Nervouse about daughters play date?

Question

I decided to talk to her teacher and she informed me that the family has two other kids in the school, has helped at every funtion so the school know them and the father is very strict, has to be with three boys, so I know he will take good care of her and won't let anything happen to her, I am just nervous because this is her first real play date away from home. The boy has been here before and I like him.

Answer 1

Tell her to call you as soon as she gets to the house, or have the mother call you. Figure out what their going to be doing, like leaving the house or anything. If it gets to be too much you can always just pick her up!

Answer 2

Ok are the two of them walking home alone? If so thats not right, their way too young to be walking home alone. Either give them a ride to the parents house, or have a trusted adult walk home with them. How well do you know the parents? I mean really, looks can be deceiving in this day and age. I strongly suggest you do this; invite the parents over for cofee and let the 2 little ones have their fun, that way you can supervise your little girl and get to know the parents, everyone wins in this situation.

Answer 3

Calm down momma, I'm sure if these are good parents they do not let their children walk home alone and with other siblings in the school they will not remain unsupervised. Plus my daughter is 9 and we live 1 block from the school I've graduated to standing in front of the house. I know that when the crosswalk guard can no longer see her I can. I do remember this nervousness. It's right before I realized my kids were going to have friends and play with them without me around, what if she gets scared or misses me. My big thing was paranoia when she first went to school, like what if she's running on the playground and trips and cracks her head open in some freak playground accident. I am totally serious, that was me. She'll be fine and you know what would be totally acceptable is if you call this dad who will be supervising and explain that this is her first play-date away from home and you are just a little nervous and just say you may call a couple of times to check up. If they are a good parent they will totally understand! :)

Answer 4

Go with whatever your gut tells you.

Answer 5

Go with her on her play date.  Make a joke out of it with the parents, saying you're feeling stupid but nervous and just hang around.   You'll get to know the parents more, and see what their home situation it like.

You are her parent and are there to protect her.  If you feel nervous, do what you feel is right.

Answer 6

Agree to pick them up from school and drop them off at his house. I would never let my child walk home from school, but that is just me.

You can also go to her first play date if you were invited, or stay for the first 10 minutes to see how things are going. Typically with play dates at this age the parents are also invited at least that is how it always was with me.

Answer 7

Its only natural to worry,we all do,but i'm afraid sometimes we just have to trust people.

If the dad has contact with the children in school he is obviously trusted by the school and i'm sure the parents will take extra care when in charge of someone elses child.(i am presuming that one or both of his parents will be walking them home!)

It is perfectly reasonable to have their number and call when they are home on friday,you can tell them that your daughter was apprehensive and you are just checking that she is okay,you don't have to let on that you are worried if you don't want to.

Don't worry though ,she will have a wonderful time :0)

Answer 8

I would drive her personally, 5 yrs old is kind of young to be walking home alone. Maybe you can offer to have the playdate at your home for the first time. Whenever my kids had a first playdate I always had it at my house so I could get to know the other child and their parents better first. That's just me though. The world is just too full of crazy people.

Answer 9

Skip the walk to his house and drive her yourself.  Doesn't sound like you have ever been to their house and that is a BIG NO-NO!!!!  You are nervous because you know what has been arranged is not right.

Example:  my eldest is 10.  The first time a friend of his comes to the house, they MUST be accompanied by a parent and I invite the parent to come in for a chat, a coffee/water whatever and then once we have had a brief visit with one another, the parent usually leaves and the child goes home whenever.

Do not let your daughter go over there without you.  Call the parents and let them (honestly)  know how you feel and that you will take your daughter over to their house after school.

You will feel better about the play-date if you do!

mb