Playdates are a nightmare

[Ispy]

I don't do playdates very often and each time I do them I'm reminded why I do them so seldom...

Bearing in mind I'm 33 weeks pregnant and not in the most patient of mindsets: DD is a very young 5.5 and a lot of the kids in her class are older than her by up to a year. I find that when one of them comes over she does all this baby behaviour and baby horseplay and it really grates on my nerves. I see the other child being a little crowded and irritated by it as well. Her little brother joins in as well and it just drives me insane... I don't want to hurt her feelings, just looking for tips on how to get across that this behaviour is pretty undesirable and just plain irritating...

[Ispy]

Thanks all. I probably just need to relax.

The background to this is that she is in her second year of school (in Ireland) and has an ogre of a teacher who has them all terrified. That's another thread entirely but I am anxious that she makes friends in the face of how strict her teacher is

[Tommy]

I shouldn't worry about play dates too much. There is a Mum at school who is gossiping about the fact that her daughter hasn't been to many people's house for tea (that's what we call a play date round here ) - never mind the fact why her DD hasn't been invited () but I just think that they are only in Year 1 - they have 5 more years of school and plenty of time to have friends to play.

I think they get so tired at school at this age and you being pregnant could probably do without the extra stress.

[Ispy]

Only problem is I'm trying to have her socialise with her peers (as in her classmates)..

[coldtits]

maybe invite some younger children for her to play with? If the children you are inviting home are too mature for your DD to really click with on the same level, maybe some younger friends would be beneficial. 5 is very young, still, I would still expect horseplay and silliness from a lot of 5 year olds.