Not doing play dates ?

[Anonymous]

Anyone not host playdates very regularly and did it have a negative impact on kids social life?

DD is in first grade and doesn’t ask for them that often. She has her friends at school, a younger sister she plays with at home, plays regularly with the neighbor girl next door and sees her school friends at her weekly dance class and birthday parties.

If your kid doesn’t need the extra socialization and isn’t asking for it, is it ok to just not do planned play dates of kid isn’t asking for it?

[Anonymous]

Yes.

Playdates can be a pain. Also, not everyone has a house conducive to hosting them. And 1st grade is a tricky age because it can be a borderline age for some people in terms of dropping off -- I have encountered parents who won't drop off at that age and ones who only want to drop off. Can also depend how well you know the other family.

My philosophy about playdates at this age is that if we know the family well and it comes about somewhat organically (kids ask for it specifically, not something engineered by adults), we do it. Otherwise, we don't worry about it. Like your kid, our 1st grader spends plenty of time with other kids at school and activities, so it's not like there isn't adequate time to a form friendships.