https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sat, 11 Apr 2026 23:01:26 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-a-play-date#post-2630889 Mon, 03 Oct 2016 10:45:02 +0000 snowjewelz 2630889@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>At this age (DD is 22 months), play dates are always for both kids/parents since I obviously won't leave her there! It can initiate on both sides... We often have play dates with my SIL's kids, we text often to see when we're free and what we wanna do with the kids. Friends &amp; I also text each other randomly and plan get togethers. </p> <p>Most of the time it's at someone's house unless we're meeting up at an event (fair, apple picking, pumpkin patch, park, etc).</p> <p>Usually a few hours since DD still naps and we have a strict bed time. </p> <p>There's not really structured activities and aside from snacks, we would've made plans whether or not we'd be having a meal together (at home or out). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-a-play-date#post-2630118 Fri, 30 Sep 2016 14:58:08 +0000 daniellemybelle 2630118@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think it changes as kids get older. When LO was a baby and small toddler, playdates were more for me to get socialization with other moms. Now that's she's turning 3, she expresses who she wants to play with (from school or other friends) and I will set it up.</p> <p>We go to a park, an indoor play place, a restaurant with a playscape, or one of our houses. Usually lasts 1-2 hours. I have provided snacks at our house but usually each parent brings snacks/lunch for their own kid. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-a-play-date#post-2630072 Fri, 30 Sep 2016 13:42:08 +0000 Boogs 2630072@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@looch: That's exactly what we did! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-a-play-date#post-2630012 Fri, 30 Sep 2016 12:32:34 +0000 looch 2630012@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Boogs: I think kids are more scheduled these days. When I was growing up, I didn't do any afterschool activities. I did play an instrument, but that was through the school and I did dance, but that was for a short period (like 4th-5th grade). I played with the kids that lived near us and didn't really do any playdates ever. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-a-play-date#post-2629969 Fri, 30 Sep 2016 11:27:44 +0000 Boogs 2629969@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@looch: It's new to me because we only did it with cousins when I was growing up. I had a single parent and there wasn't time for stuff like that, so we would spend any extra time with family or we would be with them because they were helping to care for us. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-a-play-date#post-2629958 Fri, 30 Sep 2016 11:19:35 +0000 looch 2629958@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@SugarplumsMom: Did you ever go to someone's house to play, or have a school friend come over to your house as a kid? </p> <p>Now, kids do things in addition to that, they might meet at a common place, like a playground, museum, etc. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-a-play-date#post-2629892 Fri, 30 Sep 2016 09:37:12 +0000 Boogs 2629892@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@SugarplumsMom: Great question! It's not something that I did growing up, so it's such a different concept for me. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-a-play-date#post-2629849 Fri, 30 Sep 2016 08:48:59 +0000 raspberries 2629849@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Playdates for us aren't really structured around activities or food - it's more casual than that. It'd be like inviting someone over to your house, letting the kids play with the toys that are there while the parents stay nearby. One of the parents will initiate at daycare pick-up/drop-off, or via FB message, most often. Most of the conversation at the actual play date seems to be kid-centric - talking about products you like, challenges you're having, crazy things your kids do. They last for a couple hours until someone starts to get cranky. Usually, if I'm hosting a playdate, I'll make sure I have goldfish or cheese sticks on hand for the kids, but most moms will bring a snack of their own for their kid. I have one mom-friend who always brings Munchkins from Dunkin Donuts, but otherwise, there's not really food for the adults. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-a-play-date#post-2629743 Fri, 30 Sep 2016 06:12:35 +0000 LomaLinda 2629743@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>In my experience, a play date is me or another mom reaching out to one another(usually by text message), saying "Hey, let's get together to let the kids play!" picking a date to meet up that works for us, and then deciding what we want to do. Sometimes the idea of what to do is proposed first ("Hey, I've been thinking of taking the kids to the zoo, want to come with us?") or ideas are tossed around after we've decided to meet up. Once a date and activity (usually zoo, park, or just meeting up at my house or her house) is chosen we'll pick a time, typically mid morning. Normally an end time isn't given because it's just understood that the play date ends when the kids start getting cranky or if one of the parents has something else to do (an errand or appointment, etc). Usually they last about two hours. And for me as a stay at home mom, play dates are always an excuse for me to socialize with other moms while the kids are playing! :happy: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-a-play-date#post-2629730 Fri, 30 Sep 2016 04:50:38 +0000 T.H.O.U. 2629730@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@SugarplumsMom: for something like that I would think the parents would be more engaged with the kids. So an activity for everyone to do together would be fun. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-a-play-date#post-2629718 Fri, 30 Sep 2016 01:52:45 +0000 SugarplumsMom 2629718@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@T.H.O.U.: For the play dates for the kids, what do you do with their parents while they play? Just regular entertaining (if it's at your home)? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-a-play-date#post-2629713 Fri, 30 Sep 2016 01:37:13 +0000 T.H.O.U. 2629713@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I've done both. Play dates for the kids and play dates for the adults. It just depends what you want to do. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-a-play-date#post-2629712 Fri, 30 Sep 2016 01:32:37 +0000 SugarplumsMom 2629712@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Please explain what a play date is. I get that parents schedule a date for their kids to play with each other, but I don't exactly know how it's supposed to work. Is the focus mainly for the kids or is it more an excuse for the parents to socialize? </p> <p>It's not something people do in my neck of the woods. We live next to the biggest playground in our town. I've never seen parents huddled together while their kids play. It's a small town, so the most I've seen are 2 other families there at the same time, but no one ever knows each other and everyone's usually just busy watching and playing with their own kids. </p> <p>Please explain how a typical play date works.<br /> - Who initiates? How?<br /> - Where do you go?<br /> - How long does it usually last?<br /> - Do you bring your own activities?<br /> - Is it typical to bring food? </p>