How to Schedule a Play Date

Scheduling a play date is a great way for parents and caregivers to help children form and keep strong relationships with other children. It’s an opportunity for children to learn leadership and communication skills. Both children and adults have hectic lives but a play date can be the high point of your child’s week.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• A place at home where children can play safely
• Snacks

1. Talk to your child about which friend(s) she would like to play with. The children’s ages will determine how many to include.
2. Find a time in your family’s schedule when the play date will work best. Look for a morning or an afternoon when you are relaxed and available to supervise.
3. Call the guest’s parent to invite the child. Explain the date and time you have in mind and whether it includes a meal or just a snack. Find out where the guest’s parent will be in case of emergency. Ask if the guest will bring a special toy, if there are food restrictions and if the parent has any other rules such as the amount of TV watching permitted. Confirm when the guest will be picked up.
4. Plan the play date with your child. Decide which rooms of the house will be used and which will be out of bounds. Help your child organize the play area so that toys are easy to find and put away. Remove any toys that are too precious for sharing. Decide if messy activities such as painting will take place and set up the area. Agree on the snacks to be served and how overall clean-up will be done.
5. Let your child greet the guest when he arrives, hang up his coat and take him to the play area. Monitor regularly to make sure the children are having fun, using toys safely and communicating well. Without being intrusive it’s possible to keep an eye on things.
6. Before the snack or meal, have your child show the guest where to wash her hands. Let your child serve the snack according to her age and abilities, putting items away at the end. Fill cups part way with liquids so they are less likely to spill.
7. Thirty minutes before the guest is to leave, remind the children that it’s time to start the clean up. Let your child be the clean-up leader. Check that the guest’s toy has all its parts.
8. When the guest’s parent arrives to take him home, have your child take him to the door, give him his coat, and thank him for coming. Thank the parent for bringing her.
9. Talk about the play date with your child after the guest has left to find out if it went according to plan. Praise your child for being a good host.

Tips & Warnings

• If the children get into a dispute, be very clear about hearing the two sides. See if the children can find their own resolution. If one is too upset, a short break may help. Don’t punish your child in front of the other child. Wait until later.
• If your child doesn’t behave well, speak privately and tell him you will talk about it after the guest leaves. If the guest doesn’t behave right, tell her calmly that your family doesn’t accept that behavior. Tell the children that the play date will end early if the problem can’t be solved. Avoid blaming the guest or making her feel bad. If necessary, call the guest’s parent to ask for an earlier pick-up.
• Don’t try to do work or something that needs your full attention so you can quietly keep an eye on things.