The behavior of prompting their grandchild to perform may stem from the friends' desire to entertain. Young children can be unpredictable in conversations. This phase of grandparenthood won't last, and children will eventually contribute more to discussions. The concerned friends may need to adjust their expectations and focus on the happiness that the grandparents derive from their grandchild. Recognizing joy in the situation could improve the dynamic of visits, making them more enjoyable for both parties involved.
Four-year-olds can be chatty and wonderfully active, depending on the child, they may not always be the consistent conversation partners for adults.
The child won't be 4 forever; eventually he'll have more things to say or other things to do while you and the other adults entertain yourselves.
Respectfully, I wonder if some of this concern is rooted in your frustration about not being able to have an adult conversation with your friends.
But I'd encourage you to start to see the joy and delight that your friends have. If you make a point to look for that and focus on it, it may help to shift the way these visits feel.
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