 Play Date Ideas
Play dates can be so much fun! They provide an opportunity for younger kids to practice social skills, for class mates to get together outside of the school hours and it certainly doesn't hurt to have coffee and get to know other parents while the kids play. Every mother knows though, that play dates can also be very demanding. Not all children get along well together and at times, if children get tired or bored, trouble strikes!
When you are new to the whole play date thing it can be a little hard to know where to start. You may be nervous about sending your child to a stranger's home, or inviting a stranger in to your home. A good place to start might be to arrange to meet your child's new friend (and there parent) at a neutral location, such as a park or playground. This way neither of you need to worry about sending there child to a home they are not familiar with.
If you orchestrate a play date at your own home, be sure not to take on more kids than you can handle. Three or four might not sound like a lot but when they are complaining they are hungry, fighting over toys and running around your house, it may become overwhelming fast. Keep this kind of thing in mind when you schedule a play date. Too many kids will not be fun for you. Also make it clear on the invitation if you expect mums to stay or to drop of and if siblings are welcomed too!
Schedule the play date for when your child is well-rested and not tired or hungry – you definitely don’t want tantrums occuring. A good time is first thing in the morning or right after your toddler's nap. Depending on your toddler’s age, an hour is usually a good length of time for a play date – you can extend it if things are going well, and of course cut it short if all hell breaks loose or one of the children starts to get tired and cranky.
Plan the day ahead and have different options ready. Although kids like to be spontaneous, it is best to be well prepared. With younger children, having a variety of activities available for them to choose from will keep them occupied and playing alongside each other without the drama that arises, when kids don’t know what to do and start getting bored. Have some colouring pencils and paper ready to use when needed. Have some play dough ready, so they can switch to after getting fed up with colouring. Keep a box of puzzle handy and so on.
Older kids don’t want to be supervised all the time, you want to allow them to feel free. With that said, you still need to keep an eye on them and make sure they are playing nicely. If you feel tension arising, suggest a switch to another game. If you are faced with a situation where full-blown drama takes over the scene, step in and suggest a group activity with you in it. This usually helps defuse the situation. Something like: Sing Along, role play or I Spy... play for 10 minutes, then leave them to it.
Explain the house rules (in short and very simple terms) to your children ahead of time, tell them how you are expecting them to behave, then re-explain the rules of nice play when friends are there. Children manage best when they are given rules. They tend to be easier to handle when they know what is allowed, and what is not acceptable. Do tell them, and remind them should the need arise.
If your child—and you—are hosting a playdate, try to prepare him in advance. For example tell your toddler that you expect him to share his toys. But stress this point: Just because the visiting friend plays with the toys doesn't mean the other toddler gets to keep them. Your child may feel more secure throughout the playdate if you keep reminding him that his toys will still be his when the playdate is over.
If you have a playdate that is close to dinner or lunch time you may not want the children to be eating snacks because they won't be hungry for the next meal. Some parents don't have a problem with meal times and others do, so make sure you are clear on whether or not children will be allowed to have a snack. When you are hosting the play date, you also need to consider the food you are serving to your little guests. Feeding other people’s children can be worrying. My approach is always: serve simple, colourful and healthy food. Here are some pointers on what to serve children on play dates:
Please do ask parents in advance if their children suffer from any food allergies or intolerances. Make sure not to serve any food containing allergens to those allergic, as this could be life threatening. Also make sure to read the labels, as you would be surprised what they can contain.
Always choose healthy foods such as vegetable sticks with hommus dip, home-made sandwiches or lunch as opposed to chicken nuggets, burgers, hotdogs... If you really must order delivery, go for healthier options such as grilled chicken, Kebabs, Grilled fish...etc
Go for water instead of juices, or offer freshly squeezed orange juice, or home-made smoothies. Do remind the children to drink water as they play.
Replace candies and processed sugars with fruits. Make some assorted fruit skewers, or fruit cubes along with a fruit yoghurt dip.
Children can be fussy eaters. Keep the food simple, just because your child eats anything s/he is served, doesn’t mean all children are the same. Keep the food simple and ask the fussy child, what s/he would like to have (other than chicken nuggets).
Not all sugary foods are bad for you. Home-made Muffins and cupcakes are a great snack and can be very healthy. Provided they are not topped with layers of icing and frosting, and that little sugar is used in making them, muffins and cupcakes are an excellent snack - usually containing milk, egg, fruits...etc. You can even make these with the children as an activity, and offer it to them later for a snack or even to take home and share with their mum and dad.
If you are still confused as to what food to serve on play dates, here are some inspirations. These are very popular, healthy and safe dishes for kids: Main Meal: Spaghetti Bolognese, Chicken Pasta Salad, Home-made Spring Rolls alongside baked fish fillets (check with parents for allergies), Home-made Pizza (with healthy tomato sauce and vegetables), Roasted chicken with baked potatoes, Meat & Vegetable Stews alongside some rice, Oven Baked Breaded chicken tenders, Steak and mashed potatoes, Lasagne, Ratatouille Tartlets & steak, and you can always go for home-made healthy sandwiches alongside a salad...etc Snacks & Desserts: Apple cinnamon cupcakes without the frosting. Muffins, Vegetable sticks with hommus dips (cucumber, carrots, bell peppers...), rice cakes topped with labneh, bread sticks with minted labneh dip, sweet corn cups, small sandwich of choice, fresh fruit salad without the nuts and spices, fruit cubes or skewers with fruit yoghurt dip.
Hope this helps you in planning your children’s play dates. These little get togethers are your childrens introduction to future hosting, socialising and adopting acceptable social behaviour. They are therefore not to be missed out on. A little bit of planning, goes a long way, and makes this a joyful experience for everyone. Don’t forget that your children are watching, so lead by example
Recipe: Stuffed Baked Potatoes
Bake - enough potatoes to feed everyone – by wrapping each potato with foil and placing in preheated oven till tender inside. Once the potatoes are baked, cut them in half and scoop the flesh out, reserving the skin to be refilled. In a bowl, mash the scooped out flesh together with enough butter and milk to create Mash consistency. Sprinkle all with paprika, and grated parmesan cheese and mix. Spoon the mash back into the reserved skins, top with shredded cheddar cheese and put back in the oven. Bake till cheese is melted. Serve the potatoes alongside roasted chicken.
Have a lovely time!
  Dima Sharif is a food artisan and gourmet chef. Her inherent passion for food and food preparation, stemming from absorbing her mother’s love of cooking and watching her involvement in a number of cookery and cake decorating classes, inevitably changed her career path and plunged her into the world of food and entertainment.
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