Mastering Playground Politics

Just as someone else's toys are much more appealing than one's own, the same goes for another kid's snack. Children who gag at the sight of dried fruit or a granola bar will eat creamed spinach if another child seems to be enjoying it. While swapping snacks is normal among friends and playgroups, it can be dicey when an unknown child asks you for a cookie. A good way to avoid the situation is to only allow your child to eat at the picnic table, rather than eat in front of other kids in line for the slide. But if you're approached by a child who asks for a couple of goldfish crackers, a safe response is something like, "Of course you can have some. Just ask your Mommy if it's OK." That way the mom knows what Junior is eating and you won't be guilty of triggering a goldfish cracker allergy attack (I'm kidding of course, but these days you can't be too sure!) or messing up someone's low-carb toddler diet. Besides, once a child goes off to ask his mother's permission, it's a pretty safe bet that his mother will tell him to quit mooching off strangers and to eat his own food.