blinking bickering play date 5 year olds - what to do!

[carocaro]

DS aged 5 has a friend over to play as it is the school holidays and he has done nothing but bicker and moan all afternoon. I have tried and tried to keep them occupied, but have a 4 month old to look after. DS just seems to get too controlling and upity about his toys. The big Summer hols are not that far off and we are not going away, so was planning lots of play dates in the garden, which is big with swing and slide etc. But I think I can't be bothered with all the hoo haa, we've done/share he's a guest/talked to him before and after about it all. What on earth should I do as the Summer hols look long and hideous to me!

Have you asked 100? She'll be around this evening, in the how to talk to children thread. She's a real pro.

Hi,
My son is like that sometimes, but only if it is a playdate HE did not select... Who selected this boy/girl to come play, your DS?

I was arranging lots of playdates for my son who just started reception this automn, and some went really well, while others were a lot of hard work. I found that if it was MY choice of who was coming, he was often not so keen, and when speaking to him about the playdate later, he would tell me that this and that child was not so nice to him in school, or despite going on lots of playdates with one particular boy, this boy would only play with another particular boy in school and not my son. There was always a reason. One of the boys kept ignoring what my son was saying, and it turns out he has a hearing problem, but now that my son knows, he is ok about him. Now we have found a nice selection of boys my son plays with really well, and having them over is a doodle! They play together rather than fight. It helps that my son has a nice costume selection, so they can be superman and power ranger, and help fight to save the planet together, lol!

All may not be lost, as you can try a few other children, and see how the dynamics between them are.

Sorry if it is not helpful