hosting a playdate at my house

I've never hosted a playdate for our twins group before & it's been awhile since we've been to one that was in a home. I think most of the kids are about 2-3 yrs old. Any suggestions on what I should do? Just bring out the toys & relax? Try to have an activity? What about snacks??

tia!

 

Personally I wouldn't do an activity. I would have some snacks available for kids and also adults. Mostly, wh en I've done playdates we try to just sit and relax while the kids play. It's for us (the adults) as much as it is for the kids!

Good luck!

 

We usually just let them play, keep some coffee or tea around for the mommies, and some juice boxes and fruit snacks for the kiddos. Have fun!

 

We just had a playdate at our hosue for the twins group last weekend. but ours are younger 10-15 month old twins.
I had age appropriate snacks for the babies (cheerios, puffs etc) and we had a potluck for the adults. I made a maindish and everyone brought something it was fab!

I pulled all the kids toys out and Just sat and had a great time! Try to relax, go with it, and if you have time I vouche for the potluck -- its always easier when everyone pitches in!

L(

 

We have a neighborhood playdate once a week and the ages range from 18 months to ours at 4 years old. We just clear an area for the children to play (move coffee table) and I bring down a variety of toys in bins:
books in one
soft toys in another
misc small toys
We put a few puzzles on tables
Bring out a few bigger toys like the kitchen or easel for older children or Learning House/Incrediblock for younger.

This way the children rotate to different toys within the same area so parents can watch but relax and talk.

I just usually have available water and coffee. Cut fruit, goldfish for children. I baked before but for our group the parents were more interested in just chatting.

Have Fun!

 

We do a weekly playgroup with friends. An easy "crafty" things to do with kids that age is stickers. You can do the foam ones on something (from Walmart- hat, door hanger, etc) or get a giant piece of butcher paper and do it on the floor. This is fairly non-messy and is nice to hang with the kids and hand stickers and chat. Another one I have done with success is sugar cookies and different colored icings. It's more messy and sugary but the kids really do like it. As long as nobody is totally anti-sugar or has issues with messy kids and house. Try to wait until the snack-time and drag it all out for about 20 minutes. Hmmm, other things, glue activities are sort of fun. Once we "made" a seasonal themed place mat with stuff already cut out and then the hostess got them laminated. Dress up is fun for this age - maybe drag out a bunch of hats and shoes and scarves and old halloween costumes.

Otherwise, just chill and play referee! Often times the child whose house it is has to adjust to others playing with "their" toys. Twins may be different, I mostly had issues with my firstborn. Another thing I always clean my house and it does end up getting fairly trashed. We always help put the toys away but still, just be prepared for a few thing to get broken or messy. It seems the bathroom gets a workout!

This is such a healthy thing for you to do. It is so nice to hang and talk with other moms and dads. Good luck!!!
Merijo

 

QUOTE(E&Msmom @ Feb 14 2009, 11:47 PM) [snapback]1190423[/snapback]
We just had a playdate at our hosue for the twins group last weekend. but ours are younger 10-15 month old twins.
I had age appropriate snacks for the babies (cheerios, puffs etc) and we had a potluck for the adults. I made a maindish and everyone brought something it was fab!

I pulled all the kids toys out and Just sat and had a great time! Try to relax, go with it, and if you have time I vouche for the potluck -- its always easier when everyone pitches in!

L(


This is what we do. So nice to just let them play and interact while the adults get to talk! Have fun!

 

Make sure there is a large area cleared for all the kids. I've been to one house where the kids played in the hallway because it was less cluttered. You don't need every toy out.

Coffee and Tea ready to go for the adults. Make sure you have areas for them to put their hot drinks so the kids cant' get at them. Plus one or two cold options plus ice water.

See if anyone has allergies -- but always best to have a peanut free food.

Simple snacks for the kids (cheese, fruit, cherrios, arrowroot cookies, etc.) and some cookies or cake for the adults.

Try to set up the kitchen for feeding. have some wipes handy. You might want to ask someone to bring their booster chairs for extra feeding stations. I can accommodate 4 babies to be fed in my kitchen. Plus bumbos can be used as well to feed.

Keep it as simple as possible and I set everything up on the kitchen table the night before -- plastic plates, cutlery, mugs for coffee, etc. that way in the morning I didnt' have to do anything.

Heather

 

I would keep it simple. Depending on the time of day have snacks for kids and adults (fruit, crackers, veggies) and just let the kids play with their toys while the adults enjoy some company.

 

thanks everyone! I stocked up yesterday on fruit snacks & juice boxes. (well, I got capri suns, but they're 100% juice.) I didn't think to get bottled water; I probably should get some. I've got lot of apples, oranges & blueberries on hand. The playdate is 10:30-12:30. I really don't know how many will show; I live further out than most of the families.

 

If your kids have any special toys that they will not want to share, put them away before company comes over

 

Don't go too crazy Naomi. It's not always necessary to have planned activities for playdates. In fact, it can be very stresful at times. I would say just put on a pot of coffee and hot water for tea, have a bottle of apple juice (ask everyone to bring their own sippy cups or you can do box juices if you are comfortable with that) and have maybe two or three different snack choices for the kids (gold fish crackers, some cut up apples or other fruit, and some yogurt raisins or fruit snacks or whatever). For the mothers, just some veggies and dip or bagels and cream cheese or something of that matter. The kids will be more than entertained with the toys you have because many of them will be toys that the other kids don't have so they will be very excited and preoccupied. Just let the kids do their thing and you can sit and relax and talk with the mothers (when you are not busy breaking up a fight or something ).

I have had 6 sets of twins in my house and everyone seems to get along well. They are so busy doing their own things since parallel play still dominates the way they play and the mothers get to sit and relax and have some good conversation (for the most part ).

Have fun!


OOPS!! I think I"m too late with this post? Sorry, hope it went well LOL

 

How'd it go Naomi??

QUOTE(Tivanni @ Feb 15 2009, 01:24 PM) [snapback]1190947[/snapback]
We have a neighborhood playdate once a week and the ages range from 18 months to ours at 4 years old.

I think that is so nice! Wish there were more kids in my area to do that.

 

We were supposed to have V-Day Cupcake Party last Friday but had to postpone it until yesterday. The twins' were 1-2 years old and only one set of twins' were 6 months old. I host it from 11:30 to 1:30 PM during lunch time.

Mom's Menu:
Chicken Stir Fry (cold salad at the Jewel)
New York Pizza bread sticks (frozen section at Jewel)
Water bottles

Toddlers Menu:
Spinach/cheese pizza on whole wheat bagel (fresh bagels at Panera Bread store)
Capi-Sun 100% juice
Fruit salad

Dessert:
Homemade cupcakes (yellow cake with pink frosting)
Passed out their V-Day treat bag

Tip: If you can afford those lovely 3 tray warmers for all of your future playdates are wonderful to use to keep food warm. One thing I didn't do is save one of my extrasaucer for those twins' mom who still have the little ones. I am in process of buying a used one no more than $10 dollars through craig list. It'll come in handy for those playdate. I would make sure that all of the Moms stay informed about any food allergy.

My next playdate will be brunch from 9:30 to 12:00 PM coming up soon. I have those 3 tray warmer that is fantastic to use for playdates. In the 3 tray will be sausage/patties, scrambles eggs w/cheese, and french toast for the little ones. For the Moms I offer coffee/water along with my serving food.

Have fun!
RJ

 

QUOTE(Sullyirishtwins @ Feb 17 2009, 08:05 AM) [snapback]1193172[/snapback]
We were supposed to have V-Day Cupcake Party last Friday but had to postpone it until yesterday. The twins' were 1-2 years old and only one set of twins' were 6 months old. I host it from 11:30 to 1:30 PM during lunch time.

Mom's Menu:
Chicken Stir Fry (cold salad at the Jewel)
New York Pizza bread sticks (frozen section at Jewel)
Water bottles

Toddlers Menu:
Spinach/cheese pizza on whole wheat bagel (fresh bagels at Panera Bread store)
Capi-Sun 100% juice
Fruit salad

Dessert:
Homemade cupcakes (yellow cake with pink frosting)
Passed out their V-Day treat bag

Tip: If you can afford those lovely 3 tray warmers for all of your future playdates are wonderful to use to keep food warm. One thing I didn't do is save one of my extrasaucer for those twins' mom who still have the little ones. I am in process of buying a used one no more than $10 dollars through craig list. It'll come in handy for those playdate. I would make sure that all of the Moms stay informed about any food allergy.

My next playdate will be brunch from 9:30 to 12:00 PM coming up soon. I have those 3 tray warmer that is fantastic to use for playdates. In the 3 tray will be sausage/patties, scrambles eggs w/cheese, and french toast for the little ones. For the Moms I offer coffee/water along with my serving food.

Have fun!
RJ


darn! Can I come to your house for a play date?? I love breaskfast food!!

 

QUOTE(twoplustwo @ Feb 17 2009, 11:07 AM) [snapback]1193178[/snapback]
darn! Can I come to your house for a play date?? I love breaskfast food!!


You took the words right out of my mouth Alison (except I was going to say "D*mn!")!

 

QUOTE(Leighann @ Feb 17 2009, 08:14 AM) [snapback]1193193[/snapback]
You took the words right out of my mouth Alison (except I was going to say "D*mn!")!

:laughing: I was going to say that first but changed it!

 

In the past I get rave about doing these breakfast brunch. The last time I did breakfast was using one of those mini baker cupcakes to use for my mini egg casserole. It is easier for the little ones with hands and to bite in as a lot of time they are still in-training with fork/spoon dropping their food off the floor.

Menu:
Mini Egg Casserole (sage sausage breakfast, chopped finely green peppers, and eggs when it get closer to cook through -- I add on shredded cheese)
Fresh Orange (peel and slice)
Water/Coffee (I do the flavors ones) set out for the Moms

I also do Mom IN/Playgroup Dinner which have a playdate from 4:00 to 7:30 PM. For those of us who have husbands work late and there are so many of us want to pitch in for hosting those dinner night without having to cook for themselves. We do this every other month.

Past Menu:
Mexican theme w/Taco chicken/beef with spanish rice and rice pudding for dessert (trick is using torilla bowl chips (store brought) and use that as 'taco' with shredded cheese on it. The kids get to learn how to 'dip' than using a regular taco torillas.

Baseball theme (in the summer) let the kids run around for half hour before dinner start I serve corn dogs and/or hot dogs w/pita chips (healthy) with potoate salad

Italian theme
They now sell those mini pastas (varies of them) by Barilla with mini meatballs by Prego
For the Moms I do just those regular sizes meatballs in the crockpit mixed with whatever sauce you like to go with salad/garlic breads

Best to serve all the time for your future playdates is those yummy fruit salsa either serve with cinnamon chips, graham crackers, or those whole wheat cinnamon that you seen at the store. Those are healthy version for fruit side dish. *Trader Joes' have those yummy cinnamon pita chips

I hope these help for all of your yummy future playdates. I get creative because I want the constantly go with themes where they bring in their little ones with pajams for breakfast, baseball shirts, and etc. I am an organizer for a twins' group. I get positive feedback from everyone.

I do a lot of search by checking out at Barnes and Noble to look up kid's menu.
RJ