Q: When our play group meets at a home other than our own, my nearly 3-year-old wants to leave within 30 minutes. When I try to persuade him to stay, he becomes very agitated and then starts to scream. Nothing has worked. Suggestions?
I've said it before and I'll say it again, I think toddler play groups (with mothers present) are an invitation to disaster. These experiences are of minimal social value, if they have any value at all, at this age. I much prefer "mothers' morning out" programs, because kids this age do much better in small groups if their moms aren't present. So my advice is to quit the group and go to a park a couple of mornings a week—just the two of you. You'll both have a lot more fun.
