Since March 2020, parents and children have been left with primarily virtual connections, with some children born during the pandemic who have never enjoyed a simple playdate at all.
Let that sink in for a moment…
As a mom of three girls - age 5 1/2 years, 3 years and 4 months - the last 18 months have been difficult for our family. Virtual junior kindergarten wasn’t exactly the way we envisioned our daughter crossing that milestone off the list. Seeing her interact with her new friends through the computer, celebrate birthdays over Zoom, talk to her neighbourhood friends from the sidewalk and constantly cover the smile on her face with fabric decorated in rainbows and unicorns was not exactly what we had in mind.
But this year, things are changing. Kids are back in school, organized sports, birthdays and backyard hangouts are a go. The playdate is making a comeback.
Play is extremely important for our children - the simple act builds creativity, creates positive feelings and fosters connections. It contributes to the cognitive, physical, social and emotional well-being of out children. And for adults, play helps to reduce stress, improve brain function, improve productivity and provides positive energy. Play is imperative in childhood development, and, believe it or not, in adults’ too.
The pandemic has definitely changed how children play and interact with others, and Fisher-Price wants to help bring people back together and connect through play - be it virtually, in-person or in a hybrid environment. For more than 90 years, Fisher-Price® has created toys that spark childhood learning and development through play.
When thinking of the perfect playdate, what comes to mind for you and your children?
For the perfect playdate, it is important to balance the play needs of multiple age groups. One way to do this is by incorporating toys that are not only age appropriate, but that are also suitable for multiple age levels.
Two of our current Fisher-Price® favourites include the Giant Rock-a-Stack® and Deluxe Kick & Play Piano Gym.
The Giant Rock-a-Stack is perfect for all ages. For our littlest, it can help develop her coordination skills by grasping and shaking the six extra-large, colourful rings, our preschooler can use her problem solving skills to figure out how to sort and stack the rings from biggest to smallest, and our oldest can have fun playing with her younger siblings (she’s often in the role of ‘teacher’).
The Deluxe Kick & Play Piano Gym is also a hit. It has five light-up piano keys, a repositionable toy arch, 5 repositionable toys (a self-discovery mirror, elephant teether, crinkle panda, lion rattle & monkey cymbal clackers) and four musical settings that keep your little one rocking out for years. The best part is that this infant activity gym grows with baby, from lay and play to tummy time, sit and play and take along. Baby sister is just learning to roll, so the girls love getting down to her level on the colourful animal mat to encourage her new moves.
Looking for more playdate tips and ideas? The Fisher-Price “Lets Be Kids” platform celebrates seeing the world as a kids sees it. Check out the playdate tip sheet that encourages communication and imaginative play between children, their playdates and their families.
Parents, welcome back to childhood. Together, lets celebrate play through the lens of a child.
What are some of your tips and tricks for creating a successful playdate? I would love to hear!
