Best PlayDate Ideas For Children Ages 2-7 (No Playground Required).
Have you ever been in a rut on where to take your child to have a playdate with their class/school mate other than a playground? Has your child been ‘arranging’ playdates with their classmates without checking with you first? We’ve been there or are probably still there. Personally, I find playdates fun despite the work involved for me as a Mom to set up. I have to get snacks and think on activities to engage our guests. I tend to focus on the wins more and these are incredible opportunities to engage with my daughter at her level and she really enjoys seeing me partaking in her playtime with her friends. It cracks them up when I mimic Bluey or Bingo. Priceless!
So wonder no more if you’ve been scratching your head on what to do during playdates and how to set one up beyond the playground. This usually involves activities at either one of your houses as the parents’ or going to a play center where a paid activity for children is ongoing.
The activities below are for children ages 2-7, some require adult supervision whilst others don’t.
Storybook Circle – Take turns reading (or looking at pictures) from favorite storybooks. Remember you can have playdates with a younger child and an older child also as older kids can “read” to the younger ones. This is something my daughter did a few times with her younger cousins. Super delightful to see!
Coloring & Sticker Station – If you’re having Reception aged children (3-4years), this activity during a playdate is bound to engage them for at least 20-30minutes whilst you catch up on the latest tea on motherhood. Stop by any bookshop such as Vidya bookstore or Acrilex and grab a couple of coloring sheets, crayons, and stickers for creative but low-energy fun.
3. Little Explorers Hunt – This is a simple scavenger hunt for colorful objects, leaves, or toys hidden around the living room or play room with picture-based clues for the younger ones. It’s great for children between 4-7 years. I saw this activity at a kids birthday party and the energy was up there! It also got the parents really involved.
4. Zoo Adventure Obstacle Course – Children love to oink like pigs and sing the Old Macdonald song on end! So let them pretend to hop like bunnies, crawl like crabs or slither like snakes through a soft indoor/outdoor course. This would be great to capture on videos for memories.
5. Art studio - You can also arrange the playdate with the other Mommy at Wine & Art an art studio based in East Legon. Take the children along and have a creatively enjoyable art session.
6. Swim Playdate : Swimming is always a great idea as long as all the children have been trained to swim by a professional. Safety first! You the parents can also join in the fun. So pack your bathing suits and go have a splashy fun time!
7. Puzzle Corner: If you want a more quiet low-energy activity then puzzles will be an excellent idea. Choose slightly more complex ones for older children and more larger colourful pieces for 3-4year olds. China Mall, Max Mart at 37, Orca Decor, Palace mall are some places you can find an array of puzzle boxes.
8. Sensory Play : This activity involves the creative use of pasta, rice, playdough, slime etc for sensory activities . I know you probably just side-eyed me just thinking of the ‘mess’ involved, right? I feel you! You can alternatively book an hour’s playdate time at a playcenter called SensoryPlay in Tse Addo. There’s ample space and crafts for children and you can also decide to leave them to have coffee at a cafe and pick them up later. Lovely playcenter all round.
Playdates are always a fantastic idea! It simply needs to be planned out well whether you’re hosting one at home or meeting up somewhere in town.
The benefits of playdates include but are not limited to:
1. Enhances Social Skills
Playdate activities provide children with opportunities to practice communication, sharing, and cooperation. The adults (usually the Mommies) get the opportunity to share motherhood stories, exchange ideas on cooking hacks for picky children and also bond togther to reduce any feeling of social isolation.
2. Promotes Physical Activity
Children stay active through games and outdoor play, supporting their physical health and development. Adults participating or supervising can also increase their own physical activity despite the later waist pains and knees. 😆
3. Encourages Emotional Development
Playing together helps children develop empathy, patience, and emotional regulation. The activities are seriously one of the most underrated ways of releasing stress through the laughter and positive interactions between the children and their peers or younger kids. It’s definitely a Mommy mood booster in my books!
What other ideas are great for a playdate in Accra? Do list them below and let’s engage !
