To hate the term Playdate, aghhhhhh

[pigletmania]

That's it really, its so American, so aghghhhhh. Why cant it be like it was, going round to play! If I hear of that term again I will spontaniously combust .

[amothersplaceisinthewrong]

Playdate is a horrible word IMO!! have never heard it used,

[NumptyMum]

Don't like playdate because a) it sounds too formal, like something you 'schedule' (hate that word too!) and b) if I meet up with friends, I'm not going on a date with them, I go for a night out with them. So why can't DC meet to play? Why does it have to become a date? Luckily I've never yet heard anyone use the phrase here... yet.

[Mingg]

If you agree to meet and play aren't you scheduling? I make plans with people sometimes days in advance so the playdates are scheduled, no?

[EveWasFramed10]

hmmm...I am American, and never heard/used the word playdate until I came to England. I still don't use it.

[liberty30]

Someone i hadnt seen for years got me on fbk and asked me for a 'playdate' . I declined ;)

[EveWasFramed10]

Also, though I am American, I've only been a parent in England, and my children are English to their very core. Therefore, I am Mummy, and all my 'parent' words tend to be English...nappy, dummy, etc.

Toilet still bugs me...in some parts of the US using the word 'toilet' instead of bathroom or restroom is considered a bit tasteless. So, though it's a regularly used word here, I still can't get used to it!

[strandedatsea]

I had no idea this was a word to hate and thought it was simply a useful expression that describes inviting a friend of the dc's over the play.

HOWEVER. I also hate the Americanisation of our culture, despite personally loving Americana and America (although not loving all Americans, American foreign policy etc) and HATE HATE HATE the creeping usage of the word Awesome....

[jabberwocky]

This is funny, I never imagined there would be such negative passion towards a word like playdate. I thought it was a little before I had children. But now it's just a useful term that is not as much of a mouthful as "coming round to play"

Also was taught that "toilet" was not the nicest/most polite term to use. But, I'm American so I would think this way

[Tidey]

My best friend has started saying 'Can I get.(whatever it is)..' whilst ordering in restaurants and it makes me cringe every time.

[MrsWobbleTheWaitress]

YANBU

There is no need for a noun for going to play at someone's house. If I want to invite a friend for a cup of tea, I don't say 'shall we arrange a tea date?'.

[katsh]

Hate the word. Really hate the word. Maybe it sounds too organised for me.

[jabberwocky]

Inviting a friend = Let's do lunch!

lol, I'll bet you all REALLY hate that one

[slouchingtowardswaitrose]

playdate is awesome

[meerkate]

yikes - i use it freely! purely because it's a good, handy, concise little noun

[MrsDanversBites]

don't like 'toilet' either come to think of it, 'loo' is much better

[momino]

haven't we've had this thread already? sigh.

some of these terms, 'I'm good', 'I'm done', 'can I get'... is it not just bad grammar? I don't really believe they're so-called Americanisms.

oh, and someone earlier said playdate 'is yuck' and someone else said 'no love America'...is that British English then ?

[robberbutton]

Never say "playdate" and don't know anyone else who does either. It's very formal. I normally say 'are you going over to the boys'' and then DS, 4, climbs through a hole in the fence to play with the boys next door who are 5 and 6

I didn't know 'going to the bathroom' was an americanism - I do say that. And also 'movies' when I forget myself, and 'elevator' . And also something I've picked up from my southern friend - 'we might could do this...' And 'good, thanks'.

Oh dear... I think that's it...

[Buddleja]

LOL @ 'tea date'

I don't like it really - agree with the it makes it too scheduled

Though true enough having someone around to play is scheduled it just doesn't sound it.

that sounds bonkers, still that aside I don't like it for that reason!

[aegeansky]

That is a very cool analysis, Snobear.

FWIW, I don't mind using the term when I'm recounting with a yawn what I did with my holidays (organised 6 playdates in a week), but I don't ever use it when I'm inviting billy or cilly or dilly or filly round to play.

[MerryMarigold]

I don't use it, but I don't really object to it. I am quite opinionated, but about more important things!

Each to their own in these small matters...

[lovechoc]

YANBU - there are many phrases that annoy me but won't get into a long list just now.

[howdidthishappenthen]

Doesn't bother me at all - DS and I regularly book playdates with nursery chums (although,now I come to think of it, all three of our regulars are American mums :-))

[TubbyDuffs]

I live in the ME and my next door neighbour (YES MY NEXT DOOR NEIGHBOUR) actually suggested that we arrange a playdate for our two 5 year olds. FFS just chuck the child over the fence, no organising needed!

[2shoes]

yanbu
glad it is a new one.
ds and dd just had friends round to play or tea

[rowingboat]

I am on the fence about playdate. I haven't used the term, but wouldn't mind if somebody else did.
I do admire the knack the Americans have for coining new words which are so useful and concise. I also love lots of American terms, such as 'dude', 'eeww'. What about 'backwash' to describe that phenomenon where your child drinks from your water bottle and deposits half an oatcake's worth of crumbs from their mouth. Genius!
I could go on all night.
I like interesting and creative uses of English wherever they are from.
We have lots of annoying words of our own such as lavatory instead of loo or toilet, quite frankly if somebody asked me to use my lavatory I would poke them in the eye.