Socialising with parents at Secondary Level

[Rouge]

That's all I'm hoping for Tinks. I'm not after dinner parties and shopping trips... I just know that experience shows when parents can talk it's often for the better. And all reports thus far have been it's frowned upon mostly.

[Trillian]

With DS1 it's a bit different - if we want our kids to go to each others houses then all the contact has to be through the parents to arrange permission etc (remembering he's at a fully residential boarding school) so it's good that you have to have that contact with other parents that you may not necessarily have and it's good to know who they are and actually speak to them. I'd say that so long as you know their names, and what they look like so you can at least acknowledge them if you see them still creates some sort of a relationship so if you ever need to talk to them for any reason then you can kwim?

[nickle730]

My DD1 is in Grade 5 this year. I reckon by about grade 4, so many kids catch the bus so you don't tend to see the parents at pick up and drop off. It was really noticeable this year as grade 5 is a big intake year at our school and I still have never laid eyes on some of the new parents! If DD wants to have a play with a child whose parents I don't know, I call and have a chat to a parent - usually mum - and always try to have the first play at our house!

[dinky]

I found Secondary school was totally different to primary. Although we did have a few kids from primary school there so I knew a few of the parents, and they did have a welcome bbq for the Year 7's which most parents went to, so got to know a few more there. You don't tend to see a lot of the other parents, except if they go on school camp or there is a school event, that is when you meet them. It's a very different scene, and especially at our school, where a lot of the parents are in their own culture groups and wont talk to anyone.

[Tinks]

I suppose it also depends on the community you live in. I'm from a country area so I've already made a connection with the majority of my kids friends parents through the years at kinder, playgroup and sport. which probably makes it easier.

Although I don't know you very well Rouge, I don't think you'll have a problem connecting with your DD's friends parents.