Kids coming over to play with mine and expecting food and drink!!

victory

Hi all,
Just sent one of my kids playmates home to get some dinner as she kept saying she was hungry and thirsty and could I feed her ?!
I get this all the time, kids that come over to play and have their dinner then fine but others.... my one gets a biscuit, they want one, a packet of crisps, make that 2 and on and on!!
I keep telling my 6yr old that I have already got 4 to feed in the family and not to keep offering them my food and drink but he seems not to listen(or forgets!!)

Fizog

Mine are the same. Lay down some firm guidelines. Offer a drink and a plate of plain biccies. I find a fruit platter the cheapest (a chopped banana, apple a few grapes) make them sit at the table. It calms them down and they will chat and even feel a little sophistocated. Always when children cross your threshold tell them what time you expect them to go. ie 'We're having dinner at 6.30 so you'll be goingat 6.20 ok.' I've found be straight with kids they respect you for it.

victory

thanks fizog I have just feel bad about it as they were playing nicely!!
It is just that I cannot afford to feed someone elses child as well as us 4!
Your ideas are great though, we always have plain digestive biscuits in the house and fruit so I will put some of it into practice, thank you xxx

fuzed

just a thought (not wanting to step on toes etc) but do your little ones go to the friends houses an have dinner or is it just them coming to yours?

kathyd_2

How about keeping one of those value loaves in the freezer and give them toast with a scraping of honey (don't need much as it has a strong flavour) then finely slice a banana and lay on the top (the banana that is :rotfl: )

in_my_wellies

Perhaps you could say "Just one plain biscuit, don't want to spoil your appetite."

looby75

I keep some asda smart price custard crèmes and cookies, 22p a pack in a tin in the kitchen, when ds's friends come to play he knows that they are allowed those biscuits and nothing else. They are allowed to take 2 and have a drink of cordial, if they want another drink after that they can have as much water as they want. If they are hungry after that then I tell them to go home and get their tea.

Maybe I'm a bit mean but my back garden looks like a playground with the amount of outside toys ds has in there (he has 2 older cousins how pass down a lot of their toys to him) so in the summer especially I always have a garden full of kids, and I simply can't afford to feed the 5000!

play2day

I prefer the kids to be in my house. I know where they are, what they are doing and that they are getting adequate supervision. For this peace of mind I am happy to feed the masses.
How about keeping a few tins of 'value' beans and a sliced loaf in the freezer? You can feed a football team for 50p. Limit drinks to water and if you offer a snack how about a slice of toast? .. it will fill a hole cheaply and isn't likely to encourage them to ask for more...
All kids respond to firm and consistant boundaries. If you tell your children you won't feed thier friends one day then do so the next the message you give them is that you will if they winge or put you on the spot.
Boundaries for other peoples children are essential too. Let them know what time they are allowed to call and when you expect them to leave in advance (But remember do so gently... you do not want to isolate your child from thier peers)

Lysiane

hello

I am a bit surprised ( not to say anything else ) .

I would be mortified to refuse food to a children or giving the cheap stuff ( especially a friend of my dd)

Kid are kid and often ask thing without even thinking , my dd do that , she isn`t bad behave at all , but if she goes to someone house to play she will ask for food/drink , even if I tell that she shouldn`t , and should wait to be offered something.

When she is having friend around , she MUST share , and I would never ever dream to give the cheap stuff to her friend , while having nicer/more expensive stuff in the fridge/cupboard , what that will teach her ???

Good stuff is good for you ???!!!and the cheap good enough for your friends , so lets hide it when they are around .....and you will be able to have it when you are on you own.

I could never do that , and I will be so upset if anyone did that to my dd .

I don`t mean to offend anyone here , but I am really :eek: to read this post !!!

Rachie_B

Lysiane wrote:

hello

I am a bit surprised ( not to say anything else ) .

I would be mortified to refuse food to a children or giving the cheap stuff ( especially a friend of my dd)
Kid are kid and often ask thing without even thinking , my dd do that , she isn`t bad behave at all , but if she goes to someone house to play she will ask for food/drink , even if I tell that she shouldn`t , and should wait to be offered something.

When she is having friend around , she MUST share , and I would never ever dream to give the cheap stuff to her friend , while having nicer/more expensive stuff in the fridge/cupboard , what that will teach her ???

Good stuff is good for you ???!!!and the cheap good enough for your friends , so lets hide it when they are around .....and you will be able to have it when you are on you own.

I could never do that , and I will be so upset if anyone did that to my dd .

I don`t mean to offend anyone here , but I am really :eek: to read this post !!!

not everyone can afford it !

looby75

the only biscuits I ever buy are cheap ones, I am on a very tight budget and try to spend the majority of it on good food, so the junk is the cheap stuff.

I simply can't afford to feed other peoples kids willy nilly. My ds has 2 close friends who stay for tea regularly and they are fed in exactly the same way as my kids are, and I budget for that but I haven't got the money to buy "good" food in JIC there are unexpected mouths to feed x times a week.