This afternoon, my daughter's play date friend, Mary (5 year old), did not want to go home. She badly wanted to go with us to a friend’s house, Belinda, for a swim. She started crying and closing herself down.

Her mom started explaining to her that they needed to go home because they also had a special visitor at their house.   Although the mom was squatting down and was at eye-level to her child,  (she is a very tall woman), it did not make her daughter stop crying at all.

So I said: " It sounds like you really want to go to Belinda's house, don't you?"

"Yes!"  she replied.

"And it seems that you are sad that you are not going."

"Yes", she replied again. The crying had reduced considerably and she was looking at me now. I said, "Well I've got an idea. Let's organize a visit to Belinda’s for next week. Which day would you like to go?”
Her mom said Wednesday was good, so I continued with Mary,  "How does Wednesday sound to you?".

She replied:  "Good, " and she was calm again. The mom was very impressed with my new skills.