You have a new kid over

[jen]

Sars, I'd love some links!

[Mabel]

Jen, this might be too little for your dd, since I know she's older than my ds, but those easels that have a marker board, chalk board, magnet board, and drawing paper board are a HUGE hit here, during sleepovers. J has one too so they usually play on their own when she's here, but when its one of his other friends they just each take a side Lots of fun.

[Kimm]

It really just depends on the kid. Most of the time, they all head out back to play on the trampoline. Sometimes, we go out front and throw the football. There's one kid who always wants to play the Wii. Some of the kids just want to get lost in the toy store my kids call their room.

I also am ALWAYS ready for art. We do a lot of painting and drawing, etc. We also make these marshmallows on a stick sometimes. It involves dipping them in colored white chocolate and adding a variety of sprinkles.

Snacks? I usually have juice and milk. I have soda but I don't let them have it unless I KNOW their parents are okay with it. We usually have popcorn or goldfish or cheese and crackers or fruit or yogurt or popsicles, etc.

If I have to feed them, I always order pizza.

[Fanny]

I feel no obligation to entertain Emily's guests. I feel a bit more of an obligation with Cadence's playgroup, but they're just three. I think your dd is about the same age as Emily and by that age, you can entertain yourself. You can go outside and play. You can talk about boys. You can watch t.v. You can play a video game. You don't need me. Scurry along.

Mine are all teenagers. If they don't want to eat what we have, they can toddle off to the store and buy their own food - they all seem to be making some decent coin these days. And I don't have to worry about entertainment - they take care of that themselves at this age, thank His Holiness, the FSM.

[Dharma]

Do you have board games? Most of the good ones are in the $10 range -- Monopoly, Payday, Life, Trouble.

My DD doesn't have many toys either. She has lots of craft crap and dress-up things. They tend to play school or office and use our many, many dead laptops, keyboards and other such things. They do a lot of things outside. There's also a creek across the street that is a major draw. DD can make a game or scenario with just about anything, though. She doesn't need much that is specifically designed to be played with. In fact, the things that are designed to be played with a specific way, she usually transforms into something else.

[STLouisMom9800]

Taylor had a friend over today and then a neighbor girl came over to play too. They're all 8/9 year olds. They played out in the backyard for quite awhile. There was playing on the swingset. They were making mud pies or something like that back there for awhile. They raked up a big pile of leaves and then jumped in it/buried each other in it/buried the dog in it. They played the Wii a little bit. They went upstairs and put on some of Taylor's makeup. They drew all over our driveway with chalk.

[Dharma]

Oh yeah. Sidewalk chalk is great!

[Minnie]

Ok, again, I'm not entertaining anyone. I just want a better stocked playroom. What do they play?

My kids are into board games - the eleven year olds I mean - they will play monopoly or the game of life, or whatever they're into right now. Otherwise they just make up their own games. I've never really been too interested to be honest - I'm starting to realise I have little idea what they play!

[Freckled]

I always tried to serve some kid-friendly meal that no one would eat - mac 'n' cheese, hotdogs, nuggets.

Then my friend told me what she does - crackers, cheese, summer sausage, fruit, popcorn - out on a plate for as long as it can be so they can graze the whole playdate. Usually they'll eat something on the plate. Totally relieved our eating issues.

Also, grilled chicken legs, cold. Which I thought was weird, but we tried it on vacation with my 3 and my sister's 2 and they all bypassed the junk and ate those for snacks and lunches the whole trip.

No help with toys. I don't have any either. I'm totally self-conscious about my house's playdateability.

[caramia]

I always try to encourage board games - I like them, but not as much as Ann does, so it's good for her to get that energy out with friends! I'm usually pretty happy to let them create a huge art mess on the kitchen table or monopolize the tv and play Wii or watch a movie. I don't entertain though - that is why the friend is over!