Should I Notify Parents If Each of My Kids Invites a Friend Over

For a sleep over yes, for a playdate no. My daughter went over to her friends house recently. The friend has older siblings that are triplets, and one of them is a boy. Each triplet had at least one friend over, including the boy. She told me this when I picked her up. I didn't think anything of it. Actually, when my daughter (8) has friends over, my 5 yo son is a royal pain, constantly trying to annoy them. And I have often thought of him having a friend over at the same time.

For a sleepover yes, but for a daytime playdate no. You are a very considerate mom!

If it was a sleepover, or you were taking them out to Six Flags or something I'd definitely want to know. But just for a few hours during the day it wouldn't bother me. Unless this other boy was a kid I already had an issue with, or my daughter had a crush on or something... then I would really want to know.

Sleepover yes---playdate, no not needed. :)

I agree if it is a sleepover, let them each know, but for a daytime play date. not a big deal..

In our daughters case, many times she was invited over to a friends house and the brothers had a friend or friends over, but the 2 groups really did not interact at all.

No, it'd not really anyone's business who is at your home. I think that if I trusted you with my kiddos then I would have to trust you to supervise them accordingly. If I was not worried about the kids being there to begin with then I would assume that you are able to do that.

No way. If they are coming to play it's no different than going to the park where there are lots of different kids.

If they are sleeping over, I'd like the heads up, but at this age I'd probably still let me kids go. I would think it would more give them their own friend to play with and leave each other alone than anything else. If I'm trusting you to keep my kid for the night, I'd already trust you to make the right decision for their safety and wellbeing.

I personally would appreciate the heads up either way. But really, for a playdate type situation it is less important than a sleepover. But again, can't hurt to mention it.

I would, just in case. 99% chance it won't be a problem, but we had an incident at our house once with a boy and girl who were not allowed by either of their parents to be together. When the girl got dropped off, her mother heard my son yell the boy's name, and freaked out. It was scary! Ever since, I always let parents know EVERYONE who will be home. It might be overkill, but I don't want anymore crazed moms (other than me, of course) in my kitchen!

call the parents of the children that your kids are having over, that way, they know where their kids are and wont worry
K. h.

I don't know of a protocal and, like you, I don't think that it's a big deal but I would just mention it casually in conversation. Just that you're making it one big playdate. With my girls I would try and work it out to where they both had a friend over at the same time. If not, one was always the third wheel, which they didn't like. When they each had a friend they would go to there seperate areas and not bother each other...just seemed to work out so much better. Also, I wasn't having to play referee.

If it's an overnight thing, I would especially mention it. At their ages, to me, it's not that big of a deal, but I would still do it to be considerate of the other mom. I would want to know and I'd like to see that you were be considerate and respectful of me as a parent. You never know what might bother another parent so it's just better to give details upfront and better for future playdates. Remember it's not just about the kids...you are building a repor with that parent and possibly a friendship. Good question.

No, only if there's a sleepover or the parent asks.

I was trying to set up a "hanging out" session for my eldest daughter last night with the mom of one of her friends who happens to be a boy. She had a thousand questions for me including "who will be at your house when my son is there?" I told her that my husband and two younger daughters would be here. She wanted to know about what food I planned to serve and what activities they would have available. I laid it all out there, and since she basically asked for my life story I included that we have two cats. I asked if her son has any food allergies just to show I didn't think she was (too) crazy.

But the thing she latched onto? "I think it might be better if the kids hang out here. My son doesn't want to hang out around your other two daughters because he's an only child and he's afraid they'll be demanding his attention."

Are you effing kidding me?

"Luckily" my husband is home this week because he lost his job, and I told her that, otherwise that plan of hers would be out, because since this would be the first time I was talking to her and my daughter would be visiting HER home I'd like to stay and chat with her and get to know her, especially since our kids are such good buddies. She didn't bat an eyelash for more than two seconds. She paused and said, "Kaaaayyy... do you like grilled cheese?"

I think I made a counterpoint by not asking her 9,000 questions about her and her family since I can grill her in her home. ::devilish grin::