What sorts of things do you do with six year old girls to make friends with them? My husband’s daughter is about to come live with us. She’s very smart, but quite on the difficult side. She might take my “Bratgirl” title away from me, in fact.
I have no experience with little girls, aside having once been one. I’m not looking for advice on being a parent at the moment, I’m looking for advice on the sorts of activities my husband can do with her, and that I can do with her (not necessarily both at the same time) to get to know each other and develop a sort of friendship.
Thanks.
Bratgirl, I’m the owner of a 6-year-old daughter. Here are some things she likes to do – read and be read to, color, do crafts, watch Disney movies, play princess, dress up, play board games, have her fingernails painted (frankly, most any “teenager” or “big lady” type of primping is very popular).
My daughter still enjoys going to the playground, and is still learning to ride a bike. She is also athletic and likes to swim, so she goes to swim lessons every week at the Y. If your stepdaughter likes to swim, a membership at a gym or Y could be a good investment. They have all kinds of classes.
My daughter is very active and could possibly be accused of being hyper, so I understand what you must mean about your stepdaughter. I think this is symptomatic of 6-year-olds anyway (mine will be 7 in December). You’ll find she complains a lot, asks questions incessantly and flies into a dramatic meltdown at the slightest pique. This is not unusual, if my daughter is any gauge! Try not to let it get to you.
(Ooops sorry you didn’t ask for parenting advice … but the drama queen thing is something I felt needed mentioning!)
Good luck!
Having been a baby sitter of 6 year old girls, I know this to be true:
crayons and coloring books!!
art activities as a whole.
a fun popular one: making lip balms. they sell kits at target, toys r us, etc.
it is fun and heck, you’ll enjoy it to!
and oh my goodness:
an easy bake oven.
snoopy snow cone machine.
barbie anything.
hello kitty anything.
pink glittery anything.
purple glittery anything.
stuffed animals.
glitery stuffed animals.
most little girls also love having a purse of their own. so maybe go purse shopping together. walmart and target carry adorable ones for 5 bucks.
neat games you can all play:
trouble is actually fun for all, as it is a luck game, so its as much fun for adults as kids.
don’t spill the beans is fun too.
old maid
kids uno.
I’m writing all this down! I appreciate all the suggestions, and look for any more you all can offer. Thanks!
When mine were 6, they always loved doing anything grownup with me or their dad. Fixing cars, baking bread, making cookies, doing yard work…as long as it wasn’t their JOB, they loved doing it.
I can’t resist one teensy bit of advice, but it’s stepparenting advice, not parenting: Don’t suck up to her and don’t talk down to her. If a kid suspects you’re trying to get on her good side, she’ll make it very difficult for you to succeed.