Anonymous wrote:When I make early afternoon play dates I always say “after lunch, like 1:30” or whatever time, to make it clear that the play date doesn’t involve lunch. That said, if a kid is hungry I feed them, but I agree it’s annoying to make lunch twice and also boring for the kid who’s just watching his friend eat lunch.

Can’t they...talk to each other? How long does it take?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We often eat a late lunch on the weekends. Sorry, but if we had a late breakfast they may not be hungry for lunch at 12:30. I assume I’m feeding kids a hearty snack when they come over - call it whatever meal you want.

Why would you assume that? If my kid ate at 12:30-1, she will not be ready for a hearty snack at 2. Maybe at 3:30 or 4, but not 2.

Because the kids are often hungry! They tend to be pretty active over here...but it doesn’t matter because I don’t push, I just offer. Eat, don’t eat, I don’t care, but the food is here. It’s part of being a good host. Don’t understand the parents on the thread who are begrudging a lunch...what’s the big deal?

Anonymous wrote:The worse scenario is when you send your kid to someone’s house from about 10am to 3pm and it turns out they didn’t feed your child lunch and that the kids only had a small snack. I had to stop doing play dates with a family who never fed my child. I knew the mom had had eating disorder issues, so the whole situation felt too bizarre to get involved in.

I agree. My kid had a play date from around 10 am to 3 or 4 pm, and they didn’t feed him at all. Not even a snack. It was the au pair, not the mom. At pick up, she made some comment about how he was probably really hungry since they hadn’t eaten at all. Um, ok?

Anonymous wrote:Are you sure he didn’t eat and doesn’t just lie to get another lunch? Some kids would. I’d ask the parents before I believe the kid didn’t get any lunch.

Lol. I could totally see my kids doing this, especially if your snacks are better than mine.

Ask the parents when the kids get dropped off if they’ve had lunch.

Anonymous wrote:We often eat a late lunch on the weekends. Sorry, but if we had a late breakfast they may not be hungry for lunch at 12:30. I assume I’m feeding kids a hearty snack when they come over - call it whatever meal you want.

Why would you assume that? If my kid ate at 12:30-1, she will not be ready for a hearty snack at 2. Maybe at 3:30 or 4, but not 2.

Its embarrassing- but my kids would totally say this, even though I had fed them lunch. They aren't even really hungry- they are just curious what they will get in some one else's house.

When I make early afternoon play dates I always say “after lunch, like 1:30” or whatever time, to make it clear that the play date doesn’t involve lunch. That said, if a kid is hungry I feed them, but I agree it’s annoying to make lunch twice and also boring for the kid who’s just watching his friend eat lunch.

The worse scenario is when you send your kid to someone’s house from about 10am to 3pm and it turns out they didn’t feed your child lunch and that the kids only had a small snack. I had to stop doing play dates with a family who never fed my child. I knew the mom had had eating disorder issues, so the whole situation felt too bizarre to get involved in.

How do you know they haven’t eaten lunch? Did the parent tell you at drop off? Why are you asking a kid if they ate lunch at 2:30pm?

We often eat a late lunch on the weekends. Sorry, but if we had a late breakfast they may not be hungry for lunch at 12:30. I assume I’m feeding kids a hearty snack when they come over - call it whatever meal you want.

Everything about this is weird- how do you know he hasn’t had lunch? Does the kid walk in and ask for lunch?
I’d probably just offer the kid a snack and mention to parents he was hungry at pick up

Anonymous wrote:Are you sure he didn’t eat and doesn’t just lie to get another lunch? Some kids would. I’d ask the parents before I believe the kid didn’t get any lunch.

+1

I’d send a casual text to check in. “Larlo said he hasn’t eaten lunch yet but it’s already mid-afternoon so I’m guessing he’s just looking for a snack. Are you okay with me setting him up with some carrots, hummus and a cheese stick before the kids get into playing?” Or something to that effect. But if the child is older than 7ish I’d just give the healthy snack and let them be a little hungry and not let the parents mooch like this.

Are you sure he didn’t eat and doesn’t just lie to get another lunch? Some kids would. I’d ask the parents before I believe the kid didn’t get any lunch.

So? Ask the parents before the play date and tell the parent that your child eats at 12:30.

This is nothing to get bent out of shape about, OP.

Why do you do this? Playdate at 2pm, kid shows up and hasn't eaten lunch yet. We ate at 12:30. This has happened with 2 friends recently. NOT a situation where the kids are neglected or can't afford food. I have to make a special lunch for the kid and then my kids watch him eat. Rude for the parents to do this and uncomfortable for everyone.