I’m starting to reconnect with some of my old friends from high school but they have a 5-year-old now and I want to make a good impression but I don’t really know how to interact with children. Do I just like ask them what their favorite Disney movie is or something?
As someone with a 5yo.
Sit on the floor when interacting with them. Literally being on their level can help a lot, that and talk about stuff they are into.
As someone else mentioned, don’t baby talk to them, unless they have some specific learning disability, a 5yo will know a lot about what they are into (a dinosaur kid will know heaps about dinosaurs)
My boys all love Lego, build cool stuff, then let them have it, don’t use instructions.
Yes, floor time and getting into their world is real currency!
Show them tricks, teach them Rubik’s cubes or something. Kids love learning and novelty (not lectures: show, don’t tell!)
Even if it’s just grabbing a broom, holding it up and spinning around and getting dizzy - good, clean fun (until you throw up on them)