You can almost hear the shout-out across the service of excited children, not yet ready to leave their besties behind for the day. They've only had five hours together and there's no way they've packed enough fun into that time, they need to bring it on home!
Enter the playdate requests!
If you're the kind of parent, who is prepared to go on a whim, planned with snacks at the ready any time of day, play dates won't bother you one bit. But if you're more of a planner, who needs some considered thought around the timing of the play date, we hear you!
But how exactly do you plan a play date? What to do at a play date? What do you need? Is there a checklist? There's no need to overthink it, we've got everything you need at the ready.
Hosting the playdate
There are a few basic rules to follow and some key questions you should ask when you have another person's child over at your home.
Depending on the age of the children, you might think to ask the other parents about the rules and expectations of the play date. Things like:
- Does the child have any allergies?
- Is your child toilet trained?
- Do you have any rules around screen time?
- Is there anything you would prefer your child not eat or drink?
- Are you contactable and close by in case of an emergency?
General tips on playdates for toddlers
Keep the playdate short
We all know that kids want to extend their time for as long as they possibly can on everything, and their playdates will be no exception. Try to keep things to an hour and a half, less if you can for the first time. You want the play date to end on a high and for the kids to be at their best.
Plan an activity
Suss out with the other child's parents what they like. If they're crafty, you could invite them to paint or make jewellery. If they're the sensory type, you might want to make your own playdough or if they're more into STEM activities, you could build some Lego and set some challenges. If they want a dance party, turn on some fun, kid-friendly music. While there is a wealth of information online for fun playdate ideas that kids love, keep in mind that age-appropriate activities that they're both interested in that will keep the kids entertained for the next few hours are the key.
Prepare some snacks
You've already asked about the allergies and checked in with what they like so now it's time to have things ready to go. Energy balls are a quick and easy, light snack that kids can eat on the go as the kids play but if you're looking to sit them down and have a chat about their day, a simple fruit platter will suffice, but on a colder day, air fryer scrolls might be a better option!
Give warnings
When the playdate is coming close to an end, let the kids know. This will help you to avoid being upset because they're having such a wonderful time. It's a good idea to plant the seed about 15 minutes before the parent is due to arrive and again at the five-minute mark.
Debrief with the parent
When the playdate is coming to an end, you might like to invite the other parent in for a cuppa and a chat, especially if you're not all that familiar with the family. Not only will this indicate further to the kids that time is almost up, and they need to start preparing for that but it gives you a chance to chat about how the time was spent. If there's not enough time to sit and chat, just a five-minute debrief can be enough.
Congratulations!
You have held your first playdate and it was a smooth success! It won't be long until your child will want to head off on their first playdate too and you're going to be as anxious as the mum you just supported.
Don't forget these tips and remember, the more information you can provide to the other parent about your child and their needs, the easier it will be for everyone.
