To ask what you do if your child is invited on a day out with a friend

[GunpowderGelatine]

Say your child's friend invites them to a day out at a theme park, for example. Do you send money for their entry ticket and food or do inviting parents pay?

There is no real life scenario BTW my kids are a bit young to be going somewhere with non-family but I'm interested in people approach should I ever need to consider it

This comes up a lot on Mumsnet.

Always offer to pay (unless it's made absolutely clear from the invitation that it's the other family's 'treat').

And regardless of whose paying for the entry ticket, always send them with money for food & drinks - and make sure the other parent knows, as DC may not offer to buy their own food. Or ask in advance if they need to bring a packed lunch.

Although, if I was doing the inviting I'd always make these things clear beforehand.

If I'm the one inviting - we pay for entry and lunch, and drinks

If Dd is the one invited - I offer the parents the money for entry and lunch in advance (though most have declined) and send Dd with cash for snacks on top.

Don't agree to anything arranged by children. The parents do the inviting and accepting

Always offer to pay - we just used to say to send spending money and maybe a packed lunch, depending where we were going.

If the inviting parents say they'll be paying entry / lunch, I'd send money for snacks - not just for my child but for everyone.

We once had a child accompany us on a day out, who brought enough snacks for a classroom full of kids, and spent the day scoffing the lot, never even offered anyone else a sniff! We did have the pleasure of lugging round a backpack of sweets/crisps and drinks for him though.

Just ask. "Hi, let me know how much you need for entry ticket and if I should send lunch money/packed lunch". If they cover all costs then Id send money for both kids to get themselves something from the shop or an ice cream etc.

Ds1's friends have merlin passes and often ask him to theme parks. I always ask how much entry is and they always say it is their treat. I then send ds with £10 for ice cream or extras whilst he is there. He usually comes back with it still in his pocket...

My good friends took my 8 year old out the other week. I had their bank details so transferred £20 to my friend and messaged her “I’ve transferred you £20 for bowling and lunch” and she just replied “thanks, that’s great”. Saved any awkward conversations. Otherwise I ask for bank details or put the money in an envelope and give it to the mum who often says “no please, my treat you pay next time”

I text before hand and say "what do I owe you?" But no one has ever asked me for reimbursement and I've never asked for it myself.

I'll often send £10-20 to buy sweets/chips whatever for all the kids going but when they were younger (under 10) it'd invariably come back to me. Now the older DC make sure every penny is spent

Also if you are ever asking a child somewhere, but expecting the parents to pay (i.e alton towers) then ask the parents before mentioning it to the child.

Nothing grates me more than someone presenting an expensive trip option to my child which will make me the bad guy if I say no.