TIPS FOR A FUN NEIGHBORHOOD PLAYDATE

Slow afternoons are my favorite. Preparing a large, healthy-ish snack and setting out an art or play-prompt gathers my crew and the children who tag along with them. I love a full yard of kids. Yes, it’s messy and chaotic. But it also creates a wonderful sense of love and community. I like creating a safe, fun space where my kids can bring their friends to play and unwind. I’m going to miss the crazy one day, so I’m embracing it while I can.

Here are my top tips for creating an environment where children and adults love to come together.

SNACK TIME

Prepare a healthy-ish snack, and lots of it!  I like to do a tray of cut up fruit- watermelon or summer cherries are always a big hit.  Pair the fruit with a crunchy dry snack like a big bag of popcorn, pirates booty, or pretzels.  Then add a “treat” which might be chocolate chip cookies, popsicles or mini Trader Joe’s ice cream cones on a hot day.  

I bring out a big pitcher of icy water or juice boxes and a fat black sharpie marker. A marker? YES. This way everyone can label their cups/ juice boxes and you avoid waste and confusion.  

ACTIVITY 

Put out a SIMPLE activity to draw the children in when they first get home.  The trick here is to use what you have, keep it very simple and inexpensive. Pay attention here…. DON’T put a lot of effort into it.  That way you won’t be annoyed if they ignore the activity and run off to scooter.  It also ensures that you won’t feel put-out or burned out over time.  

SIMPLE YARD ACTIVITIES

My go-to is usually chalk, mallets, brushes and water (SEEN HERE).  The kids can draw with chalk, or smash it up and make chalk paint.  This activity is great for all ages.  There are few kids I know who can resist the mallet to smash up some chalk… so therapeutic! 

Sometimes, I’ll dig around in the garage and find old wood scraps and bring out hammers and nails and rubber bands.  If they get super into it, I’ll add paint or sharpies.  

Another simple one is a large thrifted mirror and paint sticks (SEEN HERE).  Not messy, very engaging and lots of children can work on it at a time. Bonus? Clean up is a snap.  You just need to hose it all down at the end.  

GROWN-UP HANGS

With full tummies and after some time spent relaxing with the activity, the children all usually grab bikes, scooters and wagons and take off running and playing. This gives the adults a chance to catch up and get some much needed grown up conversation in.  

LIMIT SETTING

Sometimes, I don’t mind if the children wander in and out of the house…. But sometimes, my house is clean and I want it to stay that way.  We set clear limits about whether or not going in the house  is allowed.  I’ll just say, “Our house is closed today, sorry!”  OR “It is an outside-only day.”  Setting clear and firm limits regarding what you are comfortable with is KEY to enjoying big get togethers and not dreading them.  

I am extremely lucky to live on a dead end street with lots of awesome families.  My favorite Spring afternoons are spent on the front lawn with the dog running up and down fetching a ball while the kids get dirty and have a blast.  Of course, there are many tantrums thrown, kids who argue, and skinned knees.  But that’s just part of the fabric.  

Do you have any neighborhood favorites? Tips for gathering your favorite crew of people? Share them with us!

I hope you found this post helpful.  If you want to hear more from me, please be sure to subscribe to my blog and join the conversation over on Instagram.  

-LIzzie 

EASY PRESCHOOL PLAYDATE

Is your preschooler having a friend over after school today?

My four year old always wants to bring friends home with her after a morning of preschool.  I love that she wants to be social.  But, truth be told, she is not the most fun child right after school.  She is usually ravenous and cranky. She’s been sharing all morning, and most likely, she will find turn-taking at home to be hard.  Typically, our schedule involves lunch and quiettime, so a playdate can be taxing on her. But, Sloane  loves spending time with friends, and I love that she is developing that part of herself.

 Here is how I support Sloane in afterschool playdates:

I prep lunch BEFORE I do the school pick up.  I set up a tray of finger foods that make lunch fast, filling, and energy-boosting .  Today, I put out a long tray with a bowl of carrots, a bowl of pretzels, hummus for dipping, a bowl of apple slices and some cashew butter and honey mixed to make a dip for apples.  Each child had their own yogurt cup and they grazed together on the snack tray. 

Next:

I prep a simple, open-ended activity that includes a sensory component.  Today, the children used a tinker tray of loose parts with rainbow playdough.  I chose this activity because it was easy.  I already had all of the necessary components at my fingertips . I simply pulled out an old tray and filled it with bits and bobs from our art cabinet and then I dug into my playdough stash.  I keep playdough in these containers and it lasts forever!

When I am prepping an activity,  I always try to have more than what I will need.  Tired kiddos make impatient sharers, so I want to be sure to make play easy for them by having more than enough and limiting wait-time.  

I try to incorporate a sensory component to the play because it can be comforting to a child who might be feeling unsure in our home environment.  Playdough is attractive to ALMOST all four year olds.  It’s familiar and can go in any direction the children take it. 

Two More Lifesavers:

• Keep them short! A playdate for a four year old doesn't need to be longer than a hour or so.  

• ALWAYS show your guest where the potty is before you do anything else. 

Below you will find the supplies that I used in my tinker tray.  They are affiliate links.  Thank you for your support. 

Chenille Stems

Various Buttons

Colored Toothpicks

Google Eyes

For the tinker tray you could use a recyled egg carton or this one. 

The mirrors are from Ikea.

Click here for a link to my favorite playdough recipe.

How do you feel about preschool playdates? Love em' or hate em'?  Do have any advice for me about preschool playdates? Talk to me in the comments below.

Thanks for reading along!

Lizzie