Not to feed/water kids outside my house?

[tigercub50]

Kind of following on from DD having friends round but in this case, I mean when she is just playing out but one or two particular friends are outside our house. DD will ask for a drink/ice cream/ biscuit etc & I feel awkward only giving it to her but once you go down the road of feeding everyone it can become expected I guess. I felt mean with drinks as it's a hot day - DD was trying to convince me that her friend's Mum wouldn't let her have a drink at home! What do you all do?

I can understand you asking OP. I'd not thought about it as kids don't play out much around here. If they did I'd offer water/squash out with plastic cups, maybe a pack of cheap biscuits. I might bake on occasion.

Meals would be for invited visitors as we usually make enough for us unless we've planned to make more. Obviously in an emergency we'd make sure a child was fed but I think that circumstance would be the exception.

Send her out with a water bottle, then she doesn't have to ask so you won't feel awkward

When the my kids and their friends are on the front I'm happy to provide them drinks. Sometimes if they've been out a few hours i shout and ask who wants one so they dont dehydrate.
When it's hot I also give out ice lollies providing I have enough for everyone, if there aren't enough then I don't give them out. I know other parents in the street do the same

I wouldn't worry about allergies. Any child with serious allergies whose old enough to play out will be very clear about what they can/can't eat- or know to refuse. Just be really careful if they ask "does this have nuts/milk/whatever in it?"

Around here squash/water/biscuits/ice pops are the norm for bands if roving children. And I've taught mine not to ask for things like ice cream if there isn't enough to go round.

I wouldn't feed or water a dozen kids out in the street, but whoever was in the garden would be offered a snack at appropriate snack time (10.30ish and 3.30ish) otherwise my DS would eat constantly all day and then wouldn't eat his dinner.
However, saying that we caught 4 of them snack surfing in 3 different houses.
Only one close friend for dinner but only if it was arranged in advance......and only if that child was willing to eat what was planned. Too many times I've had a kid say 'yeah I like that' only to pick at it and ultimately leave most of it. It's not necessarily about waste either, I just don't like sending a child home hungry when I've agreed to feed him.
I don't cook separate meals for my family so I won't do it for someone else's.

If your DD is happy to come in alone for a snack before going back out to play then let her. Don't feel like you have to give them all a snack.

When we were little we lived in a little cul-de-sac. There were lots of kids and we all played out together all year round. Parents would take it turns in bringing a jug of squash out, plastic cups and a pack of cheap biscuits or choc ices. We live in an elderley area now but I'd do the same - cheap asda smartprice biscuits or choc ice!