I like them! My dd's still call them playdates, but I could see dd8 changing the language at some point.
For me, play dates are scheduled---so my dd can plan on them and I can work them into my our schedule. With travel sports, gymnastics, two careers, etc.---time can quickly fill up. So this forces us to carve out time for the kids to play with friends they don't see as often.
We don't "schedule" playdates with our neighbors---that's more of the call up (or go knock) and see if someone wants to come out and play or go join a group of kids already outside.
The scheduled playdates are usually with kids from school, team, church....or somewhere beyond the neighborhood. Sometimes these include an "event" (today they are going rollerskating)...but sometimes it's just at our house.
I don't supervise them other than being in the house. I might make them a snack or pull out a craft kit or something---but mostly they are up in dd's room or in the basement doing stuff.
I love them because it keeps my dd occupied and not watching TV!
For me, play dates are scheduled---so my dd can plan on them and I can work them into my our schedule. With travel sports, gymnastics, two careers, etc.---time can quickly fill up. So this forces us to carve out time for the kids to play with friends they don't see as often.
We don't "schedule" playdates with our neighbors---that's more of the call up (or go knock) and see if someone wants to come out and play or go join a group of kids already outside.
The scheduled playdates are usually with kids from school, team, church....or somewhere beyond the neighborhood. Sometimes these include an "event" (today they are going rollerskating)...but sometimes it's just at our house.
I don't supervise them other than being in the house. I might make them a snack or pull out a craft kit or something---but mostly they are up in dd's room or in the basement doing stuff.
I love them because it keeps my dd occupied and not watching TV!