Play dates

[barefootinkitchen]

Does anyone else experience this ? My DD wants to have 'play dates' after school all the time. She'll be in tears after school if I haven't texted one of her friend 's mothers. I love hosting other kids but it's the constant organising, I just can't keep up. We have swimming and gym on two days but she is so disappointed when she has to come home and there's nobody to play with. She's such a social person and craves people and it seems as if I'm not enough for her.

Have others experienced this ? She only started school two terms ago, could it be something they grow out of? I feel like I should encourage her to amuse herself as I think time alone is valuable but am not sure how to do this really.

[Kimorsweetcheek]

Hi ya,

I have a five year old boy and he was the same when he first started school. He had some play dates, however I work full time and so really struggle with having play dates at mine, and feel bad a lot of the time. He has got used to amusing himself and is happy as long as he can come home and play as soon as he gets in.

We do things at the weekends to balance it out and he seems to be okay at the moment

[retainertrainer]

My son is almost the opposite. I try and organise lots of activities/play dates but by the end of the week he's desperate for some quiet time.

I think you need to be quite firm with her or you'll run yourself ragged. Even if she had a sibling there'd be times when she'd need to be able to amuse herself. Make a treat out of quite times-get cosy on the sofa with popcorn and a film.