How do you deal with this?

[starrychime]

Recently moved into a nice street and have always wanted to stay where folk come to the door and see if DD wants to play etc, so here we are. Small girl came to the door just now, maybe a bit younger than DD who's 8 and asked if a wee girl stays here. Well she does, but is out at a friend's just now so I said this to small child and asked how she knew about DD and where she stays (she'd seen her going past and she stays about 12 houses down) But what do you do - do you go along and introduce yourself to the mum? I wouldn't be letting DD go along knocking on strange doors (possibly over protective?) and then do you let new (potential) friend come and play in garden? Not entirely comfy having stranger's kids in the house.

Bit confused as you have contradicted yourself here

pop up and introduce yourself to the little girls mum. Say she came down to see if dd was around to play. Say you are happy for the girl to come and play next time, if the mum allows. By the end of that convo, you will be able to guage whether or not you want your dd to get involved.

Mmm, I think I mean I want to be able to have kids knocking for DD but now one has I don't know how to deal with it. Felt a bit uncomfy with a totally strange 7 year old coming to the door and what would I have done if DD had been in - couldn't just let her out to roam about and no way having a strange kid in the house if I've never met the parents.

Ah! I see what you mean now - is there a local toddlers group that they might go too that you would link up with them at? Sometimes you just have to be a bit brazen - could just knock and introduce yourself - what have you got to loose? Will you not bump into the at the school gate? Cou,d drop a card through the door with your contact info

Secret - they're at different schools - I asked the girl what school she went to as she was hovering about the door and I was struggling a bit for conversation DD is 8 and she is 7 she told me so no toddler groups. Just thought it a bit strange to let a 7 year old knock on a door - I mean I am not dodgy in the slightest but I could have been anyone IYKWIM? Get the feeling she will be back another night soon - I might walk her back along the road to her house and have a chat with the mum. DD is very keen to play with any random kids that are about. It's a fairly quiet street but is right off a busy main road and cars do come down quite quickly to avoid the traffic sometimes so I'd be nervous about even letting DD walk along the pavement to the other end of the road by herself

next time she knocks i'd let her in to play in the garden where you can see them but first say you'll pop home with her to ask her mum first.