By Tori Spelling, Mom to Liam and Stella
Table
Of
COnTenTs
sTeP#1: Plan aHeaD fOR fUn Page 2
sTeP#2: ensURe enTeRTainmenT Page 3
fOR all ages
Play DaTe-THemeD aCTiviTies
• For Boys: Swashbuckling Pirates Page 4
• For Girls: Springtime in the Garden Page 5
bUilDing blOCKs fOR Page 6
Play DaTe sUCCess
sTeP#3: PRePaRe fOR a Page 8
snaCK aTTaCK
sTeP#4: maKe gOOD-bye easy Page 8
COnTaCT infORmaTiOn Page 9
inTRODUCTiOn
As the mother to a one-year-old son, Liam, and a newborn daughter,
Stella, I know how important playtime is to their social development,
especially as Liam gets older. Creating opportunities for kids to get
together with friends allows them to do what they do best…play! In
a world jam-packed with lessons and appointments, play dates can
be one of the simplest, most enjoyable pleasures in life for young
children. And, organizing a play date is a great way for parents to
connect and make friends!
Hosting a play date for your children and their friends can be fun…
and easy! That’s why I’m partnering with the folks at Mott’s to share
my own personal tips for hosting fun, safe and enjoyable play dates
for your little ones. So from my home to yours, I hope you find these
pointers useful.
On behalf of myself and Mott’s for Tots, happy play date planning!
Tori Spelling
Mom to Liam and Stella
1
fOUR easy
sTePs TO a fUn
Play DaTe
1
Plan aHeaD fOR fUn
Having hosted countless play dates for Liam, I can tell you that the best way
to make sure your kids get the most from their experience is to plan ahead.
Make a Connection: When picking a play date playmate, talk to
your child about their friends and check out who your child likes to
spend time with, whether it’s a neighbor or a classmate. Ask your
child who they like to play with and why. For toddlers, ask moms with
children around the same age as your own who you’d like to get to
know better. After all, why should the kids get to have all the fun?!
Be in the Know: Do a little digging about the kiddos you’re having
over by asking their parents some key questions about allergies
and special rules they might have. For example, does your child’s
playmate have any food or pet allergies? Medications they need
to take? Are they allowed to watch TV or play video games?
Offer information about your home and encourage them to ask
questions, too.
Be Specific: On your mark, get set…play! Set yourself up for
a really great play date by earmarking a start and end time.
Schedule the first one for an hour or two maximum. (You don’t
want the fun to fizzle because the tykes are getting tired, do you?)
And if the kids are full of energy and having a blast, you can
always let them play a little longer. If you’re running short on time,
just plan the next play date for the near future. It’s something you
and your child can look forward to!
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Make a List: Once the play date is set, make a quick list of
everything you’ll need for that day. Here’s a sample check list:
I also like to get my living room, kitchen and backyard in tip-top
shape. And don’t forget to call or e-mail a parent of your child’s
2
guest a few days before to touch base and confirm that the play
date is still on!
ensURe enTeRTainmenT fOR all ages
Play dates should be fun for all, so here’s a roundup of suggestions I put
together to make sure everyone has a great time:
Invite Parents In: Help new guests get a sense of their play date
surroundings. Invite the other parents in for coffee. This will help
their child get more acclimated, feel secure and get comfy. Plus, it’s
a great excuse to get to know your new friend better.
Let Kids Rule: The most important part of any play date is, well,
playtime! Let your child decide what the game plan is and try (hard
as it might be) to resist the temptation to be the play “director.” If
you see kids getting bored, just break out a few extra games or toys.
Limit TV!: I like to try to limit the TV time. Play dates are a great
excuse to get kids moving around! I try to have lots of toys and
games that are all about active play. Game of Frisbee, anyone?
Pick a Theme: Jazz up your play date by picking a theme. It will
keep you organized and help drum up fun activities for your next
play date. Plus, the kids will have a blast. Try these: swashbuckling
pirates and springtime in the garden. But this is just a start. The
possibilities for themes are endless and stretch as far as your – and
your child’s – imagination will go! 3
Play DaTe-
THemeD aCTiviTies
fOR bOys: swasHbUCKling PiRaTes
THe DéCOR
• Blue bed sheets (scatter them around the play area to create an “ocean” of fun)
• A row of sofa cushions or pillows that will form “the boat”
• Sea shells
THe fOOD
• Goldfish-shaped crackers
• Cutouts of star-shaped pieces of bread, cheese and fruit
• Slices of banana (pretend they’re gold coins)
• Mott’s for Tots juice
THe aCTiviTies
• Make an Ocean in a Bottle
Take an empty two-liter plastic bottle that has been rinsed, dried and removed of its labels,
and fill it halfway with tap water. Let the kids add a few drops of blue food coloring and
some glitter to the bottle and have them stir it up with a straw or by gently rolling the bottle
between their hands. Help them insert tiny seashells and plastic sea creatures into the
bottle. From there, fill the bottle the rest of the way with clear
vegetable or mineral oil. Glue the cap on with white craft
glue. (Hint: Make sure the rim and cap are dry before
gluing.) For extra protection, use a glue gun to
apply hot glue around the outer edge of the
cap. Once the glue is dry, the kids can take turns
rocking the bottle back and forth on its side to
create waves inside their ocean in a bottle!
• Drawing Parrots
Print out a picture of a parrot and give kids a piece of
paper and something to draw and color with. Ask
them to create their own bird and give it a name.
• Treasure Hunt
Hide a stuffed animal somewhere within the
designated play area. Plant clues in different
locations that ultimately lead to the “buried
treasure.” Give the kids the map and watch
them discover endless fun together.
Ideas adapted from www.funplaydates.com
4 and www.parenting.com
Play DaTe-
THemeD aCTiviTies
fOR giRls: sPRingTime in THe gaRDen
THe DéCOR
• Use green or floral-pattern bed sheets and pillows to create an outdoor oasis
• Real or plastic flowers and plants
THe fOOD
• Colorful fruits and berries
• Assorted tea sandwiches (cut a regular sandwich into quarters to make the perfect
bite-size treats)
• Mott’s for Tots juice
THe aCTiviTies
• Tea Time
Assemble some stuffed animals and your guests for a tea party. Even parents can join in!
• Flower Petal Path
Give the kids markers and crayons and have them draw flowers that they can cut out
and scatter around their play area.
• Ladybug Paperweights
Give the kids smooth flat stones that they can paint with red and black paint.
Help them add the finishing touch by gluing the “googly” eyes in place!
Ideas adapted from www.funplaydates.com
and www.parenting.com
5
bUilDing blOCKs
fOR Play DaTe
sUCCess
bUilDing blOCKs fOR Play DaTe sUCCess… Playing niCe
It’s inevitable. At some point, the little ones are going to have little arguments.
And with older children, it’s usually over one of the kids’ favorite toys. To
prevent squabbles, I suggest talking to your children before the play date to
find out which toys are special to them. This will help you get a sense of which
ones might cause some trouble. And before the play date begins, tuck those
toys away. You may also want to ask your guests to bring one or two of their
own toys or games to play with. The more, the merrier, right? And when it
comes to tiffs, try to monitor the conversations but stay out of the picture.
Of course, there are times when the adults need to step in, but I think it’s a
good exercise for the kiddos to talk things through.
bUilDing blOCKs fOR Play DaTe sUCCess…
Playing safe
A fun game of hide-and-seek can take a turn for
the worse if kids end up in places where they shouldn’t
be. I recommend keeping these things in mind to
keep tykes safe when hosting your own play date.
I encourage you to also raise these points when you
get play date invitations from new parents. I sure do.
• If you have a pool, make sure there’s a gate in place
or supervision of the area.
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bUilDing blOCKs fOR
Play DaTe sUCCess continued
• Some parts of your house
might not be safe for
children to play around,
like rooms undergoing
construction or remodeling,
staircases and tool sheds. To be safe,
tell your child and their friends that these
areas are off-limits.
• If you have medicine or firearms in
the house, make sure they’re tucked
away in safe places where little ones can’t
get to them. As the saying goes, an ounce of
prevention is worth a pound of cure.
bUilDing blOCKs fOR Play DaTe sUCCess…
Playing inDOORs
I think Liam has the best time when he’s playing outside. The sun. The
fresh air. The freedom to run around. But Mother Nature doesn’t always
cooperate, so I always have a backup plan in case it starts raining or
gets too cold. Here are some ways you can keep your kids entertained
if they need to play indoors.
• Jigsaw Puzzles: These keep Liam and his friends giggling for minutes
at a time, especially when they’re stuck indoors.
• Get Crafty: Have a few ideas – and supplies – handy for arts and crafts.
For recent co-ed play dates, I put out sheets of paper and stickers so
Liam and his friend could have fun creating a collage. Crayons and
large sheets of paper can also be a boredom-buster when it rains. With
a few supplies and your imagination, you’ll be surprised how time will
fly for the kids and how happy they’ll be staying inside.
• Story Time: Grab a tape recorder and let the kids take turns telling
one of their favorite stories in their own words. After they’re done,
play it back and hear the laughter roar.
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3
PRePaRe fOR a snaCK aTTaCK
One thing is always a given: kids work up a big-time appetite when they play!
And come to think of it, so do the parents who stay for the play date. Here are
my surefire tips to making sure the kids – and adults – don’t run out of steam:
Serve a Variety of Healthy and Kid-Friendly Snacks: Whole-wheat
crackers, single-serve Mott’s apple sauce, and fruit, baby carrots
and other veggies cut up for small fingers to hold are the perfect
fare for kids to nibble on to stay energized. Want to sprinkle even
more fun on snack time? Use cookie cutters on cheese slices or a
pairing knife on fruits and veggies to create fun and exciting shapes
kids will love to eat.
Offer Healthy Beverage Choices: Select drinks with little-to-no
sugar like Mott’s for Tots or water. Mott’s for Tots is a yummy blend
of fruit juice and water. It has 40% less sugar than regular apple
juice and has more than 100% of your kids’ Daily Value of Vitamin C.
And, it comes in four delicious flavors!
Parents Need to Eat Too, You Know!: Parents, especially ones with
children under the age of three, often stick around for entire play dates.
4
Have coffee, drinks, fruit, cheese or other light snacks ready for them.
maKe gOOD-bye easy
Saying goodbye to friends can be hard for kids, especially when they’re
having a great time. Make the transition easier for them by keeping these
three C’s in mind:
Count Down: For older kids, give them a “countdown.”
Signal that the play date is coming to a close by giving them
a heads-up 15 minutes before it’s about to end.
Clean Up: As the play date winds down, have children straighten
up their play area by putting away games, markers, etc. Even
toddlers can help pick up toys. This provides a cue to kids that
the play date is wrapping up. Plus, it teaches teamwork and
responsibility, while reinforcing good habits.
Chat: Before parting ways, ask the youngsters what they had the
most fun doing. What did they like or dislike? Having kids share
their experience brings closure to the play date. It also arms you
with important information for planning your next one.
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COnTaCT infORmaTiOn
Keeping track of parent contact information for your children’s playmates is very important – both
in case of emergency and for scheduling future play dates. Use this handy sheet to keep track of all
the information you need to make every play date a success.
special notes
emergency Contact (Hint: include notes on games
name number allergies & Rules
name & number played, snacks served, ideas
for next time, etc.)
Fire Department:
Police Department:
Poison Control:
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