A structure of a play date is
really up to a hosting parent, who decides what and where the children will
play (a playground, garden, park, museum, or home), whether they will play on their own just under some supervision or if an
activity/project is going to be set and offered. The main thing is that the
children get to play together. From my experience some careful planning can
make play dates more likely to be successful and enjoyable for all participants.
This includes keeping a play date short (90 minutes up to two hours),
providing a healthy snack, so the kids can watch and learn manners and try new food
they wouldn’t even touch at home, choosing kids that genuinely like each other,
sticking to a small group up to four, and putting aside toys that might cause
sharing problems. Even young children can benefit from play dates. Infants and toddlers
might play side by side, commonly known as a parallel play. This is an important
stage in peer relationships. As they get older, they will start to play more
together and practice such things as sharing and speaking their minds instead
of hitting.
You wonder how parents will benefit from a play
date? They can meet other families with whom they can become friends, brainstorm
some ideas or watch own child how does he make a new friend and act in a
group.
When you arrange a play date don't
overplan - stay simple. For example, when a playdate is happening at home get out clothes for a dress up, an old bed sheet to
play a parachute, some puppets, let them set up a store with things to sell and play
money; give them some space, some papers, crayons, glue and let them be creative. Make sure to ask the kids what they'd like to do. Make them feel a part of the
planning. Be prepared to introduce something new, especially if an activity doesn't
appeal to one of the kids. Get some print outs in advance as a back up plan. For worksheets’ and printable go to http://www.education.com/worksheets/
Soon after the playmates arrive,
talk about what the rules are in your home. Tell what is OK and what is not.,
e.g. if they are they allowed to take what they want out of the kitchin, play with the water, turn
on the computer, etc. Make sure your child takes some responsibility for his
friend. Don't allow any physical fighting - that would be when you might want to
separate the kids for a short time. If these are very young kids, 3 and
under, you should be in the same room. If they are older, 5 to 10, it's
still a good idea to stay within earshot. Plan your schedule so you're fully
available. You may be called upon to be referee, or at the very least, activity
director. For the activities go to http://www.education.com/activity/
“…Here are just a few of the proven scientific
benefits of letting our kids get messy and doing something besides
clicking those darn keypads and video controllers and paper and pencil tasks:
1. Play boosts children’s
creativity and imagination. Play gives children the chance to invent,
build, expand, explore and develop a whole different part of the brain.
2.
Play stretches our children’s attention span. Playing outdoors just 30 minutes
a day increases child’s ability to focus and pay attention.
3. Play and rough-housing boost
boys’ problem solving abilities. The more elementary school-boys engaged
in rough-housing, the better they scored on a test of social problem
solving. (Don’t ya love that one!)
4. Play boosts self-confidence
and self-regulation. Kids learn to become masters of their own destiny
without an adult directing, pushing, managing or scheduling.
5. Play forges friendships,
strengthens social competence and teaches social skills. Undirected play
allows kids to learn how to work in groups, share, negotiate, communicate and
develop core social skills they need not only now but for the rest of their
lives.
6. Play helps kids learn to enjoy
just being in their own company, entertain themselves and develop
identity. Ease that guilt when your kid says, “I’m bored, Mom!”
7. Play reduces children’s
anxiety and diminishes stress. A study published in the Journal of
Child Psychology and Psychiatry shows that play is also critical for our
children’s emotional health because it helps kids work through anxiety and
reduce stress.
8.
Play creates joyful memories of childhood. Come on, no kid is going to
remember the car pools and worksheets but the swings, jumping in leaves,
playing leapfrog in the mud, blowing bubbles, building forts–those are the
unforgettable childhood moments. Sigh!
9. Play boosts physical health
and reduces risk of obesity. Henry Joseph Legere, MD, author
of Raising Healthy Eaters points out: “Rises in screen time have led
to the rise of a sedentary lifestyle for our children. In 1982, the childhood
obesity prevalence in the United
States
9. Play expands our kids minds
and neurological development. Self-initiated play improve skills such as
guessing, figuring, interpreting and is important to brain development and
learning
10. Play builds new competencies,
leadership skills, teaches lifelong hobbies, and develops
resilience. “Play is what allows kids to manipulate their environment,”
says a report written by Kenneth Ginsburg, M.D. of the AAP, “And how you
manipulate your environment is about how you begin to take control, how you
begin to develop your senses, how you view the world.”
11. Play nurtures the
parent-child bond. Child-driven play also improves our parent-kid
relationship. Play offers a wonderful opportunity for parents to see the world
from our children’s eyes as well as strengthen our relationship when we join
in." To read more go to
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