Anonymous
Post 05/24/2026 19:29     Subject: Compatible activity w/3yr boy and preteen girl
Wut? A preteen and 3 year old that used to play together all the time? đź«Ş

So 10 and 2?
9 and 1?
Get real.
Anonymous
Post 05/24/2026 17:15     Subject: Compatible activity w/3yr boy and preteen girl
Ugh leave the preteen alone. No one wants to entertain a random three year old.
Anonymous
Post 05/24/2026 17:07     Subject: Compatible activity w/3yr boy and preteen girl
Anonymous wrote:Parents are looking for how to plan seeing friends who we're very close with, but suddenly their pre-teen is not at all interested in engaging with my 3-year-old. They used to play together constantly.My child doesn't seem to understand the need for personal space and gets so excited to play.

I'd like to see these friends often, but I'm not sure where would be a good place to meet.

I welcome your suggestions.

Thank you


Only an idiot would think that a preteen would be interested in engaging in anything with a three year old. What would they have in common?
Anonymous
Post 05/22/2026 06:06     Subject: Compatible activity w/3yr boy and preteen girl
Anonymous wrote:Would you have wanted to play with a 3-year old when you were that age, OP?



This.
Anonymous
Post 05/21/2026 19:23     Subject: Compatible activity w/3yr boy and preteen girl
Do things without your kids, sheesh.
Anonymous
Post 05/21/2026 15:19     Subject: Compatible activity w/3yr boy and preteen girl
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Pre teen should be allowed to do her own thing, read a book etc. and the parents parent the 3 year old.


I don’t agree with reading a book. That shuts the preteen out of any possible social interactions. If they’re in the house they can watch a funny movie, play simple board games, the preteen can teach the three year old tricks. Outdoors they shouldn’t have a problem, eat at an outdoor shack type restaurant, walk around. Plenty of families have siblings with age gaps and they make it work.


I don't agree with making someone else's child babysit my child. Let the preteen do whatever she wants. She definitely doesn't want to hang out with a preschooler and probably also doesn't care about hanging out with her parents' friends. You can see your friends without forcing their child to watch your child and calling it "spending time together as a family."
Anonymous
Post 05/21/2026 15:17     Subject: Compatible activity w/3yr boy and preteen girl
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Pre teen should be allowed to do her own thing, read a book etc. and the parents parent the 3 year old.


I don’t agree with reading a book. That shuts the preteen out of any possible social interactions. If they’re in the house they can watch a funny movie, play simple board games, the preteen can teach the three year old tricks. Outdoors they shouldn’t have a problem, eat at an outdoor shack type restaurant, walk around. Plenty of families have siblings with age gaps and they make it work.


Why would a preteen want to do any of these things? Particularly with an annoying-year-old they don’t seem especially fond of?
Anonymous
Post 05/20/2026 13:47     Subject: Compatible activity w/3yr boy and preteen girl
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Pre teen should be allowed to do her own thing, read a book etc. and the parents parent the 3 year old.


I don’t agree with reading a book. That shuts the preteen out of any possible social interactions. If they’re in the house they can watch a funny movie, play simple board games, the preteen can teach the three year old tricks. Outdoors they shouldn’t have a problem, eat at an outdoor shack type restaurant, walk around. Plenty of families have siblings with age gaps and they make it work.


This is a guest, not a younger sibling. The pre-teen is not obligated to entertain this kid.
Anonymous
Post 05/19/2026 04:55     Subject: Compatible activity w/3yr boy and preteen girl
Anonymous wrote:Their whole family is probably annoyed that you drag your preschooler over there and then say things like "DC just doesn't understand personal space!"

Unless you have a 2-5 year old, no one, aside from family, wants you to bring one with you when you hang out.


Yeah I've had 3 year olds and just tell them to give her space and then YOu interact with and redirect them. If they don't redirect take them out of the situation for a bit. This is in your control.