Spring break is next week and I told the kids we could have friends over sometime during that week. (they only get home from school at 4:30 so it's very hard to have friends over during the schoolweek since supper is only an hour after they get home)
My problem now is whether to have one at a time have a friend over or to try having 6 kids here at once. If I have one child have a friend over at a time I will probably have to deal with some tears from the ones who don't have a friend over then. If I try to do 3 friends at once it could be a scheduling nightmare. Then I'll end up having 2 with friends and one not or something.
Of course, if they don't get their toys picked up I won't have to worry about it because nobody will get to have friends over. Of course, then they may just never have a social life. UGH

Would love to hear what's worked for all of you,

Thanks,

Andi
mom to kindergarten gbg
triplets who are 6 and a half yrs. old

P.S. Also what are your thoughts on having an older friend visit? Since there are few kindergartners on their bus they do have some 1st and 2nd grade "friends". Can they invite one of these?

we do one friend over at a time; each usually has one playdate per week. so the one having the playdate gets the playroom or backyard or where-ever they want to play. the other two know they need to stay out of the way. generally our playdates are in the afternoon, typically during our 'quiet time'. so two go for quiet time in separate rooms for an hour and that kills some time.

when we first started, I tried to bring up some forgotten or new toys from the basement and put them in the living room for the other two. it helped the idea go over better. now they're completely fine with each other having playdates; they know they'll get their turn.

and sometimes, they will all end up playing together. but that's only after some good one-on-one time and with their sibling's okay.

Mary

born 12/12/04 33w2d

We have done playdates one visitor at a time and several at a time. It really depends on the child who is visiting and the chemistry with your kids. There have been a few bad times, with kids fighting and crying because of being excluded. And many many more good visits with everybody basically getting along fine.


It is good to feed them all something, and don't be too quick to inject yourself into quarrels, and it will all work out okay.

good luck!

Nancy

mom to beautiful BBG triplets, born February 2002 at 33 wks, 4 days

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I usually have four or five extra kids over to play several times a week. We just all walk home from school in a giant pack. Everyone just plays with whoever they want. I really don't pay attention, because they are running in and out and in and out.

Michele
Sarah, Gregory, Amanda
born 1/22/04 at 35w1d

Our surprise baby Austin born 06/15/2005

www.fourtimesthefun.blogspot.com

The kids have friends who are triplets (8 days older) with a sister that plays with Jack, so when they are here that's 9, plus our neighbor's kid is always over here, so we are herding 10 of them around with the oldest being 9, and it's FINE. I just have to let go and accept that a few will be playing in different rooms and I prefer having all the commotion confined to one room. My kids have lots of friends in different games and if one of them does have a friend over they still all play together even though Jack is older. and their friends are younger. Again, no problems here. (I am not so much a fan of Jack playing with older kids because they seem SO much older and more worldy.)
Ali
Jack, 8 1/2
Abraham, Dylan and Zane 6 1/2
and now . . . . Tobias, new last June!