Mom Talk: Setting Boundaries at Play Dates

The women of the group at  have a lot on their minds when it comes to parenting, but today's big discussion was all about play dates.

Or, more specifically, how to set boundaries for your child while they're at a friend's house without coming across as judgmental of the other parents.

One mom from the group, Liane de Chazal, said she doesn't let her children play on trampolines at their friends' houses because of safety concerns. Another mom, Bryn Brock, mentioned that her children may not be ready to watch a movie that someone else's children watch regularly, possibly because of mild violence or content.

Conveying their boundaries and preferences, however, isn't always easy without offending the other parents.

Different children grow at different paces, said Kim de Chazal, who helped organize Moms & Kids and has three children of her own. What is appropriate for one child may not always be appropriate for another, even if they are the same age or in the same grade in school.

"It gets worse, I think, as they get older," she said, adding, "If (other parents) are concerned enough about their kid to call me, I take that as a good sign."

When your children go to a friend's house, do you call the friend's parents? How do you convey what your child is and isn't allowed to do, eat or play at a friend's house without sounding judgmental of the other parent?