Should i address my child’s gossip with friends?
My almost 7-year-old daughter recently had her best friend over for a playdate. While they were playing in her room, I overheard part of their conversation, which involved another girl in their class. They’re also friends with this other girl, but she’s been spending more time playing with other kids lately.
What I heard wasn’t mean or outright gossip. They were sharing things this girl had done that had upset or annoyed them. For example, one of them mentioned feeling hurt because she laughed at something they did. There were also comments like, “She’s so childish for laughing at me because of that.”
This is my first child, and it’s the first time I’ve encountered anything resembling “gossip.” Should I talk to my daughter about how it’s not okay to speak negatively about a friend to another friend? Or is this just harmless and typical behavior among young girls? I’d love some perspective on how to handle this!