Follow your child's lead. Not every child likes to have regular playtimes with other children. Also, some children are overstimulated when they try to play for extended periods of time with other kids. Ask your child if he would like a friend to come over and accept what he says. If he says no to a play date now, ask him again in a few weeks.
Let your child choose whom he would like to have over for his play date. If he cannot think of a friend to invite, ask his teacher who his friends are in the kindergarten classroom and choose one of the children she mentions. While choosing another kindergarten-age child is beneficial, your child might also have a younger friend he might like to play with, too. Play dates do not have to be with children of the same age, Babycenter says.
Schedule a start and an end time for the play date. Plan the play date when the children are least likely to be tired, such as the morning. For the first date, only plan an hour, as you never know how the children will act in a certain situation. If the play date goes well, schedule another date for two hours. Going longer than two hours can lead to cranky and bored kids.
Plan regular play dates if the children get along. For instance, you might have a regular play date at your house on the second and fourth Saturday of the month. That way, it will not interfere with the school schedule. When children are off for the summer, plan more dates to keep them busy.
Gather appropriate toys. Your child will likely want to show off his favorite toys, but this could lead to fighting. Tell your child that he can keep one of his favorite toys out to show his friend, but put others away. It is also a good idea to put away toys with a lot of pieces, as they could make a big mess very quickly.