YAY!!! DS's first ever 'play date' - need tips thou.

[thesouthsbelle]

ok so give me a run down on the etiquette please.

it's a friend from DS's nursery. (his particular little friend tbh) his mum is going to come and get DS at 8am. (feel a little cheeky as it was meant to be a sat but we're booked up every sat till after bro's wedding, as are they pretty much) I suggested a dinner/afternoon in the week, but she's suggested all day - anyhow. Is going to take the boy's to the beach, has the car seats etc and also for lunch etc at theirs. I will collect DS after i've finished work.

now for the etiquette bit - Do I include ice cream money - don't want to offend her but then again don't want her to think I expect her to get my lad everything.

How long do I wait to offer her DS a play date with DS - (and do something like soft play or beach or something)

when they come to my house i'll be running about getting ready for work etc. Do I offer them in (feel like I should do really) or do I push DS out the door & then follow suit off to work?

(can you tell i've not done this before lol) it's quite important to me that it works as hopefully i'll also gain a new friend as I don't really have many here althou have lived here for over 2 years - but is also good pratice for sept with school)

help!

She will know you are getting ready for work so invite them in whilst you get ds stuff together but dont offer a drink or anything. Just be honest with her and say that as he has never been for a whole day with anyone before so does he need any money for anything, she may say "oh we will be going so and so and he may need such and such", alternatively she will say no.

In my experience unless its going to be an expensive day out they dont need any money, sometimes i send my ds with a wallet with some money in and on occasions the parents have spent it..and other times they havent. i just say to them "he has some money in his bag if he needs anything".

I normally leave it a few weeks until i have the child back for tea etc..otherwise it becomes too frequent but it depends if your happy for it to be a regular thing.

Hi there, I recently started play dates with DS's little friend a few months ago. He is a complete wee sweetie and we would move him in if his parents would let us Sadly he is no longer DS's best pal at pre school, but I'm just ignoring that fact and they do play together very happily when it is the two of them.

I would offer money, she will probably say no.

It's a nice gesture if you text afterwards to say thanks and also suggest a date when their DS can come round, I would say a fortnight later is about right.

I wouldn't worry about getting ready for work, she knows its a work day and is obviously quite happy about it. A full day though for a first play date is quite full on though !

thanks for your replies.

mrs daz - tbh I don't have time for it to be a reg thing.

afaik she's taking them to the beach. so will put some money in his bag for her incase (he loves to go right to the water lol)

agree thou first play date considering i've never met her it's quite a long one!