Playdate etiquette

[Windflower92]

Sorry for the socially awkward question, but I would rather look stupid on here than in real life!

So DD has just started school and wants to invite two of her friends over. I've spoken to one of the mums quite a lot and the other mum just once, so feel comfortable asking them over. But we live a little further away from the school than most other people, just out of catchment. Just a 10 minute drive but slightly too long to walk with them both all the way back. Do I invite them over for a later time, say 4pm, rather than straight from school to give them a chance to get home and get in their car to drive (if they do!) or offer to drive them and just have one over at a time to start with? Aaagh!

I'd do one at a time play dates at the moment tbh, three really is a crowd when it comes to them!

I never had the parents as well by the time it was school, so I'd just offer to drive them (as long as you've got a spare car seat of course!)

In comparison to PP, parents always joined on playdates when mine were in reception. I didn't mind taking the child myself but the consensus seemed to be the parent joining so they picked up their child and came to my house.

I would do one at a time to start with - with DD, I have always found there to end up being some sort of disagreement when there are more than 2 but if just 2 of them, the play nicely all afternoon!

When mine were that age, I'd collect the other child from school and take them home with me, or vice versa.

just ask the mums what time would be best for them

Why not do a park visit first? That's what I did in reception, normally a weekend afternoon of the weather was ok. DS is in year 2 and we've only just started drop off/after school play dates.

No parents in reception? That must vary school to school. Our school culture would always expect parents to come with their children in reception. By year one they’ll go to friends houses where they have established + comfortable relationships with their friends parent. But 4 feels too young to be unaccompanied at a new family home to me…

I do 1 at a time & I always offer to collect them from school & ask the parent to pick them up at 6-6.30pm.

I did 2 once so I had 3 kids & i found it stressful!

Thanks all, I think I'd prefer parents round rather than leaving her in a new home for this year! I'll do one at a time and just see how it goes, thanks all.