How do you discipline someone else's kids?
Hey Everyone,
My kids have been taught empathy and respect and manners. I know they are not perfect, but I can see the difference AP has made, and my oldest is only 7!
Anyway, my 7 year old DS has two new best friends - Twins! A brother and sister who live behind us. The twins have become known around the neighborhood as being very competitive and rude. I spoke with some other neighbors who decided not to let their kids play with the twins, but I thought that was too extreme.
So I have let them play at my house many times. At first I tried modeling good behavior, but by the end of the first week, I was worn out by all the fighting and the lack of manners. So I took a more direct approach. I made a Word document called "Friendship Etiquette - How to Behave at Your Friend's House". To make it less threatening to that one family, I passed it out to all of DS's friends. It really helped. The twins are using manners to ask for things and saying please and thank you.
However, I am still dealing with their competitive nature. Today it was constantly "ME FIRST!", "I WANT THE BEST ONE!", "HE GOT MORE THAN ME!" - all day long! They play date ended with my son getting so upset he broke a pencil!
I took the twins home early. I told them that I didn't want to criticize them, but that I was noticing how competitive they've acted all day long. I told them that it was not polite to always demand to get the best and to always demand to go first. It was stressing me out that they acted this way. I told them that I've tried to teach my kids to work together, to take turns, and to respect the other persons feelings. I also told them that we need a break for tomorrow, but they could play with my DS again one day next week.
So my question to all of you is, "How do you use discipline on someone else's kids without crossing the line?" I don't want to step on the other parents toes, but this is getting ridiculous. I'm stressed out,and my kids are stressed out.
I tired talking to the twins' mother but she just laughed and said, "Yep, that sounds like them!" I guess she just lives with it and assumes it normal behavior.
AUGH! What do I do?!
My kids have been taught empathy and respect and manners. I know they are not perfect, but I can see the difference AP has made, and my oldest is only 7!
Anyway, my 7 year old DS has two new best friends - Twins! A brother and sister who live behind us. The twins have become known around the neighborhood as being very competitive and rude. I spoke with some other neighbors who decided not to let their kids play with the twins, but I thought that was too extreme.
So I have let them play at my house many times. At first I tried modeling good behavior, but by the end of the first week, I was worn out by all the fighting and the lack of manners. So I took a more direct approach. I made a Word document called "Friendship Etiquette - How to Behave at Your Friend's House". To make it less threatening to that one family, I passed it out to all of DS's friends. It really helped. The twins are using manners to ask for things and saying please and thank you.
However, I am still dealing with their competitive nature. Today it was constantly "ME FIRST!", "I WANT THE BEST ONE!", "HE GOT MORE THAN ME!" - all day long! They play date ended with my son getting so upset he broke a pencil!
I took the twins home early. I told them that I didn't want to criticize them, but that I was noticing how competitive they've acted all day long. I told them that it was not polite to always demand to get the best and to always demand to go first. It was stressing me out that they acted this way. I told them that I've tried to teach my kids to work together, to take turns, and to respect the other persons feelings. I also told them that we need a break for tomorrow, but they could play with my DS again one day next week.
So my question to all of you is, "How do you use discipline on someone else's kids without crossing the line?" I don't want to step on the other parents toes, but this is getting ridiculous. I'm stressed out,and my kids are stressed out.
I tired talking to the twins' mother but she just laughed and said, "Yep, that sounds like them!" I guess she just lives with it and assumes it normal behavior.
AUGH! What do I do?!
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