Lesson Summary:
Max Dahmen (LCSW), explains that when young children around ages 4 to 5 bluntly tell peers they do not want to play, it is usually normal and driven by limited filters rather than malicious intent.
He recommends brief, simple coaching such as naming that words can hurt feelings, offering alternative phrases like “I do not want to play right now,” and reassuring other parents that the behavior is being addressed. By keeping corrections short, calm, and developmentally appropriate, caregivers help children learn social skills without turning small moments into big conflicts.