Sara65, times really have changed. When my kids were small there were frequent sleepovers while parents went out. We'd turn the living room floor into one huge bed for our four and the kids of another two or three families. So there'd be a dozen kids here and they were always happy in a crowd.
We didn't worry about them camping out in the garden, either, or leaving the back door unlocked all night. We'd never do that now!
Our Welfare State. Is it broken?