Fun Playdates at home

As promised in the last post … we are back with some indoor playdates ideas, just for Momsters’ readers. We will start with the popular ideas and then move on to the fun, creative ones.

Craft Date:

If you do not mind the mess, a craft playdate is a sure shot hit. It appeals to younger and older kids alike. Who doesn’t like creating something out of scratch? Transform paper plates into masks, use construction paper to create different stuff, or better still play dough and cookie cutters are always fun.

Story Time:

Ahhhh! My favourite idea for a playdate… Become a storyteller or call a professional (consider My Little Chatterbox if you’re in Bangalore). … This is the best activity after the kids have had their share of games. You can also create a reading corner; put 4 chairs at a distance of a couple of feet (in the shape of a square), fling a colourful sheet or light blanket on… put some big cushions under the sheet and you have your very little reading corner (tent). You can follow the story session with some games/activity related to the book you read.

Paint playdate:

This might also be messy, but fun (guess everything messy is fun for children). Children mostly love to paint and express. Younger kids can enjoy with non-toxic finger-paint. Make sure the kids wear old clothes or aprons. Use lots of newspaper for the kids to sit on. Make sure you keep lots of old cloth handy to wipe off paint if it becomes messy.

Shake it Shake it…Dance Date

Vacations are on, and when the pint size bundles of energy go totally out of control… trying a craft playdate. Play some nice music which your kids will enjoy and dance on… you can sit back and relax if you don’t want to dance. Increase the fun quotient by playing Sit-Down Dance (like musical chairs) – Here you need to play music and kids will move around, as the music is paused the kids scramble to find a seat (they can even sit on the floor). There is a catch they cannot sit on the same place in the game back-to-back.

Imaginary dress-up time:

Which kid won’t like to dress up like their favourite character? Kids have amazing imagination and this would be an amazing playdate idea. If you want you can keep a dress-up bin where you can keep doctor’s apron, fairy wings, police officer’s hat, princess crowns, chef caps the list is endless.

ABC Scavenger Hunt:

This is a superb activity for pre-schoolers; you can take alphabet blocks and hide them in places you pre-schoolers can reach. You can call out an alphabet/sound the kids need to find the block. For older kids, who can read… give your child a piece of paper with a word/clue written on it. The kids will have to collect the things mentioned on the chit of paper.

Car Wash: 

If you really want to get adventurous and do an actual car wash… please go ahead. That’s not what we are talking about here. Gather toy cars and trucks, a toy bucket of soap water, a bucket full of clean water and sponge. Make sure you do this activity in your lawn or backyard. You’ll be surprised to see how much fun the kids will have. Picture and idea courtesy www.notimeforflashcards.com

Cupcakes for Little Cupcakes:

For moms who like baking, involve the kids and they will have a BLAST. You kids can make cupcake from scratch. Else pick up a box of cupcakes and you can decorate the cupcake a you like it with the little chefs.

Tea Anyone?

Pretend high tea is a super idea for young kids who like pretend play. You can serve cookies and hot chocolate to the kids in cute tea sets for little ones, adults can have tea in fine china cups. Dress up for the occasion as you’d dress up for a formal high-tea.

Movie Theater at Home

Choose a film kids would love, get some popcorn and tacos… that’s it, you’re sorted.

Do tell us if you have any other ideas, also if you try any of these do tell us how it was. And be prepared for a lot of requests for hosting a playdate after you pick one of these fun idea.