How much social life do you organise for your primary age children?

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We havent really organised much for them over the years, they occasionally have play dates but not very much - maybe once a term each? We used to do lots of toddler groups and have other mums and tots round for tea and play etc.

We also dont really facilitate facetime/ zoom calls etc. and they havent ever texted a friend.

Are we behind the times for their ages?

DC are 5, 7 and 9 and they play with each other a lot quite happily, which I guess is relevant. They were also at key worker school all through the last year, and do a fair few extra curriculas, some of which involve free play.

Should we be doing more?

I organise nothing for my 9 yr old,never have, If she gets asked to a friends house or wants a friend round then fair enough but thats it really, She wanted to join Brownies so I did that but she has seperate friends where we live so she tends to play with them more than school friends. I dont do Zoomm things and always hated play dates and mum n tots stuff so we tried but it didnt last!!!!

Play date about once a week here (DC 6 and 8). Except at the end of term when it tails off due to tiredness. Honestly I can do without playdates but the DC love them and ask for them so…

Holidays I try to organise a few meet ups with other families, partly so I get adult company, also as I find days out easier with two adults even if there’s also more children.

Zoom nope, DC1 organisated her own chats on Teams during lockdown but thankfully that’s all been ditched in favour of RL contact.

We did had a different kid over for tea every Friday from reception to yr4, but mine’s an only child and very sociable.

Yr 5 he just started turning up with people or friends just knocked. Sometimes I told them we were busy, sometimes not! He also does 6 clubs a week so pretty busy for the most part.

When DD was at primary I used to organise around one playdate a week/fortnight(or sometimes another mum would arrange one at their house) plus a few meet ups with friends in school holidays. DD also did a few after school activities, always things that she had asked to do herself (eg Brownies, sports) She also used to play out informally with local kids loads after school and in the holidays. BUT she is an only child so without all this would potentially have been quite bored and lonely.

1-2 playdates a week at the moment (6 year old very sociable only child), - normally 1 here and 1 at a friends - and she does 3 clubs (that she has asked to do). In the holidays she asks to go to the holiday club so she goes there unless we are away, and there are normally lots of friends there too (it's at school).

A few play dates here and there but nothing regular. My eldest (8) does play online with friends though a few nights a week (started during lockdown and its been great so just let him keep doing it.)

DD starts school soon and is a total social butterfly so Im going to have to do more for her which is hard as I don't really know the other mums.

I’m same as you!!
Children exact same age and it makes such a difference! They are never lonely, never looking for anything to do. With the days full of friends at school, and evenings full of siblings and hobbies, there’s no way they have the time for more than one play date a term or the inclination to any zoom chatting!!

1-2 most weeks. Have an only child so really important for him. Plus clubs etc.

I don’t organise anything during term. I have an only child in reception, they play with their friends at school all week, that’s plenty. Weekends are for downtime and family time (we do attend parties though).

My two best friends have children the same age as mine and we get them all together once or twice a week, outside of that we do the odd play date but nothing massively regular. Obviously this year a bit different but normally between clubs and birthday parties we don’t have much time!

Not allowed on the Internet in this house!! So definitely no zoom or messaging friends.

They do clubs and have a friend round every 2/3 weeks or so.

There's 3 of them so they always have each other and love playing together.

Holidays we try to meet up with people but it doesn't always work out.

ok this is hugely reassuring. I was wondering whether we were really out of whack.

My eldest went for a playdate earlier and we hosted for the middle child. Eldest is grumpy and has been on minecraft for the first time...

I guess it is part of the letting go as they get older, but we all seem happy as we are.

Fwiw I don’t think you need to “let go” right now. If you’re happy and they’re happy, you don’t need to do more play dates. There’s so much time for them to hang out with their mates when they are older

[quote ThomSands]Hi. You can keep your kids busy with this challenge. It's 60km in 6 weeks and it keeps everyone busy throughout the summer holiday.

It's half price for under 16s and all finishers receive a medal.

You can take part anywhere as long as you have Strava.

It keeps them active over the holiday and something to work towards too.

www.nice-work.org.uk/virtual/School-Holiday[/quote]
No idea what Strava is. But why would anyone pay to do 60km? You can do it for free 😂