Daughter may not be ready for sleepover

My daughter is in second grade. She is an only child and is mainly a pleasure to be around.

However, her dad and I have noticed a tendency to push right up against a rule or boundary.

Sometimes, especially when she feels comfortable, she steps over the line.

She has been begging us to let her go on a sleepover at her friend's house.

I'm not confident that my daughter will be on her best behaviour while staying overnight, and her father and I wonder about the best approach. Wondering Parents

Dear Wondering: Your daughter might not be ready to spend the night at another child's house, but she might be ready to host another child for a sleepover.

Hosting might offer her an important perspective on her own behaviour.

The risk of sending her to another child's house before she can behave in a pro-social way is that if things go south, she will not be asked back.

I suggest that you talk to other hosting parents and ask them to give you a call if your daughter becomes aggressive, demanding, or overly obnoxious while at their home, and to let your daughter know that you will bring her home if her behaviour becomes a problem.

You should coach her on ways to modulate her behaviour and actually practice ways for her to be a good guest, and a great friend.