Playdate Etiquette for Parents

You’ve taught your kids to play nicely with others. Now how can you do the same with fellow moms? Here’s how to handle common parent-to-parent etiquette challenges gracefully.

How Do I Tell a Parent No When She Repeatedly Asks for a Playdate? My Kid Is Not Into It.

It depends on why your child is resistant. If he simply thinks that the other kid is “boring,” you might want to encourage him to give it a try anyway. (Part of growing up is learning to get along with people who aren’t exactly like us.) If he has a more concrete problem—for instance, the other kid doesn’t like to share—then consider compassionate honesty, says syndicated advice columnist Amy Alkon, the author of I See Rude People ($17, amazon.com). “Gently tell the other parent that you would like the kids to play together but her child has a tendency to get a little wrapped up and forgets to share, as kids sometimes do,” says Alkon. Having this conversation may be easier, and kinder, than making excuses until your child goes to college.