re: Ideas for my son to start inviting his friends to our house

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If you make kids ask you to get food out of the pantry, most of them hate you because they had to ask (sub 11 year olds.)

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I don't really know what this means.

When I was a kid we got our own food out of the pantry. I likewise don't remember food being a big deal with either of my kids and their friends.

If we're talking about dinner, yeah, there would be parents involved in that decision. But if we're just talking about hanging around the house playing on the weekends or during the summer we went inside and got our own snacks if we wanted them and usually just drank water out of the hose if we got thirsty. Or poured ourselves Koo-aid or soda if we happened to be inside.

I don't remember really even bothering about lunch. Too much stuff to do.

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Kids want to be invited to where there aren't rules.

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Now that we're having this discussion, I realize that this is true even when kids get older.

I remember spending the most time (by far) in high school hanging around at this one friend's house specifically because his parents left us alone and didn't bother us.

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This would definitely pull the kids in.

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Unmonitored food and wifi pulls kids in. They don't watch shite.

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move the hole every two weeks.

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Sounds kinda dirty...

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Nice Olympic weight set, rack,

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Kids don't want to hang around work.

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let those punks go outside and play with sticks in the dirt

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Hey, a-hole, don’t forget an empty box.

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If you make kids ask you to get food out of the pantry, most of them hate you because they had to ask (sub 11 year olds.)

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That’s a good point, and it’s true. If my son has 11 year old boys at my house I would hope my son would tell them I’m not worried about those kids going to the kitchen cabinets to get something to eat. Right or wrong, it only takes one instance for those kids to label you an arse.

When my kid was this age I had all the neighborhood kids over. I didn't spend tons of money besides drinks and snacks for them.

All it took was being all time qb and splitting them up in teams. Yeah they play in the yard now but they can't pass as good as a adult. Do huddles call plays.

Also would do blitz ball homerun derby. Officiate and pitch so it's not unfair. Also when they would play a game I'd setup with a cold one call balls and strikes, foul etc

I would judge dunk contest after lowering the rim all the way down. With games Referee.

Sure they play now already by themselves but 6 out ten times they'll argue about a strike they didn't agree on or stepping out of bounds or something. Also help divide teams fairly with age, ability, etc. I only had boys but girls from the neighborhood also would play. All ages. Even had seniors that lived in neighborhood and played some and if I had to I'd suit up to make it fair.

Be involved make a league, tournament etc and they will eat that shite up.

Same thing if they slept over. 1v1 madden tournament
Sanction it for them. Random draws for who plays.
Works for shooting games. Golf was probably the most played for us.

My son is 16 now so this isn't way in the past and all kids had a ps5 or xbox.

If your yard isn't suitable take them to a park or go to the neighbors house and play with them. When it's getting dark and you're about finished call a sleep over and madden tournament and they'll go straight home to ask to come.

That was long but I hope it helps you with your son. Be a kid with them again but guide them.

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Don't buy a bigger vehicle for other people's kids. I'd strongly suggest not buying a bigger house for other people's kids

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I appreciate the advice but I am not moving to a bigger house just to have kids over, but it is a nice to have. I am moving because we have been busting at the seams for the past five years and this past Christmas was the breaking point. It's also not a budget issue.