DC acting silly/hyper/OTT when friends are round

[LAwonder]

My 2 DC are primary school age (juniors). As it's the holidays, we are having more playdates than usual with friends, usually with 2 other friends at a time and they all get along well.

The problem really is that my DC seem to get really silly at times and start showing off to their pals. I know some of it is normal to an extent but it's all a bit much.

We've pulled them aside and said they are liked and don't need to be silly and that their friends like them for who they are and they don't need to do big crazy things to be liked... And also been a bit "tougher" and said that playdates will stop if the silliness continues.

But other than that I'm a bit lost on how to manage this. I think it would be easier if it was just 1 DC plus 1 friend, rather than 2 DC and 2 friends, but that is often not the case...

Any tips?

Junior age means over 7 yes? I think at that age I tell them to stick to their bedrooms/garden where I can't hear the noise and stay downstairs out of the way. People always act differently in different situations, a child having friends over is one of those things. I don't think it is a big deal as long as nobody is getting upset or hurt or it's not disturbing the neighbours

Yes over 7. It’s not the noise that bothers me, it’s the change in behaviour.

It’s like they go a bit manic and just show off. Being a bit rude to me or DH by being a bit cocky to make their pals laugh, deliberately ignoring us to be “funny”, dishing out sweets/crisps/choc without asking us to look cool, etc etc. Basically seeming like they have to impress their mates or make them laugh which then encourages the whole thing.

I can remember doing dickish things with my pals to make them like me or think I was cool or funny. It always felt a bit weird not being myself. I don’t want dc to feel they have to do the same.

I'd just ignore it, but then perhaps I'm a minority and what is considered a lazy parent. But I couldn't get upset about it is just them that look silly

I suspect that this is how they behave in the school playground...

The silliness is because it's novel. If they lived with their friends their behaviour would calm down over time.

Things are likely to calm down when they go back to school and see their friends everyday imo