Playdates...

My child (5) is a friendly kid and apparently is telling classmates they need to come over for playdates and giving them our address lol
One mom actually texted me saying my son was telling her son that he wants a playdate and when can we set it up. We set a tentative date.
Should I be inviting them to our home?-- should i offer for her to be able to drop him off? Or should i suggest going to a playground? Not sure how all this works and 5 seems young to me for a "drop off" playdate.
When did you start those with classmates?

Playdates...

My dd is almost 7 and we just really started over the summer. She met a little girl who actually lives down the block from us at another neighbor's party. So now just about every weekend they are bouncing back and forth between houses. LOL. The girl is 5 (I believe she'll be 6 in June) and is in K and my DD is in 1st grade.

Re: Playdates...

At age 5 and you don't know the family I usually always suggest a park for an hour or 2 most or invite them over, but parent stays. My boys are 9 and 7 and I've been doing drop-off playdates for a while now, but I really know the parents. Especially when they're young.
Even done indoor places like a bounce place or place that does open play. Good way to meet other parents, make friends and eventually do drop offs when you're comfortable.
I've made lots of my closest friends from playdates and now we do "family" playdates where we all get together. Even done nights out without the kids.

Playdates...

Dd is 4, and we started some drop off play dates this year.

Playdates...

This is all really helpful. We "know" eachother a bit from attending a few bday parties and volunteering up at the school for parties in the classroom etc. So i put the offer out for her to come or drop off whatever they are comfortable with.
Now a new question -- do you serve food at these play dates? I was thinking of putting out fruit.. but do i need to do more than that? Not sure what is the norm.

Re: Playdates...

DS is 6 and in Kindergarten. It's easiest, especially now that the weather is getting nice, to do a park meet up. I've also met the mom and other child for lunch out. DS has had a drop off play date, but I know not all parents are comfortable with that at this age.

Re: Playdates...

If you aren't comfortable with drop off, or you don't know them well, I'd do it at a park or something.
I don't think I'd want to have to entertain someone I barely knew in my home for 2 hours.

I think DD started doing drop off playdates at around 6 maybe? If I knew the mom.

Playdates...

My older DD started at 5- i was hesitant at first but the first time i went myself to see what the house was like and how the nanny took care of the kids before letting my daughter go alone for a drop off. My younger DD started drop off play dates at 3.5 lol. Mostly bc I pretty much knew the families around our town at that point. Everyone has different comfort levels but I find it so much easier in terms of scheduling and also for me to have kids dropped off for playdates. This way the kids have fun and entertain eachother and I dont have to entertain their accompanying adult. My kids are 5 and 7 now and I rarely ever do playdates where the parent stays - i dont have time for those kinds of playdates as Im usually doing house chores etc during the playdate. If the playdate falls over lunch time I feed the kids something simple (pAsta, pizza, bagels, Pbj) after I make sure of any diet /allergy restrictions. Either way I will give the kids snacks though if the playdate is longer than an hour.

Message edited 3/20/2019 2:40:19 PM.

Re: Playdates...

It’s really different for first vs second or third kids.

I prefer drop off at my place. When inviting, I always judge for an hour and a half. I do give snacks and ask for food allergies. I now do drop off... but for the firstborn it started at 7 and the second child at 6. They know my number and I know the parents.

Playdates...

I just invite everyone over my house or do a park. For kindergarten we have been doing parks for all her friends prior to kindergarten I’m friends with all their parents so we want to hang out. I’d probably just invite them and if the parent stays order a pizza.

Re: Playdates...

For my 5 1/2 year old we’ve done all sorts of play dates (with the parent, a drop off at my house, drop off at the other kid’s house, meet at the park). I usually feel out the other mom to see what they’re comfortable doing. He usually has a weekly play date with his little girlfriend which is a drop off play date and we are very good friends with both parents. He also has friends where I know the mom will be staying or expect me to stay... it really does vary at this age, I’ve found. Als noticed that the moms with older kids are more likely to wanna do the drop offs. That’s not always the case, but just something I’ve noticed.