If you have more than one child....

[samy23]

I'm a mom of an only child and feel increasingly pressured to arrange play dates for dd, and I'm wondering if that's the same for parents with siblings close in age or if you don't feel it necessary as they have their sibling/s to play with?

[mamatoablessing]

Originally Posted by samy23

I'm a mom of an only child and feel increasingly pressured to arrange play dates for dd, and I'm wondering if that's the same for parents with siblings close in age or if you don't feel it necessary as they have their sibling/s to play with?

Playdates and outings are essential for my sanity. Before we had #2, it was really nice for DD #1 to have kids to play with (although it was more parrallel play) but was it necessary? No, I don't think so. It was more for me. Now that I have two, they do play together a lot but I still arrange outings and playdates so that they can play with kids their own age too. I just like a lot of variety and getting out of the house. That's just me and I know a lot of folks who are the opposite. I think either way is ok.

[katheek77]

I have an only (24mos), but, really, the only "playdates" we have is maybe once or twice a month with a friend of mine who has a 16mos old. And that's more for the moms....We (DD and I) get out a lot (to the store, farmer's market, playground, library, etc.,) but, I don't think we really do a ton more than most families...

How old is your child?

[marybethorama]

Originally Posted by samy23

I'm a mom of an only child and feel increasingly pressured to arrange play dates for dd, and I'm wondering if that's the same for parents with siblings close in age or if you don't feel it necessary as they have their sibling/s to play with?

I have three (12, 10, and 7) and there's constant pressure for playdates. They would play every day if they could. They do play together but they prefer to have friends over. Often when kids come over, they do play in groups.

[angelpie545]

I have two (5&7) and I don't feel any pressure for play dates, and didn't very much even before I had my younger one. Then again, I have a very large extended family and lots of friends with kids, so I guess people didn't really see the *need* to pressure me as much; plus I was a young mom.

[HopesMom]

I *love* playdates. When my dd1 was younger, *I* chose a mom I liked and we'd "get the kids together to play." It was a nice change for me...still is. Some of those "friends" have been in our lives ever since and its been a gift for me and ALL my kids to have those relationships.

[UptownZoo]

Nah, I never worried about it, no matter how many kids of any age I had. My three older kids are very close in age, and my youngest is so much younger that he's kind of an only. I got them together with other kids if it worked out, but I never made a big effort toward it.

Judging by the fact that my house is almost always overrun with hormone-addled, noisy, goofy teenagers, plus a parade of sticky kindergarten age boys, I think they figured out pretty well how to make friends in spite of my home body ways.

[annethcz]

I have 4 kids. Playdates are just as much for me as for me kids. We all enjoy getting together with friends.

[Tigerchild]

My three kids are separated by 17 months. Playdates were frankly too much of a pain in the rear until my boys were 3. So I guess I didn't feel a need, my kids got plenty of 'socialization' at home. That being said, I enjoy hosting them now, my kids love to play with new people and honestly having 1 or 2 extra kids around is just as easy as just having my own brood.

[monkaha]

If she's happy playing alone or just with you, I wouldn't worry about it. As long as YOU are happy too. As others have said, playdates aren't just for the kids.