The other day, a parent of one of the neighborhood kids came by looking for his four-year-old son. They had an errand to run and he needed to collect the little boy. “It looks like you have the hang out house!” he said.
Having the hang out house can be a mixed blessing. On the positive side I always know where my kids are. They are right at my home or in my yard, so I know that they are safe, and I never have to go looking for them. I can hear and usually see what is going on. I know what they are talking about, what games they play and how they get along with others. I can see first hand if they have the skills of leadership and compromise, and how they handle social issues. I also get to know their friends and get some insight and guidance into the type of things my children look for in their friendships.
On the negative side, having more kids around means more work. Along with the extra serving and cleaning up (of course I encourage every kid who comes in my home to take some responsibility for themselves), there is the feeling as though I am spending all of my time running a day care or after school program. While the extra kids are in my home, I feel obligated to keep them safe and know where they are, even if their parents allow them to roam on their own. There is also all of the extra food, from snacks to dinners that need to be paid for and prepared.
But I am happy that we have the hang out house. Here are a few things I have learned:
To encourage kids to hang out at your house, provide plenty of snacks, drinks and activities or toys to play with.
Be clear on the rules for your house, and let everyone know (including your own kids) that everyone will have to leave if the rules aren’t followed.
Set clear boundaries and limits, such as what time or day is reserved for family only, if homework needs to be completed first, and which rooms or areas are off limits.
Make sure you have contact information for the parents of children who are at your house. One time the parents left the neighborhood without warning, and I had no way to contact them in case of an emergency.
Mary Ann Romans writes about everything related to saving money in the Frugal Blog, creating a home in the Home Blog and caring for little ones in the Baby Blog. You can read more of her articles by clicking here.
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