OT: Ideas for first grade play date

PrincessTigerLily

DIS Veteran
Joined
Feb 12, 2006
Messages
945
Hosting our first ever play date this weekend. DD is having two of her first grade friends over, and I would love some ideas for fun food, crafts, activities, etc. No, I'm not trying to schedule their every minute, but would just like to have some stuff prepared! :goodvibes
Thanks in advance!
 
We start playdates in preschool (and playgroups starting as infants), so I don't do anything special. WARNING - girls do better one on one, or at least even numbers...
 
We start playdates in preschool (and playgroups starting as infants), so I don't do anything special. WARNING - girls do better one on one, or at least even numbers...

I was thinking the same thing when I read the OP's post. Three can be a problem. I would keep an eye to make sure one girl isn't getting excluded.

I usually buy a special snack after asking about allergies of course. I never do anything special usually regarding play, the kids play among themselves. Everytime I send DD (5) to the neighbors house though she comes home with some kind of craft. Last time it was a canvas bag she painted with glitter paint.
 
Thanks to both of you. The girls coming over are twin sisters. DD went to their house a while back and there didn't seem to be any issues then, so hopefully not here either...but boy, do I remember growing up and the number 3 was definitely a lethal situation!
 

My DD is in the first grade and when she has her friends over they usually end up playing with Barbies or Polly Pocket's. We also have a huge dress-up bin that the girls enjoy. But basically, I just make sure that the toys that I know are super special to my kids are put away (so they don't get broken or fought over) and then I let the kids play on their own - checking in every so often.

As for snacks, I buy those large pretzels (SuperPretzel?) and make "hot pretzel's". hahaha - apparently, not many houses serve those! ;)
 
I was inspired by that Toddlers and Tiaras show on TLC, so just for fun the girls dress up and put on make up, then I loudly announce their names and say a few random or over the top things about each. They 'model' down the runway (old excersie mat) then they take turns performing their 'talent' - The talent goes from Hula hooping to doing cartwheels, singing or a dance. I tell them to blow kisses to the judges (stuffed animals!) and wave goodbye or make funny faces at them. One girl has Native American grandparents so she drew tribal designs on her face and did a special native dance. It was alot of fun for them and for me! I usually rent a movie - just a case, sometimes it doesn't get watched and thats ok! I do some sort of snack and a sweet treat. Sometimes I go to the Dollar store and buy a few new coloring books/markers. Dress up is always fun. We done painting on rocks etc. Its good to be prepared, they may totally want to do their own thing but its nice to have a back up plan!
 
My girls both love crafts, so I just raid the craft supply leftovers to see what we have that day. If nothing else, there's the standby cereal-necklace-on-a-string that they seem to love.

I find the cooperative projects or crafts work better with three or more. Games get too competitive when some have played before and some haven't. I try to keep the TV off (they can do that anytime).

If they play up in DD's room, I know it will be a disaster when they leave, so I eitehr grin and bear it or find lots of stuff for them to do downstairs!

PHXscuba
 
i will sometimes buy at a craft store those cheapie wooden flat figures to paint, or we bake simple cookies (cookie roll), and I let them decorate them (or cupcakes). or make 'friendship' bracelets (the string ones or beaded ones). Have blankets/sheets ready for a fort in the livingroom.

It certainly doesn't hurt to have something for them to do if they want to.
 

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