Do I take a thank you for a play date?

[MaggieFS]

I'm new at this! DS is in year one and has his first after school play dates coming up where he will be given dinner. (Probs fish fingers or similar),

Should I take a thank you when I do pick up? (Small box of chocs?)

I do plan to reciprocate and I haven't taken a thank you to others thus far when he's just been at someone's house playing for a couple of hours at a weekend, but feeding him feels like it changes things? I'm not sure what the done thing is.

No need to give a gift, saying thanks at the door is fine (and reciprocating later of course)

Yeah that's lovely it's the same if you were invited for a meal, you bring a little present for the host.

I don't because it's gets too much. I have kids in and out all the time and my kids go to others too.

I usually send them with some sweets or maybe some cookies or doughnuts for dessert.

No I really don't think so. But we did play dates practically every day right from the get go. We had known friends from before even nursery via local playgroups so by year 1 were happily all doing sleepovers too. A lovely friendly thank you, make sure kiddo says thanks too and a big smile and wave goodbye. Honestly? Some of my happiest memories of mine being little was waving friends off as they went home or we left of an evening.... Aww, happy days.

No, not at all. No one wants a play date to be any kind of big production with expectations of thank you gifts perhaps implying certain (high?) expectations of type of food or activities. Most people would prefer to keep it casual, just let the kids play, and feed them fish fingers, and get a simple thanks, and maybe a return invitation, rather than elaborate activities and a three-course meal.

No need for a gift, will quickly get expensive. Just say thanks nicely, train DC to do the same, and reciprocate promptly😊

Just say thank you, get your child to say thank you, and reciprocate.

In my experience, the gift is when you reciprocate!
I'd feel weird if someone brought chocolates when they picked their kid up & would then be worried I had to do the same.

Great, thanks. Yes, we're hoping to do more generally now the children don't have to be accompanied and it feels like it would get too much to take something every time.

Good to hear reciprocation is sufficient.

No, no gift. Hopefully there’ll be lots of play dates over time and that’ll get too much. Say thank you at the door, and reciprocate.

God no.

In the days when I used to stay at the playdate and chat (age 4/5 and under) I did sometimes bring some biscuits or something. But never a thank you gift at pick up. And nobody has ever brought one for me when I’ve hosted. It would get crazy.

Reciprocate is the done thing !

I wouldn’t take a thank you, I’ve sent mine with a small treat to share whilst they are at play date, if you plan to reciprocate that’s enough.

Thank you, from you and the DC, and reciprocating is plenty. I do sometimes take biscuits if it’s a first play date where I’m going and staying and spending time with the parent but quickly agree once we’ve done a play date each that we don’t need to bring anything with us!