Taking a school friend out with you for the day

[ifeelsleepy]

Hi
Although my ds who is an only has had plenty of school friends over at our house to play during the holidays, I am for the first time actually taking my ds and one of his school friends out for the day to a theme park.
This will be the first time I have done this but feel that the company will be good for my ds.
What is the normal done thing for taking soemones child out like this.
Would you ask the parent to provide pocket money for them or just simply buy everything for them as you would with your own child.
My dh is already expressing his horror at what the day may cost but I would feel awful asking for money for the child and its not something I would do
What do others do if taking a dc's mate out do you pay for them also.
The admission charge is not an issue as I do have a free entry voucher for one but if the dc's mom mentions money what would I ask her to give him.
Sorry I know its a silly question.

[ChasingSquirrels]

i would expect to pay, although if they were older i would expect them to bring their own pocket money for incidentals but would pay for food etc (actually i would take sandwiches and drinks - what extras will you spentd, we went to legolan last week and only spent £6 on stuff in the park - icecreams)

[AvenaLife]

I think they should offer, I always do. I don't expect them to fund my child. It's cheaper if you take a picnic rather then buy the shit food they sell at these places. If she asks, maybe £5 so he can get a gift from the gift shop, unless you are paying for rides. Then ask for a bit more.

[nappyaddict]

where are you going? we went to alton towers yesterday and all i spent was £5 on a carvery. i thought it was quite reasonable.

[JonahTakalua]

If we invite a friend along, we pay for the friend's ticket and food.
They usually bring along some pocket money.

[unknownrebelbang]

If I'm offering to take another child out for the day, I would expect to pay for entrance and would provide picnic food/drinks. May buy a drink/ice cream for everyong.

If someone else was taking one of mine out I would offer to pay; or make a contribution; and now they're older, would send child with some pocket money.

[Clary]

I don't think I have done this (ie theme park; have had school pal over for day but in lower-key way).

If s/one has any of mine for a whole day I sometimes offer money (esp if I hear afterwards they have had ice cream etc) and am always turned down.

Sometimes give child a gift to take (eg home made brownies, bottle of wine or such).

Oh I see you have free entry to theme park; well then I would (personally) take packed lunch and then refuse offer of cash from parent and treat child's pal to a few quids of ice cream and present from shop. Yes, how much are you likely to spend? (A bit at yr DH)

If I was your pal I would offer tho and prob give you gift afterwards.

[ChasingSquirrels]

I wouldnt buy a gift from the shop - but then i wouldnt buy my own dc's one either - they have had a fab day out, what do they need a gift aswell for.

[unknownrebelbang]

I rarely buy gifts from the shop.

[nappyaddict]

i probably wouldn't even buy an ice cream cos they are hugely over priced.

[ChippyMinton]

With free entry to theme park (most people have annual/merlin passes around here) and if i knew friend was taking picnic, i'd give her a tenner to 'buy everyone an icecream'.

If there was a entry fee i'd offer to pay it, or return the favour at a later date.

[ifeelsleepy]

we are going to wickstead park so cheaper admission charge than most theme parks.
My thoughts were to just say £5 in case he wants something from the gift shop.
I have never been much good at knowing the protocol if thats the right word for taking school friends out.
I have taken them to soft play centres before now and spent a fortune on admission, drinks, food, more the fool to me.
My dh thinks that I am crazy for doing this sort of thing but I worry about my ds being an only so do it for him.

[Clary]

well I hate the gift shop too but some people are keen. Or maybe their kids are .

If you were taking one of mine I might well give you some cash to get evryone an ice cream.

I certainly wouldn't ask a parent for the cash tho, no way.

[MrsSnape]

I took DSs friend out on DS's birthday to pizza hut and although his mum did offer to give him money I said no. I already budgeting for an extra child when I suggested taking them to pizza hut and the only other cost was buying them some sweets.

If it was my child being taken out I would offer to pay but assume I wouldn't need to

[QueSt]

I have done this a few times. I have told the mum upfront that I am making a packet lunch for us, so it would be good if she could pack something for her son that she knows he likes. I am of course making enough food for them both just in case, and enough snacks and treats for both of them (and extra in case the other child has a treat he wont share with my son)

But when I invite, I dont expect them to pay anything towards tickets / entrance fees.

[birthdaybird]

I would do as QueST and take a packed lunch but wouldn't expect them to pay towards entrance fees (although if you've got a free ticket that's not an issue anyway). Would buy an ice-cream too and maybe small treat at the end of the day. (I'm a sucker for those dreadful tacky gift shops!). If it was my child going with another friend, though, I would offer to pay and send along some pocket money too. HTH and have fun!

[seeker]

I always offer to pay - and send my child with enough money to buy an icecream for everyone.

I do have a friend that I do a lot of school runs and pick ups for because she works and I don't. She always takes mine on an outing in the holidays (Hoosiers concert this holiday) and she never accepts money for that. I think she feels she is repaying the favour. But I always offer and always make sure they've got enough money for any tat they want to buy.