to ask school for etiquette tips?

[cjt110]

What are the faux pas and permitted behaviours/attitudes for schools? For example, would it be rude for little Johnny to decline party invites, or playdates.

Would it be OK for one Mum to befriend another Mum?

Is it an automatic reason for exclusion to just drop your child off and leave, or do you need to socialise with other parents?

This whole school lark is a new ballgame for us!

Care to share?

Nothing particularly "school" etiquette about any of those questions ...

Not rude to decline party invites and playdates (assuming you're polite about it). If you do it too many times, your child may not get asked again. (and the other parent may get offended)

Of course it's ok to make friends with whoever you like.

You don't need to socialise with other parents, but getting to know at least some of them is generally a good idea for when you need help in an emergency or can't make head or tail of your child's garbled account about what's happening tomorrow.
... (assuming infants) you generally have to at least wait until your child goes in, you can't just drop them off and leave.

We go to all the parties & playdates that we can if DD wants to but declining wouldn't be considered rude unless you were actually rude when declining.

Make friends or don't, completely up to you!

Some days I drop off and leave, others I hang around chatting. My eldest is year 3 now so I've spoken to pretty much all of the parents in her class at some point or another.

I'd say just be yourself! We've never experienced some of the playground politics you read about on here.

Try to remember that school mums are just normal people!

Declining invites is fine as long as you’re polite about it.

Making friends is okay, as is not making friends, although I’d agree it can be useful to be acquainted with other parents in your DC’s class.

^^this but be aware (and make your child aware) that if you decline the first invite you may not be asked again

Also, it's polite to reciprocate playdate hospitality, if not every time then generally.

Birthday parties - don't invite most of the class/girls/boys but not all. Inviting just a few friends is fine though.

If your child is invited to a party always rspv