Play date questions

[Themutts]

I need some Play date advice as I'm currently hosting the most boring Play date in the world ever according to my DS and his friend.

Nice friend slept over last night. They had an hour on computer games, some time in the garden and a movie. At midnight I discovered they had snuck the Nintendo's upstairs into bed. Took them away and explained nicely that it wasn't allowed.

I'm woken up this morning by DS taking the Nintendo's from my bedroom at 7am without permission. Again I say no, it's much too early. I did let them play from 8-9 and then said they should do something else until 3 when they could have another hour before the friends mum comes.

These 6 hours have been the most boring hours of their lives aparently. There is nothing to do (let's not count the board games, scooters, bikes, pets, football's, huge garden, and bedroom full of toys)

I am sure they don't get to play 6 hours of computer games at other people's houses.
In the end I told them if they were so bored, I would end the play date and call nice friends mum. So right now they are both hating me and still acting bored.

What do other parents do? These are nice, well mannered kids who have a perfectly good imagination.

I really appreciate and understand that a lot of parents don't have a problem with long periods of time on the computer but I really do see a negative impact on my children's attitude and behaviour afterwards so while I do let them Play, a full day wouldn't work for us.
If they got Lego rage or swimming rage I would feel the same.
And I agree, even when the odd day of gaming and slightly shitty behaviour won't harm them - I don't want it to become the only thing they can do with their friends.

Seems I'm not in the majority though and my poor kids going to grow up to be uncool weirdo types I think I just need to look at the balance of this again.

The other mum was fine, she understood and said she'd do the same!

I agree with OP. There is no way my dd is playing on her tablet all day. She gets a few hours on a morning and some more time late afternoon while I'm cooking tea. Her attitude is also worse the more screen time she has. Play dates imo are for doing things not sitting on their behind all day.