Play dates

[Dowhadiddydiddydum]

Whenever my kids have friends over it always turns in to chaos. I’ve noticed although other peoples play dates seem excitable they’re not manic like they are at our house.

Do people have rules/structure or other things that help have a successful play date, rather than a manic one with kids rampaging around? I’m taking about children 7+

My two are 3 and 6 so slightly younger but they still definitely fit into manic category. I've found one thing that really helps is providing some structure like an activity to keep them more focused. Some examples are baking, a craft or setting out specific toys they can play with e.g. boxes of lego/duplo. TBH I think any children are going to be excited about friends coming over and our house is set in a large plot of land so I usually let them go outside to run around and let off some steam!

If you have a park nearby, go there on way home from school. Run off some energy for an hour or so. Then come back and get them doing a structured activity, like making a den or baking or crafting, then tea. They could play something a bit more free and raucous after tea if a bit more time, like hide and seek or nerf war or whatever - but hopefully just for 20 mins while you’re waiting for parent to arrive.