If it is at my house, well, I cannot kick away my younger child to somewhere else or lock him/her in the room not to join. If it is at your house, I will only bring the invited child only. If it is outside of any home event and I need to come along, I will evaluate to see if I should bring the invited only or both depends how long, how far away, where, and what that is.

It also depends how long you have known them and if they always came.

I have two boys and a girl. When kids were younger, it was everyone, almost more for the moms. When my boys were in elementary school, it became drop off. I’m not friends with their school friends’ parents. My daughter is my youngest and there is a mix of mom friends and child’s friends. I am good friends with two moms and their kids aren’t close to my child but we still hang out.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What age?

9yo

I am beginning to think that my friends are being a little pushy since they have made it clear that their kids come as a pair or else they will be offended. It seems like that is not the norm.

That's weird. 9 is definitely in drop off playdate range. Maybe there's something cultural going on.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What age?

9yo

I am beginning to think that my friends are being a little pushy since they have made it clear that their kids come as a pair or else they will be offended. It seems like that is not the norm.

NINE?! That's ridiculous. Absolutely not. Drop off for the invited friend ONLY. You're not running a daycare.

I have an 8yo. DD is youngest. In kindergarten and first, parents often stayed and the sibling would come. In second and third grade, play dates are mostly drop off with no siblings.

I also have tween/teen boys and siblings also have not been included since 1st or 2nd grade. My boys are close together and if kids were at my house, they would play together but I would never send a sibling to another person’s home.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What age?

9yo

I am beginning to think that my friends are being a little pushy since they have made it clear that their kids come as a pair or else they will be offended. It seems like that is not the norm.

Invite the child for a drop-off play date. You can control what happens at your house.

You can’t control what happens at the other child’a house. If your child goes to play with the other child, the sibling may be there.

Oh wow, yes you are not expected to host siblings at that age. Agree you cannot control what happens at the other kids house.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What age?

9yo

I am beginning to think that my friends are being a little pushy since they have made it clear that their kids come as a pair or else they will be offended. It seems like that is not the norm.

Invite the child for a drop-off play date. You can control what happens at your house.

You can’t control what happens at the other child’a house. If your child goes to play with the other child, the sibling may be there.

Anonymous wrote:What age?

9yo

I am beginning to think that my friends are being a little pushy since they have made it clear that their kids come as a pair or else they will be offended. It seems like that is not the norm.

Anonymous wrote:What age?

+1 this matters

You can only control your house. Invite the friend and not the sibling. And, no parents either.

NO!

I’m assuming the kids are too young for a drop off play date? This problem will fix itself in a few years.

What age?

Not necessarily. But siblings live at houses so it’s a part of life that they’ll want to be included in their siblings play date.

Invite a play date over and just asked for the one kid. How old is your kid? You can say “feel free to drop Larla off if you want! Or you’re welcome to stay - whatever is easiest.”

Most of the time people won’t ask to bring a sibling unless they expect to stay at your house and don’t have anyone to watch the other child. Asking for a solo child playdate on a weekend (when both parents are usually around) and offering drop off are two ways around the issue.

My DC is an only child who would love to play one-on-one with some of their friends but it seems like other parents always expect the younger sibling to be included. We don’t mind including everyone most of the time but there also needs to be some solo time to develop a closer relationship as individuals. It’s sad when my DC expresses a desire to spend time with her peer but the little sibling always ends up dominating the whole play date and the other parents are practically offended if anyone asks to split the kids up once in a while. Is there a good way to approach this situation given the tender nerves of some parents or is this just the way it is with siblings?