Summer’s the perfect time for making good friends bestest friends!  Be sure to host plenty of playdates for all of your kids so they can find the special people in their lives.  Here are easy tips:

1. Summer brings great opportunities for new parents (or parents who are new in town) to get to know each other. If the parents are comfortable with each other, chances are the children will be as well.

2. Be flexible.  Listen to suggestions for activities and plan the day with both kids involved.

3. For tots, schedule playdates after naps and lunch so they are refreshed and ready to go.

4. Keep playdates for young children short, no more than two hours, especially if they are new friends. Older kids can last longer, but be sure to have a variety of indoor/outdoor options at your house.

5. Supervise the kids at all times; households with older children have toys that might be choking hazards for babies and toddlers.

6. School-aged children might enjoy outdoor play a bit more; mornings work best, before the temperatures soar.

7. Know that there may be issues over toys, so if there’s anything really special your child loves, you might consider putting it away for the playdate.  If you are hosting the playdate, remind to your child that it’s important to share; if you are the guests, remind your child to ask permission to play with someone else’s toys.

8. Turn off the TV and get to know each other better! 

9. Offer a fun snack – like an icy cold popsicle.

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