Where is the best place to be for play dates? Your house? Their house? Or some neutral location like a park or something? Where does your child seem to have the most fun?

I'd say all that depends on the childs age and activity planned. Always use your best judgements on where and with whom.

But, do you think it would be better to meet somewhere neutral for the first time or two til you get to know them better and then maybe go to their house or have them over to yours? It would just feel a little weird having a stranger come into my space. Maybe I'm paranoid.

Wherever you feel comfortable. That is the best advice I can give.

You'd think you would know the people from someone else before you arranged a play date, wouldn't you? Unless you happen to be doing this with complete strangers...

Ha ha, Dr. Cox is a comedian. Ya shouldn't be so harsh on babysaurus. Just seems like a very cautious and overprotective parent to me. You can meet people somewhere, but not really know them until you've had time to interact with them outside of the setting where you met. It's like meeting someone at work, people at work act a lot differently than they do outside of work. I can understand what babysaurus means. Sometimes people just have trouble expressing themselves.

I wasn't trying to be a comedian, it sounded logical to me. If you don't know these people, why are you arranging play dates? But I see your point about not really knowing someone until you've had the chance to relate with them outside of normal circumstances.

a neutral site seems best to me. If you dont know the person too well I wouldnt want to go over to their house, and vis versa.

I belonged to a play date group. We all met at a church hall. After friendships were struck up then we would make arrangements to meet at one or the other's houses and take it from there.

When you're in a large group setting you get to see the interaction of not only the kids but the parents as well.

seeker