How to be the "hang out house"

[Anonymous]

We are the hang out house. Cool toys. Cool snacks. Best backyard. I’m pretty chill about most things.

[Anonymous]

In my circles, it's the parents who say yes, actively invite other kids over, and have made an effort to meet other parents. Starting in preschool, they were the parents who made the effort to make all of the kids and parents feel included.

Parents allowed kids to go over for play dates and then sleep overs because the parents weren't strangers.

[Anonymous]

I hope to be the hang out house too.

When we bought our house, one of the selling points was that our basement is well designed to be a good hang out spot. The realtor actually said this house would probably be the hang out house. The other realtor later she knew the family and her kids were always over at the house hanging out.

We have a 5000sf basement. I’m a little concerned with our stocked bar down there but I guess I will have to cross that bridge later. My oldest is 11. We host kids often.

[Anonymous]

Plenty of good snacks. Plenty of fun things to do. Minimal interaction with the parents.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I hope to be the hang out house too.

When we bought our house, one of the selling points was that our basement is well designed to be a good hang out spot. The realtor actually said this house would probably be the hang out house. The other realtor later she knew the family and her kids were always over at the house hanging out.

We have a 5000sf basement. I’m a little concerned with our stocked bar down there but I guess I will have to cross that bridge later. My oldest is 11. We host kids often.

5000 square foot basement?? How big is the rest of your house?

[Anonymous]

Why do they need "snacks"? Can't the kids eat at home? I don't want my child to go over and be offered junk foods that we don't normally eat at home. Oh well maybe I will teach them that. But still, these "snack" motive must be part of american culture and sounds weird to me. They are not coming for the party so I would not worry about "snacks".

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why do they need "snacks"? Can't the kids eat at home? I don't want my child to go over and be offered junk foods that we don't normally eat at home. Oh well maybe I will teach them that. But still, these "snack" motive must be part of american culture and sounds weird to me. They are not coming for the party so I would not worry about "snacks".

OP, just be the opposite of this mom.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why do they need "snacks"? Can't the kids eat at home? I don't want my child to go over and be offered junk foods that we don't normally eat at home. Oh well maybe I will teach them that. But still, these "snack" motive must be part of american culture and sounds weird to me. They are not coming for the party so I would not worry about "snacks".

You obviously don’t have teenagers

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why do they need "snacks"? Can't the kids eat at home? I don't want my child to go over and be offered junk foods that we don't normally eat at home. Oh well maybe I will teach them that. But still, these "snack" motive must be part of american culture and sounds weird to me. They are not coming for the party so I would not worry about "snacks".

OP, just be the opposite of this mom.

The pp obviously doesn’t know how kids hang out.

When I was a kid and still now as an adult eat out and in with my friends. If you hang out for more than an hour or two, you want to eat something.

I offer my guests, both children and adults, food and beverage no matter what time of day it is. I think it is rude to have someone over and not offer anything.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why do they need "snacks"? Can't the kids eat at home? I don't want my child to go over and be offered junk foods that we don't normally eat at home. Oh well maybe I will teach them that. But still, these "snack" motive must be part of american culture and sounds weird to me. They are not coming for the party so I would not worry about "snacks".

So your kids will be the kids who eat other people’s food and want to hang out at the hang out house with the good snacks.

Don’t worry, pp, it sounds like your house will definitely not be the hang out house.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why do they need "snacks"? Can't the kids eat at home? I don't want my child to go over and be offered junk foods that we don't normally eat at home. Oh well maybe I will teach them that. But still, these "snack" motive must be part of american culture and sounds weird to me. They are not coming for the party so I would not worry about "snacks".

So, feed them before you send them over or have the kids at your house. I wouldn't send my kid to a house that wouldn't feed them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why do they need "snacks"? Can't the kids eat at home? I don't want my child to go over and be offered junk foods that we don't normally eat at home. Oh well maybe I will teach them that. But still, these "snack" motive must be part of american culture and sounds weird to me. They are not coming for the party so I would not worry about "snacks".

I guarantee that if you forbid your kids from eating junk food and other things you don’t have at home they will go out of their way to sneak it. And will possibly end up with disordered attitudes about food. Good luck with that.

[Anonymous]

We used to be the hang out house for a few years. It was because I didn't supervise or get involved. I think it was like heaven for them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why do they need "snacks"? Can't the kids eat at home? I don't want my child to go over and be offered junk foods that we don't normally eat at home. Oh well maybe I will teach them that. But still, these "snack" motive must be part of american culture and sounds weird to me. They are not coming for the party so I would not worry about "snacks".

I guarantee that if you forbid your kids from eating junk food and other things you don’t have at home they will go out of their way to sneak it. And will possibly end up with disordered attitudes about food. Good luck with that.

What distorted attitudes will they have? That they should eat healthy food? Oh brother.

[Anonymous]

The hangout house has absentee parents. Always. Sorry!