My husband and I have strict protocol for getting comfortable enough with a family, to allow one of our kids to be trusted to their supervision. Sometimes, people get offended. There have been occasions where a parent will get down right pissed. For the most part, however, they can appreciate our skepticism and receive it as being protective and not paranoid. We always welcome the kids to come and play at our house. We welcome their parents to stay. We encourage them to do a background check. It has been known to strike people as odd, but we do one on every parent that we trust our kids with. We are honest about it and figure that the only ones who get tweaked about it, have something to hide.

After they pass the check and we become familiar with every member of the family, they move on to a thorough home inspection. We ask questions about who lives in the home. We check for guns and signs of drug use. My husband, who can read people like books, will let me know if he has a bad feeling about a family member. We make sure that dogs do not have access to our kids. After my son got attacked by a dog, we no longer allow them around strange dogs. Most of the time, the family will get the green light. Sometimes, we find that we have to deny our kids visitation to a certain house that we deem unacceptable. They can still be playmates at school, but that is where it ends.

How and where do you draw the line with your kids’ friends? Do you feel comfortable with allowing them to play at a strangers house? Do you take measures to make sure that the home environment is safe? Do you ever have to restrict your kids’ access to a friend’s house? Sound off in the comment section.

Post from: Blisstree

Screening Your Child’s Friends