AIBU to ask older kids over?

[MRex]

DS is still just 16 months. He's often shy with adults and even with his peers sometimes but he really loved some of the older kids in our street playing with him all day at a party. He seemed particularly fond of a 6yo who's one of 4 and always getting in trouble for whining. She's a lovely kid though, very caring and sweet, quite sparky and chatty too; I feel like she struggles with being the youngest and a bit left behind by the others. Would it be very weird to ask her mum if we can ask if she'd like to come and play with DS one day in the holidays? There's also a 9yo who's fantastic with all the kids, including this little girl, though of course then the age gap is even bigger, but it might be more fun for all to have another older one.

If you have kids of that age, would it seem a bit weird?

The thing is, it's not really asking them to play, it's more asking them to come and occupy your ds. It's not an equal situation and probably not much fun for the dc, who are quite young themselves.

A lovely idea in theory but I dont think it would work so well. Older kids do get tired of babies and you may land yourself in more work, I dont think it's a good idea

To a degree yes it's unequal, that's why I'm concerned about asking. The only reason I thought if it is that they kept taking DS away because they liked playing with him. And because it seems like the younger one would benefit from doing something that's just her with no older siblings involved. If she got bored of him then I could take her home, or all go to a playground, or she could watch TV. I would hope she'd say no if she didn't want to play with him?

It depends on the child. My 8yo loves playing with toddlers/babies and often sticks around if I am babysitting for a friend.

They likely played with him because it was a novelty. at that age babies/toddlers are more like “things” to older kids. Not really someone to play with for an afternoon as such. And yes, I’d think it was weird.