Planning Ideas for Playdates
Need ideas for playdates? Setting up kids playdates sounds fun (and they are!) but if you over analyze everything you may never leave your house.😩 Playdates allow kids to see someone their size and depending on their age, they might interact with each other. Babies may stare at each other the whole time, and that’s okay too! Moms can chat over a cup of iced coffee or chilled water. Having adult conversations are good for the soul. Here are 3 easy planning ideas for playdates.
1. Have a defined end time
You can survive anything for 45 min. Maybe even an hour. Start off with a micro playdate (lasting an hour or less). See how you and the other mom vibe.
2. Make sure your venue passes the 3F test
Fun. Familiar. Free. Go to a location you’re familiar with that happens to be free–a playground; a park; a museum (if you’re both annual pass holders or one of you has a free guest pass). You’ll be less stressed if you already know what to expect and you don’t have to pay.
3. Put another playdate on the books
Before you both part ways, get out your phones and find a future date where you are both available. Even though you may not know what you want to do, it will ease your mind knowing you have something fun to look forward to.
To stay up-to-date on all that Amazing Baby has to offer, follow us on Instagram
Defined end time! I think that’s a key component to a successful playdate
Absolutely!! Setting expectations from the beginning allows you to enjoy the rest of your day!
I liked it…simple and easy. Thanks!
Thanks for reading, Widalys!
These are excellent tips, especially #2. Having a familar environment will make the children more comfortable, so they’re more likely to have fun (and the free part is fantastic for the parents)! Thank you for sharing!
Thank you for reading, Meghan! It’s always great to see kids in an environment that is familiar to them. Then they can just enjoy themselves!
These are great ideas! Making sure it’s free is such a nice touch for the other mom – you never know how budgeted some people are.
You are absolutely right, Tori. And it is a tough position to be in when you want to do something fun with your child but it’s cost prohibitive. Thanks for reading!
I love that three F test!
Thanks, Felicia! I love it too!!
Very easy steps and loving these 3 quick tips. Thank you for sharing this!!
Thanks for reading, Loshane! Xx
These are great ideas to host stress free playdates. I love that you have 3 simple tips but they are super helpful and so true! I often forget to think about these things ahead of time.
Thanks for reading, Dana! Playdates can be overwhelming to think about but if you do them in a way that makes you comfortable, you’ll be more likely to host them again!
I have a sister who always wanted to host playdates for her daughter, but she’s scared it’s gonna be too much of a hassle. I can’t wait to send this article for her to read. Thank you for sharing!
Hi Martina!! I’m so glad you’ll share it with your sister. Once she makes playdates on terms she is comfortable with, she will become the playdate QUEEN!
These are simple yet great tips! I especially agree with you on not overanalyzing it. I tend to think too much about the logistics, but I think they key is to get out there and have fun. Thanks for sharing this!
Thanks for reading, Vizanne!
Such a great idea to put the next date on your calendar! So much better than saying “we should do this again soon” and never getting around to it! Just because it’s on your calendar doesn’t mean it has to be set in stone, you can always reschedule if something pops up!
100% agree with you, Melissa! Thanks for reading!
Great tips! Setting another one is a great idea.
Thanks for reading, Adriane!!
Having an END time is essential…from experience…
Yaaaaas!! All good things must come to an end.
My baby will be 4 this year and we’ve never been on a kids playdate. I want to go so bad because my baby likes to play but I don’t have many friends and my closest friend didn’t have a baby.
Not sure if your baby is in daycare but that’s a great place to start meeting other parents since the kids already play together. You could also try out free trials at baby gyms or other places that cater to babies and connect with parents that way!