Three year-olds aren’t as self-centred as two year-olds, so can usually play together nicely. At this age your child may even be capable of solving conflicts with their friends, as long as you give them enough time.  As children start playing together, they learn the basics of friendship. They notice they prefer playing with some friends more than others. Some of their playmates are really on the same wavelength, and this makes playing more fun. They understand each other perfectly. This can be a really cool discovery! As a parent, there may be times when you don’t understand your child’s choice of friends at all. But then you’re not the one playing.  

Sometimes it feels like you’re banging your head against a brick wall. You say,”Come on now” 10,000 times, but your toddler doesn’t respond. So you stand there in the hall and the frustration and stress start rising. There are a number of reasons why your child chooses not to listen; they may not actually be doing it to spite you. Maybe they think you talk too much and have simply decided to block out your voice. And it’s true that we parents do talk a lot. All day long, we keep wanting things and wanting them done now – NOW, not later. But not hearing may also be your child’s way of avoiding conflict. And it can also be quite entertaining to test your parents’ limits. And then there are some toddlers who are so focused on what they’re doing that they genuinely don’t hear you – they’re simply concentrating so hard. Try these tips: ·        Listen to your child when they’re talking. Can you put your hand on your heart and say you’ve never blocked out your toddler’s voice? ·        Tell them one thing at a time. ·        Make real contact. Don’t yell from the other side of the room. It’s harder for them not to hear you if you’re standing right next to them making eye contact. Acknowledge the times when your child really listens to you. That’s worth a lot of praise!