I’m starting to reconnect with some of my old friends from high school but they have a 5-year-old now and I want to make a good impression but I don’t really know how to interact with children. Do I just like ask them what their favorite Disney movie is or something?
If you have access to Disney+ or piracy, watching a couple of (they’re eight minutes long) episodes of the show Bluey would probably charm your butt off and also give you a lot to go on for fun ways to engage with kids.
It’s all about being real and in the moment, and giving them ways to experience novelty. A parenting book my partner was reading reminded her that all you need to do to engage a (toddler, but the point stands) child’s interest is to turn the laundry basket upside down. Everything that’s dull to you is new to them (and everything that’s exciting to you, they’re often not ready for yet).
Oh yeah, Bluey is pretty great. I have a couple friends who don’t have kids who put it on when they need soft, warm, background noise. It’s better than a lot of stuff for the same age range — I have a brother who is significantly younger than me, so I’ve seen my fair share of children’s TV trash and Bluey is a freshing contrast
Pull up in a white van with no or blackened windows and offer them candy. Oh and make sure “Free candy” is scratched in on the sides of the van. Wouldn’t want people getting the wrong idea…
Now for the serious advice, don’t do dumb jokes like the one above. Kids need honesty. Screwing around for shits and giggles is always a bad idea around them.
Just talk with them like normal humans and pretend that you are a giant 5 year old.
I used a lot of words to say much the same. If you treat them like smaller and dumber adults, you’re just another boring big person.
What if I am a giant 5 year old.
Tbh, I don’t. I don’t like kids, and I will do anything I can to avoid interacting with them.
Kids like attention. Ask them what they like to play, and what they like to watch. Talk to them like little adults and they generally will like that.
Get really hyped and stuff. Show them stuff. Play with them
Ask them what they like, and then ask questions about that topic. Children are the easiest people to make friends with. They will be excited that you asked them anything about themselves, and if you continue to ask questions about what they like, they’re going to adore you immediately.
I agree w this! I also usually bring my friend’s kid a sweet treat or candy or chips, w parental permission, of course. Now their kid not only gets excited when I stop by, but they also love cannolis now 😇😃😋
Be yourself, children will get past your facade and your inhibitions when you realise it.
I’ve sometimes behaved as if I don’t give a shit and they still trigger me in the right direction to make me goofy.
They will inevitably ask you the age-old question of why…at that point you will go into the abyss of which there is no escape
I roll with it, give 'em short, punchy and factual answers. If you bumble and act uncertain, they get that and keep drilling.
Another tack is to get technical with 'em. Bores them right out.
“Why is the sky blue?”
“Because sunlight is actually ALL colors, but because blue light is more energetic, higher frequency, shorter wavelengths, right?, it bounces around more than other colors.” LOL, and keep going.
Baffle them with technicalities (but don’t make shit up, keep it real!) and they’ll wander off to think about it.
Why?
Because he fucking said so, that’s why!
This is the equivalent of a verbal
break;statement
I’m a trans woman, so I just keep my head level, pretend I don’t see them, and just walk on by, lest some low-information voter think I’m a child molester and try to get me.
That said, children are absolute trash at paying attention to their destination and their environment, so when they inevitably cross my path in the dumbest possible way, I stop walking until they figure out they should go around me. That way I don’t accidentally kick the tiny knee-high humans.
I was one, once.
Bring a board game or a pet.
SIT DOWN CHILD, AND WELCOME TO THE CAMPAIGN FOR NORTH AFRICA: THE DESERT WAR 1940-1943. IT SHALL MAKE YOU A MAN, FOR IT WILL TAKE TWELVE YEARS TO COMPLETE.
I’m more of an Axis&Allies man myself but sure.
I’m partial to Diplomacy myself.
(I lied I just want to name drop the game lol)
I’m autistic and bad with kids, but this has worked with every one that age I’ve tried it with: ask them what they had for lunch, then what they’re going to have for dinner and then you can branch out to favorite foods and colors and movies and then it should go easily from there
First of all, update that title. It gives a really bad vibe.
As for the question, don’t try to be a “good uncle”, don’t pretend to know stuff the kid does unless you know it. Ask your friend how to approach the kid. I’m almost sure all tips you get from the random people from the internet will be useless or confusing.
Likely most 5 y/os once they realize you’re friends with their parents will want to jabber at you themselves. Just talk to them about what they make it obvious they want to talk about at first. And don’t talk in a baby voice, IE raise your voice up high and stuff-- They’re little humans by that age.
Don’t overthink it.
Also, play dumb. Let them tell you things you already know. And when they tell you something wrong, guide them to the right answer instead of making them feel bad for being confidently wrong.
So just like with adults
Yeah, but your “within reason” window should be wayyyy bigger.
Like, you shouldn’t even let them drive sober.
There’s a lot of adults you shouldn’t let drive even sober
I’m one of them!
(I’m a really bad driver.)
Same!
(I don’t have a loicence)
