Do people still do playdates? How best to facilitate them?

[Winelover33]

So DS is in his third year of school and we really haven't had any playdates. He's been to lots of parties, goes to an after school club 2 days a week, attends a boys scouts group and football club so he has lots of opportunities for social interaction. However we've never been asked on a playdate or to meet up with anyone outside of school. Once we met someone at soft play and I asked another mum about meeting at the park but they were busy.
Not sure if it just happens to be his particular class or maybe me. I'm friendly enough with the other parents to say a quick hello but no real friends.
Any advice?

My little girl is in year 3, she tends to have 1 or 2 a term and then normally 1 in the holidays, but it's a small village school and she has a tight pack of 4 best friends - so it's always them, and i know the mums well to ask. Honestly, I think nowadays, with most parents juggling work, lots of after school activities etc, they are less common. If I didn't go out of my way to organise things then we wouldn't have any playdates and I don't think either child would mind. I tend to organise them if she asks me, which she occasionally does (often due to a game or discussion at school), but if she wasn't bothered then it'd be easier tbh! Have you discussed with him if there is anyone he'd like to see specifically out of school? I found my son actually welcomes a bit of time away from friends with family and other groups, your son might be the same - I wouldn't organise anything without checking in who he'd like to see and in what kind of setting, as he too might like the time out.

Mine are 4 and 7, and both have regular play dates since starting school. Since Year 1 my eldest son has 3 best friends, me or one of their parents takes turns to collect all the boys to play at our homes 1 day a week after school. My daughter and her best friend alternate a different day, I collect both with my son 1 week, then her mum collects my daughter with her 2 girls the next. I have two brothers over (who are each friends with both of mine) for a play and they have dinner with us. I’d say there is rarely a week where one or other doesn’t have somebody round or is out after school somewhere, they love showing each other their rooms, toys and sharing food together.