How to Host a Perfect Play Date
Game Ideas and Strategies for Parents of Toddlers and Preschoolers
Nov 2, 2008
Socialization is a big part of any youngster’s early childhood development, and play dates are a great way to teach social skills. Sometimes though, tricky situations can arise and parents need to have a set of tools, rules, and props to help pave the way.
Play Date Sharing Issues
It is hard for young children to understand the concept of sharing. Talking to a child ahead of time can really be helpful. Have her identify which toys she is willing to share and which she is not. Put the harder to share toys away for the play date. Then, when her playmates arrive, some tried and true sharing tips might be useful.
- Timer – Encourage taking turns with a timer. Each child has one or two minutes to play with a popular toy. If there are two toys, they can switch off.
- Trading – If a child wants a toy that is being used, take out something else that might be interesting to trade with.
- Distraction – If a trade or timer is not working, take the toy away for a while and provide something new. Remember, toddlers have very short attention spans.
Odd Child Out
Try not to plan a play date with three children, because many times one is left on the sidelines. For young ones, stick to even numbers of kids or better yet, one on one interaction. If this is not possible, be ready to jump in with these ideas if one child isn’t being engaged.
- Toys in the closet – Dig out a bowl of little prizes or some new craft materials like wiki-sticks or clay to bring the three children back together.
- Game for three – Set up a simple board game, or a card game where everyone gets a turn.
- Kitchen treats – Pulling out a quick snack can also reunite the group, and so can involving the kids in some cooking. Try baking cookies together or popping some popcorn.
Kids Getting Bored
Play dates should be kept short to avoid boredom. Two hours or less would be a reasonable length for toddlers and preschoolers. If children seem to be spending more time wandering about than playing however, be ready to engage them in an activity. Some popular ones might be clay or other crafts, water/sand games, or sidewalk chalk. Here are some other ideas.
- Box city – Round up some large cardboard boxes and have the children build a city. Cut out doors and windows. Give them markers and have them decorate their buildings.
- Cardboard sledding – Got a hill outside but no snow? Get out large flat sheets of cardboard and let the kids sled down in the grass.
- Dress up – Little children love playing dress up. Make sure that there is a box of old clothes, hats, and other simple items available for the kids to get creative.
- Body tracing – As long as there is a roll of white paper in the supply cabinet, body tracing is a really fun activity for kids. Have them lie down on a length of paper and trace their bodies from head to toe. Then, they can use crayons, glitter, and whatever else is on hand to decorate their self-portraits.
Not all play dates are going to be smooth sailing. But if parents provide guidance by clearly stating ground rules ahead of time, preparing their little ones for sharing and inclusion, and keeping a few kid-friendly surprises up their sleeves, playmates will interact more effectively and develop important early social abilities.
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