Kids going INSANE on playdate - what to do?

[MrsGravy]

So dd1 aged 6 had a friend over after school today. The friend was good as gold but dd and her 4 yo ds went bonkers with excitement, they were jumping off their bunk beds, pulling down their pants, tipping out box after box of toys etc. Stuff they would never normally do! I do relax the rules on playdates normally but this was just too much. I stopped them at the time obviously and had a chat with them once the friend had gone - told them that they had behaved badly and I wouldn't allow friends over in future if they did it again. They only have friends over once a month or so, hence the excitement I think. Do other people's kids get like this?! And what can I do to keep things calm next time?

It can get a bit wild sometimes can't it! I try to have some planned activities, drawing etc on stand-by in case things get carried away. Mostly mine are ok but sometimes if things are left unstructured it can get a bit manic

When anarchy threatens, I also sit them down with a snack and a short video - a Peppa Pig or something and it sort of creates a voluntary time out and they calm down. I also tell them they have to put away what they're playing with before I get something else out. Making it a game. ("Who's the fastest?") DS is 4 (today!).

sorry but lol at pulling down pants. What is it with kids that they do this when they're excited?? Dd1 did it once when she had a friend over when she was about 6. I was mortified!

I would second the DVD to try and make them calm down. Or take them to the park.

If you can steel yourself, would recommend doing it more often, and mybe inviting a separate friend for your DS at the same time... when the novelty wears off they are likely to calm down.

My daughter is 7 and when she has friends round she gets too over-excited and silly. Like for example she will just laugh continuosly at the dinner table and flick her food across the table at you. When my son who is 10 has friends round he gets all mouthy and very rude. I think all kids get over-excited at friends coming round.

Thanks everyone, I feel better knowing my kids aren't the only ones that go bonkers when their friends are over! I think I will do a DVD/some sort of activity/park or something in future. It's a bit tricky getting a friend over for DS as he's in morning nursery at school so I would have to go and pick them up/ask them to be dropped off which might be a bit of a faff. As for doing them more often, this is probably a good idea, although I'm not sure DD's friend will be allowed back if she tells her mum about Friday's shenanigans!