Having a crush is a big deal especially to a child and it is starting as early as preschool and kindergarten these days. A crush on a classmate is usually nothing more than a simple note or playing everyday together on the playground so sometime it is best for us, as parents, just to keep an eye open and an ear listening. It does tear at your heart strings to know your child is growing up and perhaps sees something special in someone besides you. As you travel through this puppy love milestone with your child there are a few things to keep in mind.
- Keep the teasing to a minimum and do not bring it up around your child’s friends. If you have questions, ask them at home. You may even wait and talk about it when other siblings are not around to avoid teasing by them too. You do not want to embarrass your child so that they will not discuss relationships openly with you in the future.
- Encourage your child’s friendship, emphasizing “friend”. Have lunch together at a restaurant with a play zone, meet at the park and other activities where the families can meet at a neutral place. Support this friendship like you would any other.
- Use this “crush” as a teachable moment. Talk with your child about friendship and how we should show kindness and respect to everyone around us. It is normal for us to be attracted to certain character traits and personalities but we should treat everyone with the love and kindness we want to be shown in return.
Puppy love phases will come and go. As parents we can teach our children to value this friendship and nourish it, as with any other friendship in the future, with kindness, love and respect.
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