Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. To learn more about ’em, click here. From crafts to activities, there are SO many fun things to do on a playdate covered right here! We even found some awesome ideas for playdates for toddlers and baby playdates too. We decided to scour the web and find the absolute best playdate ideas for moms and kids!! Altogether, we rounded up 101 great ideas to entertain the kiddos! And to make things easier, we divided all these ideas up into 6 categories to make it easy to navigate and find ideas that you know your kids and their buddies will love! Here are the categories that we came up with:
Indoor Playdates Outdoor Playdates Food-Themed Playdates Crafty Playdates Sensory Playdates Active Playdates
It was so much fun looking for really great ideas for what to do on a play date! Maybe it’s the fact that I’ve got 3 little kiddos of my own, but this list really has me excited to spend more time with them! I have so many of these playdates on my bucket list now… Let’s get right down to it. Are you ready to play??
Indoor Kids Playdate Ideas
We all know how crazy kids can get when they’re all cooped up. And who are we kidding, Mommas, can get a little crazy too sometimes! We happen to live in a VERY hot climate and in the month of August, outdoor playdates are just not an option. So whether you live in a hot climate like us OR a super cold climate, here are some great things to do on a playdate that we’ve planned out for you. Stop pulling your hair out, Momma, and get these kids PLAYING! Here are some fun things to do on a playdate indoors.
Outdoor Playdate Ideas
Some of my best childhood memories include playdates with friends outdoors (where grownups were nowhere to be found… ha!) But the truth is, kids, need fresh air, Mommas need their vitamin D, and our houses need to stay clean for more than 24 hours. If you want to organize the most EPIC kids playdate here are some amazing, fun, and easy ideas to keep them busy in the great outdoors! And the best part is, once you get their imaginations going, kids will keep themselves entertained for hours.
Food and friends go together like peanut butter and jelly. And if the food is ALSO the center of your kid’s playdate idea, that’s a home run! Now, we know that getting kids into the kitchen is not for the faint of heart (hellooooo messes!), but some of my best times with my kids are when they are helping out in the kitchen! They learn hard work, patience, how to follow instructions and so many other important lessons. And when it comes to playdates for toddlers, I don’t know a single 2-year old that wouldn’t LOVE to get their hands on these ideas! A lot of these ideas can be adapted for baby play dates, too. So be sure to pin this puppy!
Craft Ideas for Kids Playdates
Develop your kid’s inner artist by hosting the best crafty playdates EVER! My daughter is a craft-a-holic and I can tell you first hand that ANY of these craft ideas would make her SO happy! And for her to be able to do these crafts on a playdate with her friends… I would be the mother of the year! Just the other day we were discussing what to do on a playdate with her best friend coming up, and she is thinking those ninja toilet paper rolls looked pretty neat. Not to mention we probably already have everything around the house! Score! And a lot of these ideas can be adapted for baby play dates or even playdates for toddlers. Art really is for ALL ages!
When I was a momma of a young baby, I LOVED getting together with other Moms with kids the same age. But trying to figure out what to do on a playdate for babies can feel limiting. On top of that, energy is low and it’s hard to get the creative juices flowing for fun playdate ideas. You’re in luck. While these ideas are great for kids of all ages, they can REALLY speak to those little babies of ours! Sensory play is great for brain development and having friends over to enjoy the fun is great for their social development too! Win-win! So whether it’s ideas for playdates for toddlers, babies, or older kiddos, we linked them all up for you right here.
Playdate Ideas for Active Kids
If the goal as a Mom is to wear your kiddos out by the end of each day (and let’s be honest, when is that not the goal?!), then this section is for you. Nothing makes me happier than a kid’s playdate with friends that includes running, jumping, and playing so hard that I know they are going to sleep GOOD that night! Playdates are great for SO many reasons, but wearing the kids out is probably my favorite reason for them all. So, if you are like me and being active is at the top of your list of things to do on a playdate, here are some really great playdates to get the kids moving!
If you are looking for more ideas on what to do on a playdate with your kids, you’ll definitely want to check out our 101 Things to do with your kids BESIDES watching TV. Plus, here are 101 Printables just for kids for even more fun things to do on a playdate!