To tell this boys mum what he was doing while on play date at my house?

[ilikeyoursleeves]

Omg my heart was just in my mouth! Ds has a friend round from school, first he's been here, both age 5. I was sitting downstairs letting them get on with playing and I heard the boy shout 'look at me!' and I went into the hall to find him holding on to the upstairs banister but on the outside ie with a potential drop from ceiling height!!!! I crapped myself and told him firmly that wasn't allowed and very dangerous! Should I tell the mum when hs comes to collect him? Or just leave it? Eek!

Leave it, kids will be kids no point getting yourself in trouble!

Yes! If it was my DS, I would want to know. This is very dangerous behaviour - maybe he doesn't live in a home with an upstairs and so doesn't realise, but mum needs to know so she can explain to him about it!

I doubt it will surprise her . First time playing at someone's house usually involves much showing off IIRC.

Yes I would tell the parent.
What a little daredevil!

A family I used to be a nanny for used to encourage their kids to climb up the outside banister for fun......

have to say i am guilty,my eldest is like a monkey he climbs up the doorframes and hangs off the top like a monkey.

You are being way too precious - say nowt

You should absolutely tell her! What stupid and not to mention dangerous behaviour. I would certainly want to know if any of my children did this.

They are children.. They do tend to play and not get there risk assessment sheets out first!

I'd mention it. Also because if he tells his mum himself, she may think you weren't bothered or not watching him.

Kids do things like this especially boys showing off.

Tell him your house rules but don't grass him up to mum.

Unless you live in a very high ceiling(d) mansion I expect it wouldn't have been as high as a park climbing frame.

Chill.

I would say something - in a 'you will never guess, I found your son dangling from the banister! Gave me a bloody heart attack!'

But then I have two that regularly do this

I would say something along the lines of what StinkyW said.

'You are owe me a stiff drink after the shock your boy gave me today', would work for me.

I ended up not saying anything because he was a lovely wee boy who was great other than that (and I think he was just trying to show off a bit). He was very polite, played with the toys well and even fed my baby his dinner!

Definitely tell her.

We had something similar when a friend and his 5 yr old sin came to stay - I came out and found him climbing over the bannisters at the far end of the stairs (ie biggest drop end). I told him off there and then, not least because I didn't want my dc (7&4) to think they could even think about doing it try it themselves.

His dad came along a few moments later and supported what I'd done - and proceeded to tell his son off to to show he agreed. Didn't stop him from trying it several more times while they were staying - and his dad told him off more (and told us to tell him off if we saw him do it if he wasn't there).

Just in case he tries it at home I would have told her.
Would not want responsibility of not telling if he fell next time....

You were sitting downstairs, letting them get on with unsupervised playing? Your DS and an unfamiliar child?

Bet you won't do that again.

I don't think I should have to supervise directly for an hour and half play date, they were told they were allowed in ds's bedroom so they were allowed upstairs. It never occurred to me he would hang off the banister! They are 5 and I think that's old enough to play with each other without me helicoptering over them? Or am I mrs lax parent ? Is that not normal?

No that's normal!

I've caught my 5 and 8 year olds doing this. Obviously don't allow it to happen again, but I don't think you need pass the information on.

We used to slide down the banisters all the time when we were kids. And leap over them. Never thought anything of it.

Maybe you have higher ceilings than my Mum and Dad!

Dunno, but I'm a teacher and I'd be in deep shit if I left a couple of Y1's unattended for that length of time. We have staircases in school too, I can just see small boys monkeying up the outside and falling off.

I could hear or see them most of the time anyway, we live in a small house! They were only upstairs for about 15 mins out the whole time I think so its not like they were totally alone the whole 1.5 hours!

I would not think twice about leaving 5/6 yo kids alone - I'd pop up, or shout 'everything ok?' but wouldn't worry if they were quiet.

I wouldn't intend to say anything at this time as I wouldn't want the friend to be in trouble. Really depends tho on what the parent is like.

However, next time he's round I would keep a close eye and he'd be forever known as the "spiderman child".