Has your 5/6 year old been invited to any play dates or to do stuff with their school friends over the Easter holidays?

[Whatsgoingonwithmyhead]

Not sure if I’m overthinking or being paranoid but DC (year 1) doesn’t get invited on play dates much (it is very very rare) and I’ve messaged the class WhatsApp to see if anyone fancies a meet up over Easter holidays but radio silence.

Does your 5/6 year old do many play dates?

Do you meet up with school friends during school holidays?

I’m a bit baffled as I would love DC to run around with her friends and have fun while I grab a coffee in peace & chat to the other parents. Am I a weirdo? Do other parents not think like this?
We live in a great area with loads of National Trust type places so perfect for these kind of meet ups. But no one seems keen.

DC is an only child but actually half her class are only children as well

My only advice I can give is try texting direct rather than whatsapp as some will mute whatsapp group for school during the holidays. Also try giving specifics such as 'we are doing x activity on x day, would your son/ daughter like to join us?'

I feel your pain though, it's horrid. I experience the same thing and I don't think I've offended anyone! Lots of parents seem to not be that sociable in our school group generally and there are lots of only children so I do feel sad for the kids.

I have a 6 year old DS in Year 1. He gets invited on occasional playdates, sometimes we won't have any for a few weeks and then all of a sudden we'll have 3 in a row.

My experience here is that they tend to slow down in the holidays as families may be away or parents are still working and kids are in holiday clubs, visiting grandparents, etc.

The only play date we've had over Easter Holidays is one I arranged at our house with an old nursery buddy rather than a school friend. I usually ask my DS who he would like to have a playdate with and then contact those parents and set a date that suits us both (usually Friday after school).

Are you comfortable having a child without their parents there? Because that could make it easier for some families who are working through the holidays.

I think you need to be more direct, message one parent and ask if they can meet up. Mine are a little older now but no play dates, I'm working, we're going away next week, lots of people are away either next or last week.

Mines in reception and we’ve met up with people 4 times I think plus there was a class birthday party. Suggested by them and me equally. They’re friends we see out of school usually which probably makes a difference.

My 5 year old always has quite a lot of play dates but I've always really prioritised it and worked at it, it hasn't just naturally turned out like this!

It could be that lots of people are away, or the parents are working and the kids are in clubs. Both my DC have a friend over at the moment, but the next few days will be doing clubs. Also agree with PPs about messaging directly rather than on the class group.

No. But when I am off work we go away as a family. They are in holiday clubs now or with grandparents, not things which lend themselves to play dates, and I am not spending my precious holiday time supervising play dates.

Mine are a bit older year 2 and year 4 and I would say the play dates do increase over time,

However I probably wouldn't respond to a 'do you fancy a coffee and catch up at a national trust' type play date. I'm busy and have work most of the time!

Now we do more invite them here for the day and hope you get in invite back. e.g. DS has a friend over today and DD at her friends, then we are going to do reverse on Friday.

Just make the first move and ask if little xxx wants to come round to yours?

Agree with being more specific and messaging certain families which your child is closer to. Or chat to a parent during pick up to arrange something. We tend to go to the park by school after school with a few children each week (weather permitting). I've found this a great way to chat to other parents and arrange play dates.

I would guess a lot of people are at work this week, and using some form of childcare? Or at least "working from home" whilst looking after their child?

Unless someone works in education I think it's quite unusual for people to be free in the holidays AND have money to spend on days out like national trust etc.

I agree that it might be better to target specific children your DD is close to (maybe ones where you've done playdates before)? I also think that if you're willing to have a child over for the afternoon, you may get more takers?

DD is 5 and doesn't have playdates often. Most families are away over Easter (we have gone to the US), and the ones still in the UK have their dcs in play schemes. It's an affluent area so most of us take several holidays a year, some go away every school holiday, so it's rare for play dates to happen during school holidays. Families here are ambitious and dcs are at skills camps during the holidays if they aren't going away (for tennis, riding, swimming etc). During term time most parents work long hours so they prefer doing family activities at weekends rather than play dates, and most dcs are in after school activities during the week.