Tips for peaceful playdates
Playdates are a great way to help your child build social skills and strengthen friendships with other children. Try our playdate pointers to help ensure the visit is a success.
• Keep the playdate short and sweet: a visit of 1-2 hours is ideal.
• Take your child’s personality into account when deciding on a playmate. A shy
child may do better with a quieter friend, while an active, exuberant child may
click best with a more energetic playmate.
• Also, keep your child’s schedule in mind when setting up the playdate. Skipping
a nap in order to play may lead to a cranky child.
• Negotiate ahead of time whether the other parent will stay or drop off her child.
Younger kids and first-time visitors may take a while to warm up or may feel
more comfortable with a parent on hand.
• It helps to have a few activities planned, especially for younger children.
Whether it’s board games, dress-up or cookie decorating, have a few projects
or toys out and help the kids pick what they’d like to do. See our playdate
projects for ideas.
• Be close by to intervene if needed, but try to let the kids work things out them-
selves first.
• Don’t forget the snacks!
• Find out ahead of time whether the host parent expects you to stay or not. If
you’ll be dropping your child off, make sure your child feels comfortable before
you leave.
• If this is your child’s first visit, take a few minutes to familiarize yourself with the
house and find out what your child will be doing during the playdate.
• Let the other parent know if your child has any food allergies or other issues
that may be relevant.
• Check in with the host parent afterwards to find out how the playdate went
and what the kids did.
• Offer to host the next playdate at your house!