How can DD meet neighbour's kids?

[Comfortableshoes]

We moved house about 9 months ago and the neighbours - all retired - have been very welcoming. But there are two families amongst our immediate neighbours with kids of a similar age to DD (5) but I don't know how to go about getting to know the parents and kids. I say hi to them in the street, I've passed on toys and clothes to the younger kids. DD doesn't go to the local school and I'd like her to have local friends. I had hoped for invites over to them but I guess I have to take the initiative...do I just invite both families over for tea which seems a bit contrived and not v casual or just hope they'll invite us.

What would you do?

Feeling socially inept

do they 'play out'? we're on a new build cul de sac and all the kids (11 between 5 houses) play on bikes, with balls, prams etc in the street. now it's winter they'll knock on each others doors or just kind of loiter about and see who pops out. dd is 3.6.

HI Ruddy,
Sadly no playing out - we're on a busy street and our garden is tiny / gravel. Had hoped to see them all at the local park but strangely never have done.

Will probably bite the bullet and invite them over during Xmas holidays.

We are in a similar situation - live on a main road and the children go to one of around five different local schools - so it is hard to get to know local children. The ways we have got to know them mainly involve me getting to know the other mothers first! Or if the children go to the same after-school activities arrange lift-shares, etc... It's also harder in the winter - easier to invite other children over just to play in the garden in the summer, rather than making it a more formal invite for tea...

We are similar in that DD doesn't go to the local school, and up until now there hasn't been "playing out." DD is 7y. I am not that keen on playing on the street, etc. so have avoided that, and TBH, few of the other children play out much too. It was just starting to happen a little bit last summer.

I fnd the winter very different. It is dark after school and no one is playing out, and DD has actvities anyway.

However int he summer more people are about, the evenings are lighter and the children are more likely to be playing outside, and will call to one another and ask to go and play together. So in the warmer months this happens far more frequently.

DD also goes to the lcoal Brownies and meets local children there, although doesn't see them out of school.

We are on chatting terms with some of the neighbours. In the summer we might go round or them come here for a drink while the children play int he garden, etc.