Play dates. 2 words that strike fear into the hearts of so many parents. Kids love them – a chance to have friends over, show off their toys and bedrooms and play all the games they make up at school. Parents see another child to supervise, feed and entertain.
BUT! Play dates don’t have to be stressful. If you plan ahead, have some activities ready for them and try something a little bit out of the ordinary they can be, if not exactly fun, then bearable.
Get outside
Being outside diffuses a lot of the tension that can build up when kids are inside, especially if they have been at school all day and need some fresh air. Think about outdoor activities that are cheap, simple and don’t require too much adult input – so you can get on with cooking etc.
Bubbles are always a winner – kids can entertain themselves for hours on end with them. You can pick up pots of bubble mixture pretty cheaply in any supermarket, or make your own with some water and washing up liquid. Take indoor toys outside – it seems to change the dynamic slightly, and children tend to play in a very different way then they would inside. We like to take farms, wooden bricks and toy cars outside – you can play with the animals on the grass, build and knock down huge towers and build car ramps that run right across the garden.
Go sensory
Sensory play is another favourite with most children, and it doesn’t have to mean messy. We have some fail safe sensory activities that suit all ages.
Magic snow doesn’t just have to be for winter – my kids all love the stuff. You can buy it in tubes – just add water and it turns from powder to a sort of slushy feeling mush that really doesn’t make much mess at all. It’s great for just squidging, or you can drive cars in it, bury Lego people or build snowmen.
If you don’t fancy that, spend a few minutes the day before the play date and make a batch of sensory dough. Just 2 ingredients and you have some gorgeously soft, silky dough that’s much nicer than playdough, less crumbly and lasts far longer too! The possibilities with this are endless – cutting ‘biscuits’ with cookie cutters, making handprints, rolling snakes or just giving them free rein and seeing what they come up with!
Wooden toys
No matter what age the child, some of our most played with toys during play dates are the wooden ones. We have quite a collection – train sets, car and road sets, bricks, stacking blocks, animals and board games to name but a few.
As mentioned before, you can take these outside, but if the weather is grotty, as it often seems to be when you have a house full of children, then inside works just as well. Build a huge, long winding train track through the whole house – it doesn’t take long to pack away, as everything can just be chucked back into a box! Dig out the traditional board games – they are always popular, the things I remember playing as a child – think snakes and ladders, ludo and draughts. If all else fails, try some round of noughts and crosses with a pen and paper.
After all the playing, the kids want feeding. After you have negotiated the minefield of who eats what, and how they like it to look on their plate (I tend to go for spag bol, it’s always a winner) you can serve up Petits Filous Magic Squares in the knowledge that they will be well received by all. You can choose from raspberry and vanilla or strawberry and vanilla (or both) and I can pretty much guarantee that they won’t last long! The unique quadrant shape of the Petits Filous Magic Squares range creates a new eating experience and allows kids to mix up the magic. Whether they taste one flavour at a time, experiment with a mouthful of each, or totally mix it up, kids will love exploring the delicious new flavours. Not only is it great tasting, Petits Filous Magic Squares provide calcium and vitamin D for strong bones.
If you want to mix it up just a little bit more, and make yourself the coolest parent in the school playground, stick some lolly sticks in the top and serve Petits Filous Magic Squares lollies!
This post is an entry for BritMums #MagicSquaresPlaydates Linky Challenge, sponsored by Petits Filous
the frozen yoghurts are a fab idea i am going to do this for my granddaughter
Great idea the frozen yoghurts, will have to try them out
What a brilliant idea for the summer! The frozen yogurts look tasty!
I love the idea of the yogurt lollies! I get a load of plastic toys and put them in a bucket of water. Leave it over night. Makes a giant toy icecube that my son can chip away at all day! Love the summer 🙂
some good ideas thank you
Love this idea
Bubbles are such a good idea! I think getting outside is more and more important. And being seen to go outside yourself too 🙂
fab!
I held a bubble party for my child (when 6 years old). All the children loved it and it was really cheap.
I try to only have my kids friends over when its nice weather and they can play outside!!! Love the yoghurts we will be having a go at freezing some tomorrow!
I think all of these ideas are brilliant, so simple and not a pull in the purse strings and kids would just love them, I love the sensory stuff particularly the dough, all kids love play dough, I really want the recipe for the sensory dough!
Play dates are brilliant…the kids love them. The only trouble is they never want them to end and you get tantrums when they’re over 😉
the yoghurts look yummy!
What great ideas, definitely trying out the frozen yoghurt! Luke loves blowing bubbles too ! Ray xx
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Lovely photos.Sometimes it is the simple things that kiddies like eg: The bubbles.Also like your frozen yoghurt lollies will have to try that one.lol
Playdough is always a hit!
Brilliant ideas! I’m going to try some of these, will have to hold off the frozen yogurts yet as my daughter is dairy free
Fab ideas x
The yogurt lollies are a great idea. Will have to try this out 🙂
Great ideas