While we absolutely love summer break, we hate hearing our kids complain of boredom. No matter how many fun activities we plan, vacations we take, or summer camps we sign them up for, they still seem to “be bored.” Hence the importance of planning playdate activities for kids this summer to give them an opportunity to “not be bored” with other kids.
5 Summer Playdate Must-Haves
With the heat and sunshine, there are a few things you need to do to make a kids playdate easier for everyone involved.
- Water
- Sunscreen
- Snacks
- A Smile
- A Plan
A playdate does not have to involve a lot of extravagant work. If we’re honest, kids can come up with most of the fun on their own. But, with a little bit of planning, your summer playdate plans will make summer better for everyone.
10 Ideas for Kids Playdates This Summer
- Park Hop. Summer is the perfect time to visit a new park. Make plans with other parents to share park hopping duties this summer. All you need to do is transport the kids there, make sure you have a bag with the supplies mentioned above, sit in the shade, and relax while the kids play.
- Cooking Adventure. Allow kids to make lunch or dinner from start to finish. The little chefs will have a blast, and you will be off cooking duty for a day.
- Outdoor Scavenger Hunt. Print out an outdoor scavenger hunt, give kids a set perimeter and watch them explore. You can find over 30 outdoor scavenger hunts on Buggy and Buddy.
- Throwback Playdate. If you want to keep a group of kids busy for hours, then plan an old-school playdate. Turn on the sprinklers, fill up some water balloons, and set out the sidewalk chalk.
- Crafting Extravaganza. Have kids show off their artistic and creative sides with a crafting play date. Whether you choose to have kids paint rocks to place in area playgrounds or decorate birdhouses, the kids are sure to have a colorful time.
- DIY Drive-In Movie. Invite the neighborhood kids over for a drive-in movie. Allow kids to create their own cardboard cars and follow these instructions on Red Tricycle for how anyone can turn their backyard into a drive-in theatre using their cell phone as a projector.
- Bubble Bonanza. Bubbles are magical, and there are tons of ways you can incorporate them into your playdate. You can make bubbles as a science experiment, or you can learn how to create the biggest bubbles ever.
- Festive Fundraiser. If you want to teach the little people around you about giving back, give them an opportunity to raise money for a cause they care about. For example, have them collect pet food for the local animal shelter or donate money from a lemonade stand or car wash to a children’s hospital.
- Ice Cream Celebration. “I Scream, You Scream, We All Scream for Ice Cream!” Host an ice cream sundae celebration and let the kids go wild with sundae toppings.
- Tie-Dye Party. Purchase a tie-dye party kit and ask parents to send their kids over to your place with an item they can tie-dye. If this playdate involves little ones, you may want to make this an event other parents join too. However, if the kids are older, you can supervise and help them as needed.
Not only do you need a plan for the kids, but you also need a plan for the parents. For example, instead of saying, “Just pick up Susie whenever,” you should have a set time such as “Send the kids over tomorrow. We’ll be having an outdoor water extravaganza from 10 am – 12 pm!”
If the weather is too hot, plan to use GoKid to carpool with other families to take kids to indoor playdates this summer at local indoor bounce houses and museums.
