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
Freezing the Petits Filous is a great idea, I’m definitely going to do this when my nieces and nephews stay over!
HOW I WEAR | A Manchester Style & Beauty Blog
Nisha recently posted…THE SUNDAY POST #18
What fabulous ideas to occupy little minds, and those little lollys look yummy.
Angela
Angela – Garden Tea Cakes and Me recently posted…Cornwall Adventures – Discovering the Lost Gardens of Heligan
I enjoyed reading about how you have fun. Commenting for myself and on behalf of BritMums and thanking you for taking part.
oohh i love the idea of the frozen Petits Filous i
angela hamilton recently posted…The Government’s Plans
What great ideas…..Especially those ice lollies! I will have to try that x
Kim Carberry recently posted…Why my tween doesn’t like me….
At what age do children start having play dates? These ideas seem great if you have a garden and are not a hoarder! Better move and sort some stuff out sooner rather than later 😉
Love the ice lollies – definately trying them!
some great ideas here will be trying the frozen yoghurts one
I do enjoy reading your posts, thanks xx
Good idea’s especially like the frozen petis filous will have to try with my little sister
Lots of great ideas there! Love the frozen yogurts
Previous generations were used to allowing children to play together sharing toys, time together, snacks etc. It is always worthwhile to have age / stage appropriate toys, games, snacks etc. Childcare can be fun on occasions, as it is nice to see children interact, learn and develop. Whilst it is important to be aware of Health and Safety.
some great ideas there
Wow they make brilliant looking lollies! Might have to try this, I took my – I mean the children’s petits filous to the beach to make a sandcastle out of them…in public…alone *The Shame* ha, Stevie x
A Cornish Mum recently posted…Photos of Cornwall – Darren Strick
Cool
I love the ice lolly idea, I will definitely try that!! 🙂
How cute!
Some great ideas will be trying some of these with my daughter
Love the idea of Petits Filous Magic Squares lollies, will make some of those for my grandson although I’m sure he’ll end up in a lovely mess eating it 🙂 x
some great ideas