Kids never invited?

[TurnUpTurnip]

Reading another post got me wondering, my kids never get invited to parties or play dates, they have asd the older ones so I always assumed that was why, however my youngest started school in September and has so far not had any parties or play date invites either? I don’t see the other parents so maybe that’s why? Or do some kids schools just not big on parties? Is that possibly a thing?! I’ve heard of people already having several party invites.

Do you invite friends round? I found that made a difference fairly quickly for us.

No my daughter whose just started doesn’t really mention names, or they change often I don’t see the parents personally to invite them I was more interested in the reception age though when schools are doing all class parties? So they would invite everyone surely even those who haven’t invited them, my daughters birthday not till the summer.

I think lots of people will avoid inviting a child they don't know for a playdate when they're very little, this tails off as the children get bigger.

Parties, I think it probably varies area to area. Here, it's full class parties in nursery and reception, but it's an affluent area so they can afford it! I don't think that's the case everywhere.

I don’t see the other parents so maybe that’s why?

I think that is part of the reason, yes.

I worked part time so I did get to see other parents at the school gate. However I think that covid has changed things a lot and parents are being more cautious now.

There's a park directly opposite our school and that's where I've met the other mums/ arranged playdates. MY DC go on the schoolbus generally but I pick them up twice a week for after school stuff and so they can play at the park. I don't think people are doing big parties as much nowadays (although there was a flurry over the summer). Playdates at that age are often made with Mums that you're friends with. I always did a full class party at age 4 (nursery school) then you get invited to most of the other parties due to reciprocity.

Thanks all when my daughter was on half days at reception I use
To go to the park by the school but there was never anyone from the school in it just us usually and some toddlers but no other mums with their kids, I don’t know about now they are on full days now though.

We didn't do any play dates till the summer between yr 1 and yr 2, I thought Covid may have played a bit of a part but speaking to a lot of the parents and kids it just doesn't seem to be a big thing. DDs in yr 3 now and none of the kids seem to go round to each other's after school. They may do short play dates in the 2 week and summer holidays.

I think lots of parents work so either people are trying to WFH for a couple more hours after school, their using after school clubs so can't do play dates, or they're rushing to get the kids settled so they can go to their evening job.