5 Ways To Plan The Perfect Play-Date For Your Toddler

Playdates are a great way to introduce your child to the outside world. It teaches your child important social and interpersonal skills which will help her as she starts going to school and making friends in the later years. What’s more, a fun playdate can also give you a chance to take a breather from being his/her constant playmate. Now doesn’t that sound like a win-win? However, before you do start dialling up to invite some tots over, here’s a word of caution from us. Not having some fun things planned for the toddlers, can soon turn ‘what could have been a fun evening’ into an ‘absolute mayhem’. So plan a great evening with your child and his/her friends if you want it to be a positive experience from the word go!

1. Story telling:

Yes sure they will keep themselves entertained  with toys for a while, but toddlers, especially between 2-4 years age tend to have a very short attention span. The best way to positively distract them before they go into a tizzy? Sit down for a 10-minute story reading/telling session using hand puppets, maybe. It will give them the much-needed rest and they will be recharged to play again after that break.

2. Baking time:

No don’t make a complicated layered cake with 5 toddlers in the house. But yes you could indulge them to make their own mini pizza when its time for a snack or a cake in a cup which requires minimum effort.

3. Art & Craft time:

Plan some basic art and craft supplies and you will have busy toddlers for at least a good 30 minutes. Some paper plates, a few stickers baby scissors and voila you are ready to make facemasks or puppets on a stick. Keep it simple and basic and ensure they are all having a great time in the process.

4. Fun fact/picture box:

Make a box of fun facts/ fun pictures on small bits of paper. Play a game with all the children taking turns to read out a fact to each other turn by turn or, even reading out to them once they have picked up a fact. It can be about anything right from discovering the world around them to their own bodies, as long as its fun and playful, the toddlers are likely to have a great tim.

5. Dancing statues:

This is an absolute riot for little tots. All you need to do is crank up the music and let the kids jump around and have a blast. When you stop the music, they need to freeze in the position they are in. We can guarantee the giggles will come in large bursts with this one.

These are just a few simple tips to get you started and we are sure you will be a play date pro by the time you have organised a few of them for your child.