Select a location that works for everyone. Parks and playgrounds offer enjoyable venues for playdates with plenty of space for kindergarteners to run, jump, play games or use the facilities, if available at the location. Sit and supervise the children have fun as they play -- expending lots of energy while you talk with the other parents. Intervene to settle squabbles only when necessary.
Schedule field trips to the zoo and the library as something extra special. Read a funny book to the children at the library about an animal they saw at the zoo, or help them look for picture books to take home. Check with your local library for daytime programs they have for young children. They usually have less stringent rules for quiet during those times.
Check with your local school district for official kindergarten playdates scheduled before the first day of school. Some schools hold these to allow students to meet the other kids they will see each weekday in the classroom. Students may participate in a craft or short learning activity as a way to “play school.” This gives students a way to know what to expect when they start kindergarten -- while enjoying a playdate in a classroom setting.
Hold playdates at your house, or at the home of another parent, when the weather doesn’t cooperate for outdoor play. Allow children to have fun with whatever toys you have on hand, or ask them to bring toys to share with the group. Or coordinate craft activities, if desired.
Hold your playdate at a fast-food restaurant with a fun-filled play area. Or pack a picnic lunch for a trip to the park for a special playdate event outdoors.
Encourage activities that teach children to demonstrate appropriate social behavior during the playdate. Remind them to share toys, play well together and communicate feelings and needs. Intervene when things go awry, such as a tussle over a toy or when one child hits another. The social interaction helps them function well in other settings where they may find fewer enjoyable activities, such as school or church.