playdates

[Anonymous]

If you are dual working parents, do you do playdates? If not, how does your child get "socialization"?

[Anonymous]

My kids are still little (under 4) so take this with a grain of salt.

But I hate the term "playdates" and I don't use it, and we don't do anything formal, but we do things casually when it fits into our schedule. Last night, the neighbor came over to borrow something, and she and her son stayed and played for about a half an hour before dinner. I'll text other parents and see if they want to meet at the library or something, or even come over to play. It doesn't have to be a BFD.

And also, aren't most "playdates" (ugh ugh ugh) on the weekends anyway? Not sure why being a working parent factors in (and both my husband and I work full time).

[Anonymous]

We hang out with other families on the weekends, and my kid gets plenty of socializing in daycare.

[Anonymous]

We don’t. They seem fine - they are at school/daycare all the time.

[Anonymous]

Yes, we do play dates though I am lazier about it in my “old age” and mainly rely on my kids to make their own plans or play with neighbors.

[Anonymous]

Ugh I don't know. I'm frustrated right now because we moved recently and now the social playdates thing is starting back up and I have to focus on job stuff. I wish I could just be a SAHM.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ugh I don't know. I'm frustrated right now because we moved recently and now the social playdates thing is starting back up and I have to focus on job stuff. I wish I could just be a SAHM.

But I can't because we need the finances and when I was younger I was so career driven.

[Anonymous]

Of course! The kids love them!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kids are still little (under 4) so take this with a grain of salt.

But I hate the term "playdates" and I don't use it, and we don't do anything formal, but we do things casually when it fits into our schedule. Last night, the neighbor came over to borrow something, and she and her son stayed and played for about a half an hour before dinner. I'll text other parents and see if they want to meet at the library or something, or even come over to play. It doesn't have to be a BFD.

And also, aren't most "playdates" (ugh ugh ugh) on the weekends anyway? Not sure why being a working parent factors in (and both my husband and I work full time).

I totally hear you op and could have said the same thing when my kids were under 4 (and I know that's why you said grain of salt!). We still don't really do "playdates" really but with my oldest at 5 now I get it so much more. At 4 the kids really start actively PLAYING together in a different way and have so much fun. For us it is still usually impromptu like we see a neighbor oh does J want to come over this afternoon? Or text them that my son is out in the backyard if they want to come or send the child over for a little. But we've started to do more of that and more reaching out. So, it may change for you as your kids get older! There is definitely no reason for playdates 3 and under. But 4 and up the kids have fun together and sometimes it's nice to invite a kid over.