S/O socialization and playgroups

CMonkey515

I recently joined a playgroups through meetup.com. We've only made it to a few toddler open play times at a local library so far. It seems like most of the other moms just kind of let their kids do their own thing, while keeping an eye on them from afar, and hang out and chat with each other. Most of the other kids seem to play well and somewhat calmly or stick close to their moms.

DS on the other hand is all over the place. He wants to see and do everything. He goes up to everyone and certainly isn't shy. The second we get in the room he wants nothing to do with me. I'm totally fine with that, but he does tend to take toys from other kids quite a bit. Or kind of nudge another kid out of the way with his body in order to get to a toy or area he wants. He doesn't get the concept of sharing at all, which I assume is normal at this age. I'm not really sure how to handle it yet, since we're both new to this.

What do you all do? Should I just leave him to do his thing and only step in if I see that he's really upsetting another kid. Do I try to stick somewhat close to him and stop him from snagging toys or hand toys back that he's taken and redirect him? I don't want to be a total helicopter mom, but I also don't want to be the mom who lets her kid act jerky and do what ever he wants either.

cantalopes24

My rule is if someone snatches a toy unless the other kid is upset about it I let it go. They don't understand sharing and I don't want to put the idea in their head that someone playing with your toy is a bad thing. I HATE HATE HATE when Kid B picks up a

Fianschneid

While the other moms are chatting, maybe you could ask what the standard is in the group. Otherwise, I agree with Lopes.

Elsa1984

I agree with Lopes. If your LO takes a toy away from another kid and that kid is upset, I would watch for a minute and then step in. But if the kid doesn't care that his/her toy was snatched up....I wouldn't worry about it. Most of the kids that we see/pl

Ms.Jade

There's actually a good blurb in What to Expect the Second Year about this phenomenon but I just skimmed it since I have a clinger rather than an adventurer. Hope that helps!

CMonkey515

Thanks ladies. I will leave him to do his thing as long as he's not terrorizing anyone. I just feel like DS is so much more all over the place than most of the other kids. I'm probably just being over sensitive to it though.

NHbride129

My ds was just like that and playgroups were always stressful for me.  I always felt like either I was being a helicopter mom or the other moms were rolling their eyes at me because I wasn't paying attention and my kid was making everyone cry.&nbs