Play date question??

Question

hi, i have a 15 month old and a 3 year old. both boys. i am having another mom come over with her 2 boys, who happen to be the same age as mine. i am really excited that both the boys get someone the same age to play with. but i wanted to do some really fun snacks for them. so far i have thought of a few things but nothing that fun, if anyone has any ideas that would be great!! also if you have any fun game ideas or anything tha would be great also!! :)

Answer 1

The 15 month olds may not get into the swing of it as much but 3 years is the perfect age for hands-on stuff, even food because they will be able to grasp the concept of what something is actually supposed to look like more than the 15 month olds will and can get a better grip on utensils as well.

Cut apples or oranges into slices and halves and have the boys lay them out on a plate like a sun or a flower.

Get marshmallows, pretzel sticks, gumdrops, anything sticky, gooey, and pliable and anything that can then be stuck into that stuff and see what their creative minds come up with. Make trains or people or whatever and then gobble them up.

Make and ice cupcakes ahead of time and then have the children help you put decorations on them, whether they be sprinkles or gummy worms or those crunchy candy things you buy for the tops of cakes. Send half home with the other mom. That way you don't have so many sweets in your house and the other children will have some of their 'artwork' to take home.

If you have the room and the time, set something up so being at your house is like an adventure. Make a safari hunt with your son's stuffed animals. Hide them before the children arrive. Set up a 'caged area' in a main part of the house or use the baby's crib for the moment and tell the boys the animals have escaped and you need their help to find them and get them back in the cage.Take and print photos and give them to the children so they know exactly what they are looking for. Once they have all been found, sit with them and read them a story based on a zoo or safari or just talk to them about the different types of animals they found. Make animals noises and ask them if they can walk like a monkey or roar like a lion. They will run around and have fun hunting for the animals and learn something in the process!

Answer 2

Frog Cupcakes -- http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Frog-Cupcak...

INGREDIENTS

1 (18.25 ounce) package white cake mix

1 (16 ounce) can prepared vanilla frosting

6 drops green food coloring, or as needed

1/4 cup green decorator sugar

12 large marshmallows

48 semisweet chocolate chips

1 drop red food coloring

DIRECTIONS

Bake cupcakes according to the directions on the package. Allow them to cool completely.

Scoop 2/3 of the frosting into a small bowl and mix with green food coloring. Frost the cupcakes. Sprinkle some of the green sugar over the tops.

Cut the marshmallows in half to make two circles. Dip half of each marshmallow piece into water and dip into the green sugar to make the eyelids. The remaining white will be the eyes. Place on the cupcakes. Use a little bit of white icing to glue a chocolate chip into the center of each eye for the pupil.

Mix the remaining frosting with red food coloring to make pink. Use the pink icing to draw smiling mouths and nostrils or even tongues on the frogs.

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Apple Ladybug Treats --    http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Apple-Ladyb...

INGREDIENTS

2 red apples

1/4 cup raisins

1 tablespoon peanut butter

8 thin pretzel sticks



DIRECTIONS

Slice apples in half from top to bottom and scoop out the cores using a knife or melon baller. If you have an apple corer, core them first, then slice. Place each apple half flat side down on a small plate.

Dab peanut butter on to the back of the 'lady bug', then stick raisins onto the dabs for spots. Use this method to make eyes too. Stick one end of each pretzel stick into a raisin, then press the other end into the apples to make antennae.

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Teddy Bear Biscuits --  http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Teddy-Bear-...

INGREDIENTS

1 (7.5 ounce) package refrigerated buttermilk biscuits

1 egg, beaten

2 tablespoons sugar

1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

9 miniature semisweet chocolate chips

DIRECTIONS

For each bear, shape one biscuit into an oval for the body and place on a greased baking sheet. Cut one biscuit into four pieces; shape into balls for arms and legs. Place next to body. Cut one biscuit into two small pieces and one large pieces; shape into head and ears and place above body. Brush with egg. Combine sugar and cinnamon; sprinkle over bears. Bake at 425 degrees F for 8-10 minutes (the one remaining biscuit can be baked with the bears). Place chocolate chips on head for eyes and nose while the biscuits are still warm.

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Cinnamon Ants on Sticks --  http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Cinnamon-An...

INGREDIENTS

1 large stalk celery, cut into 3 pieces

3 tablespoons peanut butter

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

2 tablespoons raisins

DIRECTIONS

Place the celery pieces on a clean surface, hollow part facing up, and sprinkle evenly with cinnamon. Spoon peanut butter into the hollow, and arrange raisins on top.

Answer 3

I used to host a playgroup occasionally.  I served cheese and crackers and fresh fruit chunks and of course juice boxes.  If they stayed for lunch I made my own "Smuckers Uncrustables" using my Pampered Chef Press-n-Seal or I used cookie cutters to make peanut butter and jelly sandwiches in shapes.

You don't need games!  They will play together wonderfully without direction from the moms, which is the nice thing about play dates...the moms benefit too!

Here is a good recipe that you will likely use alot, for playdates or just to have around the house:

Peanut Butter Balls

1/2 cup peanut butter (I use Smuckers Natural style)

1/2 cup honey

1 cup dried milk

1 cup ground oats (place 2 cups dry oats in blender, blend for 2 minutes or until powdery)

Mix all ingredients and form into balls (or any other shape...they can be rolled out and cut with cookie cutters, threaded onto skewers with fruit chunks for fun kid kababs, or anything else you might want to do--be creative!)  If mixture is too dry, add peanut butter and/or honey.  If mixture is too wet add more dried milk or oats.

You can substitute any powdery whole grains for the oats such as: Oat Bran Hot Cereal, graham cracker crumbs, wheat germ, flax meal, or use your blender to grind granola cereal, crunchy granola bars, Kashi GoLean Crunch, etc.)

Keep unused portion in refrigerator for up to two weeks.  Soften in microwave if needed.

Answer 4

colored goldfish, ants on a log, pigs in a blanket....stuff like that

Answer 5

With little boys you'll probably want something clean. When i do play dates i keep it easy, usually finger foods. A cheese, meat ( i use ham sausage) and pickle plate, or fruit with yogurt dip, or veggies and ranch dip.  

For the games, maybe give them a small box or basket each and take them outside to explore and collect things, rocks, twigs, whatever they like. maybe follow the leader, the red-light green-light game.

Have fun!