https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sat, 18 Apr 2026 19:55:08 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/spin-off-how-do-you-ensure-that-your-only-child-has-friends-to-play-with#post-2535697 Thu, 28 Apr 2016 09:24:20 +0000 wrkbrk 2535697@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thanks for the good ideas everyone! :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/spin-off-how-do-you-ensure-that-your-only-child-has-friends-to-play-with#post-2535672 Thu, 28 Apr 2016 09:01:42 +0000 My Only Sunshine 2535672@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@wrkbrk: One thing I've realized with my DD (she's 2.5 now) is that with daycare, she has a lot of peer interaction and friend time during the week even though it's not a "play date" and I'm not there for any of it. So during this stage when she's so young, I don't really stress if she's pretty much just hanging out with us on the weekends. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/spin-off-how-do-you-ensure-that-your-only-child-has-friends-to-play-with#post-2535518 Thu, 28 Apr 2016 00:16:55 +0000 MoonMoon 2535518@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think about this a lot! I wish we had more friends nearby who had kids his age but we don't, so I'm hoping he'll start making friends in preschool. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/spin-off-how-do-you-ensure-that-your-only-child-has-friends-to-play-with#post-2535504 Wed, 27 Apr 2016 22:39:15 +0000 Grace 2535504@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Mostly daycare, but I'd also say that going to the playground every day also helps. LO meets so many kids that way. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/spin-off-how-do-you-ensure-that-your-only-child-has-friends-to-play-with#post-2535487 Wed, 27 Apr 2016 21:35:08 +0000 caterw 2535487@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Friends with kids are #1!! My best friend from my early 20s has a similar age daughter and we both have some other friends with little girls, so we tend to go places in a big group of baby girls hahaha. I also try to do play dates with my husband's co-workers that have kids in a similar age range.</p> <p>I have also met some really nice people at library storytimes and classes at our local rec center. My area offers these things on Saturdays as well, so you can take advantage of them even if you are a working mama. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/spin-off-how-do-you-ensure-that-your-only-child-has-friends-to-play-with#post-2535311 Wed, 27 Apr 2016 17:24:41 +0000 looch 2535311@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@wrkbrk: he's 5. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/spin-off-how-do-you-ensure-that-your-only-child-has-friends-to-play-with#post-2535307 Wed, 27 Apr 2016 17:15:07 +0000 BabyTsMom 2535307@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I wonder this, too. We live in the suburbs but not in an area with a lot of children. I wonder sometimes if we should move to a more family-friendly area! I try to get LO exposed by going to storytime, taking toddler classes, etc. He's also going to start a morning preschool in the fall, so I hope to meet some moms through that. I have friends with kids but most are either much older, or are girls. Which is fine for now, but when he gets older, I would think he'd want some guy friends too! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/spin-off-how-do-you-ensure-that-your-only-child-has-friends-to-play-with#post-2535300 Wed, 27 Apr 2016 17:08:50 +0000 Chuckles 2535300@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Some of our friends have kids around the same age as our LO, but mostly their kids are a bit older. I've met a few neighborhood moms through a storytime and now we meet up at the playground or at each others houses occasionally. It was much more before I went back to work FT, but I reason that now at least he gets lots of social interaction at day care. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/spin-off-how-do-you-ensure-that-your-only-child-has-friends-to-play-with#post-2535259 Wed, 27 Apr 2016 16:08:41 +0000 snowjewelz 2535259@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DD has 2 cousins, 1 born just barely 2 weeks before her, so they are her default friends! We also go to a big church with tons and tons and tons of children. </p> <p>And lastly she goes to daycare 3 half days a week.</p> <p>We plan to have another one, but I think it's always important that DD has kids her age to play with. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/spin-off-how-do-you-ensure-that-your-only-child-has-friends-to-play-with#post-2535257 Wed, 27 Apr 2016 16:07:35 +0000 lemondrop 2535257@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I've found that extra classes like our swim class and kid sports classes at the YMCA yield people with more interest in play dates than school has. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/spin-off-how-do-you-ensure-that-your-only-child-has-friends-to-play-with#post-2535250 Wed, 27 Apr 2016 16:00:38 +0000 wrkbrk 2535250@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@DillonLion: I am wondering about the neighbor thing too ... how much of a factor are neighbor kids? We are probably looking to live in a more urban area where I do not think there will be kids out riding bikes on the streets?? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/spin-off-how-do-you-ensure-that-your-only-child-has-friends-to-play-with#post-2535249 Wed, 27 Apr 2016 15:59:55 +0000 wrkbrk 2535249@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@looch: How old is your son? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/spin-off-how-do-you-ensure-that-your-only-child-has-friends-to-play-with#post-2535248 Wed, 27 Apr 2016 15:59:32 +0000 wrkbrk 2535248@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@yoursilverlining: Oh of course! I was just thinking of the sad little boy we might have when he doesnt have a brother or sister to, eg, ride a roller coaster with down the line. :'( Haha. Cause that's what I spend my time thinking about now (he's 5 months ....... ). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/spin-off-how-do-you-ensure-that-your-only-child-has-friends-to-play-with#post-2535238 Wed, 27 Apr 2016 15:41:01 +0000 yoursilverlining 2535238@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't think this is really an "only kid" issue, as siblings need friends too :silly: </p> <p>We live in a neighborhood chock full of kids, some of which LO will go to school with. So, assuming they all and we stay there, she'll have those friends. Then there are friends at school. LO is almost 4 and has begun asking for play dates with friends from school, or asking me if a certain friend can come over. So, I think it will naturally happen in the same ways it does for kids with siblings.</p> <p>My husband was an only and has never had a shortage or friends! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/spin-off-how-do-you-ensure-that-your-only-child-has-friends-to-play-with#post-2535232 Wed, 27 Apr 2016 15:33:06 +0000 DillonLion 2535232@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Daycare/school/neighbors. </p> <p>I'm an only child and that is who I was friends with and my LO is most likely an only and I expect that is who she will play with! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/spin-off-how-do-you-ensure-that-your-only-child-has-friends-to-play-with#post-2535231 Wed, 27 Apr 2016 15:30:07 +0000 looch 2535231@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>School, mostly. Plus friends of mine with kids. I have learned it is more important for me to like the parents!</p> <p>I have an only, it's one of those situations where I am always feeling bad about not doing enough, but my son doesn't seem to care. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/spin-off-how-do-you-ensure-that-your-only-child-has-friends-to-play-with#post-2535228 Wed, 27 Apr 2016 15:25:15 +0000 wrkbrk 2535228@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Truth Bombs: Good idea. He is set to start day care in August if all goes according to plan. This is one reason we wanted a center as opposed to a nanny. Although he is STILL on the waitlist :/ So we will see. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/spin-off-how-do-you-ensure-that-your-only-child-has-friends-to-play-with#post-2535225 Wed, 27 Apr 2016 15:24:40 +0000 wrkbrk 2535225@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@hilsy85: Yes! Lots in fact - all are just about one year older than DS so hopefully when he grows a bit they can all get together! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/spin-off-how-do-you-ensure-that-your-only-child-has-friends-to-play-with#post-2535221 Wed, 27 Apr 2016 15:23:05 +0000 Truth Bombs 2535221@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@wrkbrk: Make friends with the other parents at day care. That's what we do and we regularly have "family play dates". The kids play, and the parents hang out. Win/win. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/spin-off-how-do-you-ensure-that-your-only-child-has-friends-to-play-with#post-2535219 Wed, 27 Apr 2016 15:22:08 +0000 hilsy85 2535219@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Do you have friends with kids? That is who most of LO's friends were before he started school. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/spin-off-how-do-you-ensure-that-your-only-child-has-friends-to-play-with#post-2535212 Wed, 27 Apr 2016 15:16:14 +0000 wrkbrk 2535212@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I was reading the really good thread on looking to buy a house on a street where kids play outside with each other and how that might be important for parents of only kids, which we probably are.</p> <p>It's too early for me to worry just YET but ... how do you ensure that your only child has enough to do/friends to play with? Does it always have to be very structured? We won't be living in an area with a neighborhood school situation when DS will be old enough for friends ...</p> <p>Thanks for any tips and for your stories! </p>