5yr old daughter

[hannah40]

my 5yr old is at school and is always talking about her friends.I am an older mum late 40,s and am not really that sociable so i dont chat to other mums in the playground,jusy pick my little girl up and go,but my daughter has asked if a friend from school can come round to play.i really dont know how to go about this. do i send an invite in?or is it not the done thing to invite children round ,my daughter has been at school 2 terms now and she has never been invited round to any ones house but she has asked so i thought i better do something.any ideas?

[clydeserani]

Hi hannah, when my kids started school I was very shy and didn't really know anyone...what i would suggest is this..when you go to pick her up from school ask her to point out the friend that she would like to visit and approach the friends parent..ask the parent if they would like to come round at the same time as their child and you could have a cup of tea or coffee together whilst the children play...make it a short period of time the first time, for example, 30 minutes or if you feel uncomfortable about inviting someone to your home, you could suggest that you go to a local park together...

It is a great way for you to meet other parents and start a wee social life...

Good luck..

x.C.x

[I.Don No]

Of course you should allow your daughter's friends to come round to play and vice versa

and on another note as a mum and nana my self I always found it advantageous to be friendly with the other mums and dads while waiting for my children to come out of school. Not all children tell their parents everything that goes on in school (I remember well conversations like 'what did you do in school today....'nothing;' would come the reply) Not every little incident is reported to a parent eg one child spitting on another.....and yes it does happen. I now work in a school at dinner time in the playground and know for a fact that not all, not even much, of what goes on there gets back to the parent via the teacher who was told of incidents by a dinner lady, like me, so please, YES YES YES get to know your daughter's friends and also their parents....

hope I haven't bored you with all that but I happen to think that it is very important

[mumof3angels]

Hi hannah40- my youngest is 5 and has just started to go round to friends houses and have his friends round at ours. I must admit I feel a lot more relaxed if I have spoken to the parents alot before letting my littl'un go round to their house. With all my kids I've socialised on the playground with their friends mums and dads, in fact I'm really good friends with a several of my older kids mums. One of whom I've stayed in touch with even though we don't meet on the playground anymore as our daughters now go to different high schools.
Just approach the parents as the kids come out from school as clydeserani suggested and talk to them as you leave school. If it's anything like our school you probably all live in the same area anyway so could you walk a bit of the way home with them? It gives you an ideal opportunity to get to know them a bit.

[tamborine]

The best toy a child can have is another child. It's important for your child's sociable skills that you support her wishes.

[WiseOldSage]

I'm 43 and my daughter has just turned 5. I actually stand in the playground with parents who were at school with my eldest and they have kids the same age as mine. See if the school does any coffee mornings or have things going on in the community room (if they have one). Otherwise just popping up to a parent and saying, So and so keeps asking ... most people are in the same boat!

My daughter keeps asking if her friend can come and play - so far I haven't said yes because her mother is the woman my ex husband had an affair with (kids don't have pick um eh? LOL)

[katiecarol]

i have been in a similar situation where i havent spoken to the parents. i wrote i note with my child (from them) inviting the chld round and i sometimes put your mommy could come and have a cup of tea with my mom while we play.

[x_Leila_x]

i think what katiecarol said is a nice idea, its always nice for you to have a little mommy time as well