What to do for girls aged 8 play day on a budget

[1214Happy]

Hi,

So this is going to seem so silly and probably is a bit silly but my daughter has invited friends over on Sunday I've just recently moved into a new flat after separating from their dad and I'm just feeling really nervous about it all the flat is OK but no where near how I would like it my daughters friends all come from good folks etc and I'm just worried that this may change the dynamics of their friendship I know this is absolutely ridiculous really I'm just wondering if anyone else has been in a similar situation or possibly had the same irrational feelings 😆 would be good to know and if anyone could possibly share some ideas about what to do with the 3 of them on Sunday would be greatly appreciated. My daughter just sprung it all on me as of thursday and im not prepared im busy aswell trying to get the flat looking good i should of suggested another time in all fairness. anyway would be nice to have some feedback. T.i.a

My DD has just turned 9, play dates seem to be a mix of showing off the toys they have, making sure they leave all of them on the floor and eating everything in my kitchen. They generally don't need much from me, I just keep my ears open and check in if things seem to be getting heated or over excited, I also try to intervene with fruit/veg on some of the snack hauls.

Crafts, beads, coloring whatever she has. Make up, make overs. Hide and seek. Maybe walk to local park.

If they're decent people they won't judge your flat which im sure is fine.

When my eldest was small we lived in a block of flats people urinated on the stair well. It was the pits!
Their friends came and 13 years later they're still friends and i am with their mums too, i couldn't help where I lived similar situation to you op. And i was starting out as a lone parent

If you still have moving boxes, those, loads of tape or glue gun, glitter glue pen things and a couple of decent pairs of scissors. Leave them to it.

large card, get them to draw a picture for her wall.

The boxes is a great idea! Or nail painting, cheap canvases that they can decorate and take home, buy pizza bases and let them make their own cook and eat, floor picnic, bracelet making with cheap bead kits

I think they’re of an age where they won’t judge your home , they’ll just be really happy to be in each other’s company and that you’ve had them over

Hot chocolate with marshmallows or standard tittle of fizzy drink

Ice cream with sauce and a topping - cheap toooings in £1 shop/b&m

Park, Nail varnish, make up, bracelet making and make your own pizza as previously suggested sounds fun

Film - the new Matilda is on Netflix

My daughter would just be thrilled to be spending time with her friend, playing with toys /drawing pictures and chatting!

Do you have a park or anything nearby you could take them to if you think they need to burn of energy?

Sometimes I get rich tea biscuits and different types of icing and decorations and do biscuit decorating competitions

Or bake a simple cake and leave them to decorate it

But honestly they will have a lovely time just hanging out together

I don't have children, but nieces ages 8 and 11 visit often. A play date visit might be different with friends, but these are some of the things we do. Often though, they just watch TV, play with their toy etc, but some other ideas if they get bored doing those:

• Bake gingerbread people
• Home made pizzas. Use either wraps or plain, frozen pizza bases, and they top them with grated cheese, ham, pineapple etc
• A selection of hair clips/ties and they do their own hair
• Dress ups? Do you have any old scarves, wigs, gloves etc?

They are there to see their friends- not judge your home.

Ps I wouldn't judge in the slightest, I live in a big 5 bed house now thanks to a rapid career progression now but was a single mum and briefly homeless when DD (9) was a baby so don't forget people will all have their own stories

When I was that age I regularly went round to my best friend's house. In retrospect it was a very modest home, probably worth at most a quarter of what the home I grew up in was worth. That didn't occur to me until I was an adult. As a child it was just my friend's house, I didn't even think about it beyond that. I doubt they will even notice.

Pizza making.

Prove some dough beforehand. Give them a ball each, roll/stretch out. Provide tomato passata and spoons, grated cheese,

set out small bowls of some simple choices of food to add.

Great fun, focussed, with time to eat together.

Thank you all so much for your kindness and ideas I'm genuinely feeling alot less stressed now 😊 some great ideas that I can do!!

Hi just looking for some sound advice regarding partner who has a female friend that honestly makes me feel uncomfortable she phones him regularly ok I can accept it I have male friends too who I text back and forth just a little catch up and have known these guys since I was 15 now 35 all moved on kids etc this women that keeps contacting my partner is also married however she's now phoning him while she's half cut (drunk) asking for lifts of him! where do we draw the line with having friends of the opposite sex I have obviously brought this up with him and he doesn't see it as a big deal so I'm now questioning whether I'm over re acting or not? It would be interesting to hear form other women and their opinions on it :) just for the record he didn't pick her up that night as he was with me we have been with each other for over 2 years now and we're very happy together and trust each other 100% he has known this women and worked with this women for a number of years.

DS is nearly 9, and when he has playdates, I just let them get in with it - they go in his room and mess with his toys. All I do is feed them! Same when he goes to theirs. His friends all come from a variety of backgrounds and he’s never once said anything about the size or state of their homes to me (except occasionally to comment that smaller houses are cosier!). Try not to worry, I’m sure it’ll be fine.

Oh ffs that’ll teach me not to read the full thread. @1214Happy You should start a new thread - half the responses will be about your playdate question, not your more recent issue.

Oh ha ha sorry didn't realise I'll update it thanks for letting me know xx