That's it, Playdates are now banned in my house, never again, and if I'm feeling weak I will resurrect this thread!

[sandyballs]

My DD's (5.5) had two school friends round for tea yesterday. They were only here for two hours and during that time the four of them managed to get every single toy, game, bead, piece of lego, etc etc out and smother their bedroom floor and the lounge floor with it all. I've no problem with normal mess but this was ridiculous. They didn't even seem to play with anything, just go from one thing to another. Then when I was on the 'phone I discovered that they had emptied their wardrobes of ALL their clothes, put them into suitcases and were having a pretend "holiday" in the garden with it all.

It took me over 2 hours to get the house straight again. Surely this isn't normal. My two blamed the friends, the friends blamed my two

Twiggers I admire your style, but I think I would be a little concerned if I thought my ds wasnt being kept an eye on even from a distance in someone elses house. This 4-6 age is a bugger especially when it comes to touching stuff they didnt ought to get into.

Ive heard too many nightmares to take my eyes off any visitors to our humble estate.

kids finding pills and taking them like sweets, kids trying to shave themselves with the bic left in the bathroom.

Course they are just copying what they see us do but it could have dire consequences.

As for wine whilst in charge of someone elses kids, i dont think I would take the chance, not unless the mother was with me of course and then I would crack open the whole case

'kinell, you watch kids while they're in your house? I'm like Twig. I bloomin' love it when the Inferiorettes' friends come round. They have a total whale of a time, I escape from my children (thus making me Better Mummy overall) and frankly, I quite often don't even make the little buggers tidy up (it takes about 10 minutes tops to get things straight again, usually, but that is by the standards of the Inferiority Complex).

oooooh yes, I make doh dollies with them, bake cakes, Yeah right, I dont think so.

No, I keep a watchful eye and pass the door for a peek in the crack just to see all is in order from time to time. If I see things are not as they should I tiptoe back to the kitchen and shout something like ' I hope my dicky bird is telling me fibs in here as I understand you have at least 5 dvd's out of the cases, now which one are you wanting to watch?'
That throws them

Haven't read the threadf but you should have made them put it all back imo.

I don't watch children though, no. But I still would have refused food or something until they'd put it away, however haphazardly.

I onky go if there's blood or a lot of screaming.

banned from bedrooms
only 2 children allowed in toilet at one time
all craft in kitchen
do what u like in conservatory and garden
plus adult space in front room in between tv and settee
sorted!
course they try it on everytime but one look and a raise of eyebrows is all it takes

im feeling your pain!! my dd is a joy when just here with younger ds but add another child into the mix and her bedroom gets trashed and the playroom is emptied of every cupboard, box , drawer etc its always the other child that thinks its ok to go into our cupboards and drawers etc my dd would never do that somewhere else unless told it was ok

have now made up a lie about other children not beign able to go up and play with dd in her room and have organised toys so i take out 2/3 boxes and hide them in the utility room before they come

I go through playdates (awful word) with gritted teeth and a fixed grin.

Ooh-er, it is going to get worse, then?! My dd1 (22months) had a friend here on Monday. 'Chaos' doesn't begin to describe it, with either (or both!) shrieking and howling, fighting for the baby buggy, a sippy cup, the red crayon, the last biscuit... There was nothing for the other mum and myself to do but smile and console ourselves that they'll grow out of it by the time they're 3!

I haven't read all the answers here so I don't know if this has been said.
Have you thought about telling your DDs that they have to tidy up the mess if they are going to make such havoc? At 5 they are perfectly capable of taking responsibility and I make DS tidy up after a playdate - I sure as hell won't do it and he knows it has to be done. As a result he is a little bit more careful about taking out every single toy and just chucking them everywhere.

And I invite kids round so that I don't have to play with my children!

I'm with ghosty here and DS who was dreadful with playdates at 3 is quite good now - he tends to tidy one thing up before moving onto the next. Unfortunately though because he is so excited and keeps changing his mind about what he wants to play with he spends quite a lot of the time tidying. And I prefer them playing in his bedroom. At least it is his room where the mess is. We don't have much that might be considered dangerous in the main bathroom because that sort of stuff is kept in the en-suite.

Dreamteamgirl - give them water to drink and they don't need snacks. No wonder you are always hosting!

at one point in our playdate yesterday there were

2 dads, 4 mums, 2 x 8 year olds, 4 x 5 year olds, a 2.5 year old and a 5 month old

admittedly only for 10 mins

DH walked in at 7.10 to 3 mums sitting round table, 2 of us fairly tipsy the other bfing, 3 x 5 year olds were tidying DS's room (have to say it was spotless at the end) and DD was watching Maggie and the Ferocious Beast

he raised an eyebrow at me

happy days

We ended up with a playdate tonight because my friend had to take her kitten to the vet so I had her DS and DD for a couple of hours. She had to chase her 2yo around the house to get her to go home.

doesnt dh get pissed off
mine did after a while

DH saw it as an opportunity to sneak off to the driving range.

Once again I seem to be on Twigglets wavelength - hope I don't kill this thread as well - house full of kids entertaining each other - rules are that you tidy up before you leave/meal. Mums enjoying a glass and dh accepting that this is normal.

Twig, mine's not very impressed either . Until recently, I managed to disguise the fact that there are always other peoples' kids round our house, but at the moment, he is 'between jobs - new job starts later this month and I'll bet he can't wait!! Probably, 3 or 4 times pweek, one of my 3 has a playdate here. And they always stay for dinner. and their parents are often late and end up staying for a drink. He hates the noise, I don't notice it anymore. Like you say, happy days

I'm with Twig that playdates are great for the kids (DS 1 is 6 and DS is 2.5). I find I can do other things as they involve younger DS.

The children in the street, who come most often, are learning to tidy up. If they leave the crafts out I catch them all and bring them back. Also we have a playroom (used to be a dining room!) so the lounge is kept free from mess unless they are playing a board game.

Oh bugger! Have just invited 4 10 and 11 year old boys over from 1 tomorrow afternoon until 6.15 when I take them all to footie. As well as ds2 (4) and dd (8). Oh and a dh who will inevitably be extremely pissed off at the noise. Oh well! I was never allowed playdates as a kid (extremely houseproud and nervous/shy mum) so am determined to change this for my kids. Everyone welcome

I dont care about the mess as long as they leave me alone and don't fight

I make dh tidy it all up when he gets home