What is a good amount of time to have neighborhood kids over to play?

Question

My son is 5, the two neighborhood kids who come over most often are 4 and 5. We just moved to a new neighborhood so kids just stopping by to play is new for me. I know their parents and have exchanged information but the parents do not come with them. I'm thinking 45 minutes is enough time before sending them home, what do you think?

Update:

Not an arranged playdate, just kids wandering over. That's why my son doesn't go over there, he's not allowed to wander the neighborhood but the other kids are.

stepharosie · Accepted Answer

I think 45 minutes is sufficient.  You're not there to baby sit and other people's kids are never as cute or tolerable as your own.  I hope the door swings both ways and your child is welcome to play at their houses, too--should you feel comfortable with that.

Personally, I can tolerate about an hour with the neighbor kids before I need a break.  At 5, the kids are still need a lot of supervision and that's a lot to ask of one adult for very long.  1 hour.  Max.

Anonymous · Answer

You mean like a playdate?  Or the kids a few houses down just walk on over?  I would never let my 4 or 5 year do that.

But arranged playdates are 2 hours in my house and at the other's house.  Yes, our first playdate I had no idea what time to pick her up.  I said, "so, you think I should come back in like an hour?"  And she said she thought 2 hours was a good enough time to let them play and stuff and I was a bit surprised.  But 2 hours is about when they start getting bored, especially if the weather can't allow them to play outside.

desmeran · Answer

A good amount of time is definitely *before* you are annoyed with them and start to resent the neighbors -- and you should choose what works for you.  There's not a single right answer to this.

We have neighborhood kids over most afternoons.  We kick them out if the kids aren't behaving themselves, if it's time for our kids to be doing homework and chores, or when we adults feel like throwing ourselves out of a window, whichever comes first.  Usually they're here for a couple of hours.

Also consider that if your neighborhood is one where kids come over to your house and you're comfortable with the other parents, you can also send your kids over sometimes and get a break!

Anonymous · Answer

I I moved with my kids to that kind of nebhior when my kids were 5 and 6 and my 5 year old played with kids for more then a hour.

My kids are now 13 and 14 and now play with the nebhiors all day.

My nebhiors when we moved ther were 3,8,2,5,4,,11,10 12.

All of them but one was a boys thoe so my daughter never played with them.

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What is a good amount of time to have neighborhood kids over to play?

4 Answers