Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

See all MNHQ comments on this thread

Original poster

What makes your house popular?

51 replies

AllotmentTime · 07/04/2021 10:42

I’m looking forward to play dates when we can have people INDOORS Grin

My DCs’ best friends both have amazing gardens and we can’t compete for space and toys there. We have a nice enough house but I want to make their friends feel like they’ve had a good time when they come (and not like “well that was like being at home except no space or big fun toys” which is what garden play dates are like!!)

What have you done that’s been super popular with your DCs’ friends when they come over? All still primary age so not at the gaming stage yet.

Thanks in advance Smile

OP posts:
itsgettingwierd · 07/04/2021 10:46

If they come for lunch then making pizzas is always fun.

Also making ice cream sundaes if snack time or for dessert.

Decorating biscuits

making a den and having a picnic lunch in it.

I don't think you need 'stuff' or space but rather make them feel welcome and although expect behaviour don't fuss over everything they do and micromanage or helicopter them.

Kids love being able to cook and feel relaxed and love eating their wares. I've done things like buy paper hats and they decorate their own chefs hat before making pizzas etc. Make sure you have some brown sandwich bags for taking home any leftovers or biscuits made etc.

Another thing they like for gardens is chalks to art!

Throwntothewolves · 07/04/2021 10:53

My son makes our house popular! Sounds like a boast but what I mean is kids just love being in each other's company, they don't care what toys their friends have, and if they are only there for the toys, they're not good friends.

Throwntothewolves · 07/04/2021 10:59

As for suggestions: den building indoors or outdoors (use anything you have eg. move the living room furniture around, make a roof out of blankets, fill with cushions etc), obstacle course in the garden or house (again use what you have), timed challenges, mixed up to ensure everyone 'wins' sometimes, games like find a blue sock, something that beeps, something with the word 'fun' on it, etc (can make the list as long as you like so you don't have to be involved the whole time). One game that is always popular on a rainy day is sock dodgeball; rolled up socks hurled at eachother, cheap pain-free fun and exercise, just remove any breakable first!

BeingATwatItsABingThing · 07/04/2021 11:04

My DD is 7

Decorating cupcakes - we buy cupcakes and decorations and let them at it

Den building - we have a kit to do this to make weird and wonderful dens

Dressing up - plenty of outfits for role playing

Trampoline

Lego

Board games

Hellocatshome · 07/04/2021 11:08

Food

CateTown · 07/04/2021 11:08

Oh god don't bother micro managing. I left them to their own devices.

I was one of the few mums who allowed other children in my house so I was automatically on to a winner.

Coronawireless · 07/04/2021 11:10

Take them for a walk somewhere - anywhere - to tire them out for an hour.
They’ll be more than happy then to just hang out and have some hot chocolate.

Bluntness100 · 07/04/2021 11:12

I think you’re looking at this through an adults eyes. Kids don’t give a shit about the size of hour house and the stuff you have, they are just wanting to spend time together.

Xmasbaby11 · 07/04/2021 11:13

Generally speaking the kids just want to see each other, and other people's houses or gardens are usually more fun than their own, so I wouldn't worry about it!

I tend to leave kids to it but have some activities up my sleeve if they want, eg baking and or decorating, crafts, games. Have a variety of snacks available and let them have it as a picnic. Be welcoming and accessible but don't hover- I try to be available so wouldn't be eg working upstairs.

Strangekindofwoman · 07/04/2021 11:16

I never called them 'play dates' for a start. Just being allowed to have their friends over was enough.

No cake decorating or faffing about. Just let them play.

BernardsarenotalwaysSaints · 07/04/2021 11:17

It's our garden sorry. I tend to just leave them to it/ focus on making younger siblings leave them alone.

Things that make friends houses popular: different video games, dc2(9). A swimming pool & house that backs right down to the river, dc1(11). Lots of different toys, dc3(8). Different climbing frame dc4(5) his little friend likes our garden for the same reason (we live opposite each other). Dc5(3) is too young for them but I'll probably have a couple next year when he's in reception, if we can.

My best friend in primary school lived a minute away until we were year 5, the attraction at her house was it was the old police house & station so it still had the connecting door in the middle. We spent hours trying to get through it the poor neighbours as we were convinced we'd get to Narnia. We'd go back to my house if we wanted to play outside, as hers didn't really have a garden.

Spied · 07/04/2021 11:23

I've found that just being in a friend's house is novelty enough.
They aren't interested in forced structured activities they just like to chill in their friends bedroom and play.
Any house is more interesting than your own.
Parents hanging around and micromanaging would definitely put my two kids off.
I just leave out a bowl of snacks and some cartons of drink and leave them to it.

ForeverBubblegum · 07/04/2021 11:25

Orbeez or gelli baff in the water table (if you have one) in the garden always go's down well, and doesn't take up much space. Or if it needs to be inside, you could do some baking, biscuits seem to work well as it's more 'hands on' then mixing cake and you can split the dough so each kid has some to kneed, roll and cut. Or as pp have said homade pizza if their there over dinner.

RhubarbFairy · 07/04/2021 11:28

We used to spend a lot of time at my friend's house when my DC were preschool age. Her house and garden were smaller than mine, but they loved being there. Just having different toys is enough of a novelty to be honest.

We'd relax and drink tea and just let them play.

SuperintendentHastings · 07/04/2021 11:30

Just having the friends there to play with is enough. They use their imagination then rather than being micromanaged by adults.

SecretCiderCellar · 07/04/2021 11:33

God, I don't do anything other than throw some food at them at some point. I think they just like hanging out together, and anything different is a bonus. DS (9) likes going to one friend's house because there's a river at the back and they fish for junk with magnets on fishing lines, and another because they have a firepit and they can sleep overnight in a semi-renovated old stable block, but those pale in significance with just being around his friends.

We're only a few minutes walk from his school, which helps with spontaneous after school stuff.

BeingATwatItsABingThing · 07/04/2021 11:34

People talking about micro-managing the play being rubbish, I think it really depends on the age of the child. My DD and her friends loved the specific activities we set up for them. We let them just play too but it worked for them. The last time she had a friend over was just before she turned 6 though.

thelegohooverer · 07/04/2021 11:34

The tree house. You’d never know looking at our garden that it’s there because it’s tucked away in a corner, but once you get behind the first layer of plants there’s a secret space to hang out.

TheYearOfSmallThings · 07/04/2021 11:36

Not being too uptight about what they can play, where they can play, what toys they can have out, basic familiar snacks rather than fancy stuff. Get out to the playground at some point. Allow some TV or screen time towards the end.

The houses I enjoy taking DS to are the ones where they have to move folded laundry off the sofa when you come in, they offer you toast because they accidentally ate the biscuits etc. Basically where we are comfortable with each other, and not making a massive effort.

DS(6) does not like set activities like cooking or a building project. Even if it is cookies, he would be bored and squirming.

SecretCiderCellar · 07/04/2021 11:38

@thelegohooverer

The tree house. You’d never know looking at our garden that it’s there because it’s tucked away in a corner, but once you get behind the first layer of plants there’s a secret space to hang out.
Is it in an actual tree, @thelegohooverer, or a free-standing house built on stilts or something? DS would adore than, and we've just bought a house with lots of outdoor space (currently a morass of mud), but no suitably big trees.
SuperintendentHastings · 07/04/2021 11:38

@BeingATwatItsABingThing possibly. But DD stopped wanting to go to a friend's house because she didn't actually want to make cakes or do the mosaic etc that was always arranged for them. The mum used to tell me how much they 'loved it' but they really didn't. Eventually the little girl would just come to us and they would make dens/whatever but none of it was suggested by me.

She was a lovely woman but would never just let them be.

RhubarbFairy · 07/04/2021 11:40

The houses I enjoy taking DS to are the ones where they have to move folded laundry off the sofa when you come in, they offer you toast because they accidentally ate the biscuits etc. Basically where we are comfortable with each other, and not making a massive effort.

Yes!!! I have two friends where we are not guests, we are so comfortable with each other. DH despairs when he sees them putting the kettle on in our house, or our clothes horse is out. He thinks I'm a terrible host. In truth,
they're my favourite people to have over as they're here for my company, not my pristine house (it's never pristine). I make tea at their houses too.

BeingATwatItsABingThing · 07/04/2021 11:40

@SuperintendentHastings

I can imagine that.

My list above are things we just have available. Apart from cake decorating, none of it is organised by me. Cake decorating isn’t even compulsory. DD loves doing that so, if they don’t want to do it, DD will do it another day with me.

Laeta · 07/04/2021 11:42

Omg don't micro manage them as some PPs are suggesting!! Making cupcakes etc! Wtf

All the kids want to do is go to your kid's bedroom and see what toys they have that they don't have. They are there to see your kid.

I used to visit my mate who had a helicopter parent like that, just wanted her to go away so I could giggle with my friend. I remember the frustration and that was 50 years ago.

SnarkyBag · 07/04/2021 11:44

I spoil them with food so usually end up getting a Pizza Hut delivery and buying a film for them to watch.