wth?

[edgeofelise]

If it's a familiar environment I just let her go, but make sure I'm close enough to get there in a flash if need be. But that's at the park or somewhere where she won't destroy everything in sight. At stores I hover, but usually just because she's busy taking everything off the shelves and making a disaster. I try to limit how much I step in when she's interacting with other kids. I watch, and if Eliza gets too pushy (she always goes for the kiss attack--knocking down her opponent with smooches) I step in. But for the most part I just let them have at it unless she's the only other really little one. She's so tiny she gets trampled easily.

[MrsLMB]

If there is no chance of her escaping and running free I will back off and let her do her own thing. But if there is even the tiniest chance she could slip through a hole in the fence I stand within 10 feet of her. I would hover over her at a mall playground as well, I just get afraid I would lose sight of her for a second and she would be gone. She is sneaky like that.

Sad story but a couple weeks ago a 2 year old sprung free from his mothers hand and ran out onto the street at his daycare. He stepped out beyond a parked car and was hit by a truck and killed. I seriously have anxiety over Claire getting away from me. She loves to run and will not stop for anything.

[momoftwins]

I think I'm somewhere in between. I'm definitely not one of those moms who just lets their kid take off and play in public. I'm usually a few steps behind him, just following him. I let him explore and do his own thing until he gets into something that he shouldn't!