How do you actually arrange a play date in reception.?

[overtinkerbell07]

My DS has just started Reception and has become friends with another child. They seem to enjoy playing together, but I’ve never arranged a school playdate before and I don’t really know the other parent.
Do I just approach them and say something like, “The boys seem to get on really well, would you like to arrange a playdate sometime?”
Or is that too forward when you’ve only known each other for a few weeks?
What do people normally do for the first playdate invite them to your house, or suggest going to a park/soft play together first?

The latter if you want the other parent present. If not, invite child over to play and you rake them home with you or parent drops them off. You will have to speak to the parent along the lines you suggest.

Pretty much! Parties are good for a bit longer to chat, or get their number from the class whatsapp. House playdates with parents present for first ones was generally how it worked last year

Yes, basically! Or if you don't see them you could write a note to go in the book bag with your number?

Definitely suggest soft play/playground first, I found it took the pressure off a bit. And tbh, I wasn't comfortable leaving mine with parents I didn't know at that age.

I just left mine. I trusted people. We didn’t have soft play so no chance of that. Park was a long way from school and not great. I found entertaining 5 year olds wasn’t an issue at home but DD had nice friends. No parents stayed but I guess we trusted each other.

Year 1 here. I didn't do playdates quite so early in reception, gave myself a bit of time to get to know parents and my kid a bit of time to settle into friendships. We did park play dates when I was trying to get to know the parents better (and parties are definitely good for that too as the year goes on), set up a whatsapp group with a few parents I got on well with and went for drinks, and then did a few playdates at home with parents there too. Over the summer after reception we did one or two without parents, usually to help cover childcare gaps.

Now in year 1, it's really easy - we pick up other kids from school and mine goes home with others, for reciprocal childcare favours and the kids have a great time. So don't worry if it doesn't all happen straight away!

‘Hi, I’m Dave’s mum, Dave is none stop about your Paul, would Paul like to come for tea one night after school?’

oh god, just read that back can anyone tell I’m northern 🤣