Play date - how long?

[immersivereader]

Just had a play date, three kids altogether (one 7 year old and 5 year old twins). In the house as it was throwing it down outside.

They arrived at 10am. I served lunch at noon. What time would you expect someone to leave?

It was unspecified on the invitation.

1

12 unless you invited them to lunch too

2 hours for hard work kids and 3 for good kids.

Fully agree with whataday.

A best friend can stay longer if everything is chill

12 unless lunch was offered.

I would never leave it unspecified! Except for my godchildren or DD's best friend and sister, who I've taken when mum had an interview, doctors appointment etc.
I always invite for 2-2.5 hours. 3 at the absolute maximum, but always give a definite collection time!

2-3 hours max but there's no point being vague about it. A breezy "just collect them at x o'clock" as parents leave stops any dubiety.

3 hours max unless very good friends (the parents not the kids).

That age? 2-3 hours is plenty!

Depends, different each time. I'd be happy for someone to stay until I needed to get tea ready as long as I had no plans! But if they children were behaving badly I might hint that I think they've had enough of each other for one day!

If children are being dropped off you always, always specify a pick up time - rooky mistake not to. However its also a rooky mistake to invite a group of siblings - each of your children invites one specific friend, not their friend and two trailing siblings!

That's the difference between an easy playdate and children being dragged into an uneasy and high maintenance childminding set up between parents.

The length is a how long is a piece of string thing - at 7 all my children had specific very good friends who would have been welcomed from 10am - 5:30pm on a school holiday or weekend day, but my youngest had other friends who I very specifically only invited after school or for a 2pm to 5:30pm time slot at weekends because they were hard work and needed supervision. Weirdly dc1 and 2 didn't have friends who needed auch a short leash.

If you're actually looking after a group of siblings vaguely close in age to your children you're mainly doing their parents a favour and if no specific time was arranged 3 hours is long enough, 4 maximum.

1. 2 at very latest