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Play Date
When we were kids, we “went to
somebody’s house” to play. Today that’s called a “play
date”. Sometimes it’s a casual affair where kids just goof
around. Sometimes there’s a theme, such as a tea party or
pool party.
Whether you prefer casual or
themed, here are suggestions for making your child’s next
play date fun for everyone.
- Be prepared for inclement
weather. Maybe you figured the kids would just play in
the yard, but then Mother Nature surprised you with snow
or rain.
Don’t panic
(there’s no time)! Have some backup plans ready.
Coloring is fun and can fill in for anything. If you’re
a little short on coloring books, go to Nick Jr. (http://www.nickjr.com)
and download some of their printable pages and books.
Videos are also a play date
saver. You probably have several of your own and your
child’s friend can bring a favorite. Make some snacks
and have a film festival! Turn it into an educational
experience by asking the kids to review the movies.
- Have realistic expectations.
Heidi Hoff of Vancouver, Canada says, “Don't expect too
much in terms of children playing together. Even though
they may be playing at opposite ends of the room with
different toys they are still learning from each other.
Interactive play comes at a later age.”
Don’t expect your kids to act
like small adults in a social setting. Social
interaction is something they have to learn, just like
they learned how to walk and talk. Don’t compare your
child’s behavior to another’s. Kids develop at different
rates.
- Put away your child’s
favorites, or the ones he doesn’t like to share. “One
good tip for younger children is to put toys that are
"favorites" in a special out-of-bounds spot so that your
child isn't traumatized with the idea of having to share
that toy with another child. This prevents (some)
fighting, possessive outbursts, and hurt feelings” says
Lori Scott of Kearney, NE. Don’t just put them in your
child’s closet or they’re liable to come right back out.
Hide them in your closet, the garage, etc.
Another way to defuse the
“that’s MINE” fights is to have toys that are only used
for playdates. This strategy works well for Dawn
Nowakoski of Indianapolis, IN. “These toys don't belong
to anybody, so fights brought on by sharing are
sometimes minimized if a child knows he doesn't have to
share ‘his’ toys.” Just don’t count on this to solve all
your problems!
- Make sure the kids are
compatible in age. An eight year old won’t have much fun
with a six month old. They don’t have to be exactly the
same age, but relatively close. As long as they’re old
enough to play with similar toys, they should be fine.
Don’t count on using an older child as a babysitter.
Kids go on playdates to have fun, not act as free
daycare.
- Don’t rush to jump in every
time there’s a fight. “Let the kids solve problems
amongst themselves unless you particularly enjoy being
within arms reach to play referee,” advises Emily
Bridges. Conflict resolution is another valuable skill
learned through playdates.
Finally, always plan for the
unexpected. Have plenty of diaper wipes and clean
clothes on hand, both for your child and for the
visiting children.
Make sure there are snacks and
juice in case someone hasn’t eaten in a while – nothing
ruins a playdate faster than cranky, hungry kids. And,
if all else fails, follow the advice of Carrie Wood of
Prairie Village, KS – “I have one word for you:
bubbles.” Follow these suggestions and your next
playdate will be…well, we can’t guarantee perfect, but
you’ll be prepared for just about anything.
Link:
Nick Jr. (
http://www.nickjr.com
)
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