Play dates for 7yr old

[DuggeeH]

Hi, just wondering the following please…

Do you think play date are important at primary age?

thanks

Hi, I don't really like the term play date. The very statement sends the fear to me😆.
Rather than generalising on it , for our family, we decide if it's right for our child. And that varies for us. Last year, we had a classmate round a few times, which was great but can be stressful for our wee one.
We'll do it again, but more recently, we've upped the number of clubs she does. This means socialising but in a less pressured environment. She also plays out in our cul de sac with neighbours across the road, and occasionally, kids from round the corner gravitate towards our street to play. I expect this to pick up again over the summer.
I think just think about what your child wNtS and needs and how you can manage to hVe them around other kids. Doesn't need to be formal date.

Yes, I think it really helps cement friendships. We try to have friends over for both DC roughly fortnightly, there are a few different friends who come over on rotation.

It helps you get to know the parents a bit more as well, which is handy in terms of building a support network 9f fellow parents who can occasionally help each other out

Yes, I do. I think there's a lot to be said for children learning to socialise outside of school. It also teaches independence and they learn about different environments and people. I love watching how DD has a completely separate relationship with the family of her BF.

Having said that, formal playdates for the sake of it are not worthwhile and I don't think it's something that needs to be planned with military precision. A lot of "playdates" for ds in particular involved communal trips to the park after school and a romp around the playground.