My GGGs are in Kindergarten and we are new to playdates. They have had only 2 playdates in the past that were with preschool classmates (all 3 of my girls were invited), all other playdates were just playing with my friends' kids when we got together. I think in preschool, people were hestitant to invite all 3 and not sure if it was ok to invite only 1. Because our playroom had been destroyed by a flooded basement I never really invtited anyone over here either. So it was my fault too for not initiating play dates. Also they never had too much desire for "outside" friends. THey were their own little group.
Anyway, now I would like to invite some kids over. I thought it might be good to have each one ask a friend (for the same day) and I would ask the moms to stay the first time so we could get to know each other. I know I wouldn't want to drop them off at someone's home when I don't really know the family, so they probably feel the same way. So, 2 of the girls each picked the girl who sits near them at school. THe other girl wants to invite a boy. I asked if she thought he would be okay with being the only boy with 5 girls, and she decided maybe it would be good to ask a second boy also that she likes. Now that's 7 kids. I thought asking 3 was good so they would all have someone to interact with; no fighting for the guest's attention. But I don't know about the dynamics of 7 kids. And what if the 2 boys start doing more "boyish" stuff like pretending to be superheroes or something and my DD who invited them(and really doesn't like those "boyish" games) feels left out? Would it be better to have a group of 6 and risk the boy feeling funny? or have a group of 7 and risk my DD feeling left out? I really don't have the ability to have individual playdates because what would I do with the other 2 kids? I figured when the kids we invite reciprocate, they can just have the one girl who invited them. Would that work? I am probably way over-analyzing this, but want so badly for them to finally have friends. Thanks for your advice!

Ann Marie

Mommy to Anna Lee, Julia Rose, Grace Mara
Born 7/6/03 @ 27 weeks, 6 days