"My 3-year-old daughter's best friend at day care is a boy. They have been together since they were little babies and are inseparable. His family and some of the nursery staff have encouraged the idea that they are boyfriend and girlfriend-when we went to his birthday party, even his extended family said, "Oh you're Sally's mom, his little girlfriend!" I know this is fairly common in the way people talk about children, but it's something I think is creepy and weird."
"Dear Valentine, I'm at a bit of a loss what to do, and I feel rude not thanking his parents for sending a little gift. I'm torn between thinking it's harmless and being blown away by how weird it is. I don't know if there's any way to react without being that parent. I don't see George's parents, but I do have his mom's number. Do I just ignore it? Is there anything I could or should say?"
A 3-year-old girl's closest daycare companion is a boy, and family members and some nursery staff label them boyfriend and girlfriend. The girl received a valentine and a chocolate rose from the boy, which made the parent uncomfortable and unsure whether to thank his parents. The parent worries about encouraging early romantic labels and about appearing rude in addressing the situation. Practical advice recommends telling nursery staff not to promote boyfriend/girlfriend dynamics, to emphasize that the children are friends, and to use a brief, polite script asking caregivers to avoid fostering romantic roles between toddlers.
Read at Slate Magazine
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