How to Fill Your Calendar With Playdates

Although much of a kid's socialization comes from school, younger kids can learn a lot about playing with one another by having regular playdates. They learn about sharing, maintaining friendships and working through conflict. Playdates are just as important for stay-at-home parents as they are for the kids, and it's easy to fill your calendar with playdates.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

1. Talk to parents in your neighborhood, at your preschool or in other organizations you belong to. Ask them if they'd like to make plans for their children to have a playdate.
2. Be bold. Approach other moms at the park, strike up conversations, form friendships with them and exchange contact information so you can set up playdates in the future.
3. Join a local moms club. Moms clubs exist in several forms, from very laid back to very formal. Find a group that is right for you and your family to participate in for regular playdates.
4. Find a moms group online. Online chats and forums are great way to meet other parents. Find a local group in your calendar will fill up with playdates fast.

Tips & Warnings

• If you make the first move and ask for a playdate for your child, your calendar will fill up fast.
• Allow the children to play at each other's homes.
• Take the children on field trips together.
• Do not over schedule your child with playdates.
• Do not force your child to go on playdates that he doesn't want to.