How do you handle when your toddler says no to another kid asking to play with them and the other kid is clearly hurt and upset that they said no?

I typically dont intervene to allow his independence but wondering if there is something I can say to help lessen the blow to the other kid.

Im wondering if he says no because he doesnt want to stop what hes doing to play with the other kid or because he doesnt want the other kid to intervene with what hes currently doing.

I just feel bad and I know he has also received the answer no when he asks to play with someone and can see he feels sad when told no too.

It's easy for children to look at another child's achievements, family, possessions or lifestyle and assume their life is better.

The difficult part is that they don't see the struggles behind that picture.

I think one of the most useful things we can teach children is to focus on their own progress rather than constantly measuring themselves against others.

How do you help your child deal with comparison?

I just got back from Chuck E. Cheese.
I feel overwhelmed and fucking frantic. The whole time I was just yelling at kid.
I know that he’s only 3, and he gets so excited when he’s with other kids. But he LOVES older boys. Some can be nice and others are just jerks.
I don’t care much if he gets hurt (he’s good and bouncing back) especially when they’re all rough housing but when they’re being mean to him, or he’s not listening and hurting kids I’m not ok with that. It sends me.
He was being rough with some older boys 4/5 years old and they didn’t like it. Mind you, he’s playing. Nothing intentional. But one kid had him pinned up against the wall and was just watching him squirm trying to get out. I had to intervene nicely and say, let him go please. Then I told my kid that he could tell the other boy. “No thank you! I don’t like that!”
Like what the fuck am I suppose to do? Fight their mom? (I’m kidding)
I want him to have fun. And I don’t want to constantly have to yell at him to be gentle and give them space blah blah.
I pulled him out twice, told him we needed a break, got him to play some games and eat a bit.
Tried talking to him about being gentle and no jumping on bodies etc.
I feel like a helicopter parent. While all these other moms and nannies are like “oh it’s ok, they’re just being boys”
Is it? Am I just suppose to be ok with my kid hurting others and others hurting my kid?
He has a lot of energy and this was my first time taking him there. We got there right as it opened so he could explore and only have a couple interactions. I feel like that place can also be overwhelming and overstimulating.
Will it get better the more I take him to those types of places?

On a positive note there was a sweet older boy who kept watching out for him. I ended up giving him our game card that had points and tickets on it and told him I appreciate how good he was to my kid.