January 2009  Is my toddler too young for a playdate? My sister-in-law tells me that I should be arranging more playdates for my two-year-old. Do you agree? —J.K., Tampa, FL   Yes, playdates are nice for kids this age, but don’t go overboard. Toddler friendships are typically based on families getting together. The key is to give children opportunities to be with other kids their own age. Here are some suggestions from Annie Thiel, Ph.D., author of The Playdate Kids series. SCHEDULE PLAYDATES in the morning or after a nap, when kids are rested and open to new experiences. If the date is at your house, double-check your childproofing beforehand. THINK SMALL. Limit dates to one friend at a time, especially if the children will be playing indoors. And don’t let playdates drag on too long. Two-year-olds get bored and cranky after an hour or 90 minutes. CHOOSE CAREFULLY. Ideally, the kids should be close in age and have reasonably compatible personalities. If your toddler is quiet and slow to warm up to others, for example, a noisy, extroverted child may not be the best choice. DON’T HOVER. Stay close but don’t intervene unless you must—for example, if someone is hitting. Try to let young children work out their disagreements. MINIMIZE MELTDOWNS. Talk to your child ahead of time about sharing toys. Put away special possession until after the playdate. Set out easy-to-share toys such as balls and blocks. Or give each child a few of the same type of toy. TURN OFF THE TV. An exception might be a DVD that will help children wind down when their playdate is coming to an end.     Front Page Feature | Interchange | Research Review | Elder Issues | Parenting On the Job | We Recommend | A Healthy You | Home

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