We all want our kids to have friends. Playdates can be an excellent way for your child to make new friends, but they can also be a little intimidating. When you're trying to figure out what activities or games you should organize, it's good to involve both physical activity and creativity. This blog post has 21 playdate ideas that are perfect for 5-7-year-olds! Also, at the end of the post, there are five rules to make a playdate a pleasant experience for everyone.
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Anytime playdate ideas for 5 to 7-year-olds
INDOOR PLAYDATE IDEAS
1. Pokemon Trading
Boys in particular are enthralled by Pokemon cards these days, so why not introduce them to an even more engaging activity? Most children don't know how to play the Pokemon card game, so you could teach them the rules and watch as they bring their Pokemon alive! After this exciting new experience, reward your kids (and perhaps any visiting friends) with cartoons about Pokemon. It's sure to provide hours of entertainment!
2. Building with Lego
Legos is a surefire hit amongst this age group. If you have enough Lego bricks at home, why not let your kids unleash their creativity and independently build something? Alternatively, find an awesome Lego creation tutorial on Youtube to construct together - it would be the perfect cooperative activity!
3. Tell Jokes
Kids love jokes - and it's a great way to get them laughing. Make a list of your favorite jokes and keep it handy. You'll find that when you're telling your jokes, kids will be more willing to tell theirs too! What better way to spend time with your child than sharing in laughter?
But just a small warning- some children are timid or shy, so make sure that everyone feels comfortable. As an alternative, they might tell about their favorite funny moments in movies, cartoons, or storybooks, or funny life situations that made them laugh.
This game is especially useful when children are getting to know each other.
4. Cardboard Box Play
With many old cardboards, children can fully engage their imagination. This open-ended activity is very relaxing for kids and can decrease tensions and improve cooperation among children. Kids do not need any additional equipment for this activity. Also, you can help them set up the cardboard play at home by creating a cardboard box fort or building a castle out of the boxes and filling it with blankets to make it cozy inside.
RELATED: Playdate Entertainment: Screen-Free Play Ideas for Kids Aged 3-10
5. Science Experiment Corner
Choose safe and simple science experiments that kids can do with household items. Think about creating a baking soda volcano, making slime, or growing crystals. It's all about having a blast while sneaking in some learning.
6. Make Your Own Comic Book
Provide paper, pencils, and crayons for the kids to create their own comic books. They can work individually or collaborate on a story, encouraging storytelling and artistic skills.
7. Nature Collage
Provide glue, paper, and safety scissors, and let the kids collect leaves, flowers, and other natural materials to create their own nature collages. It's all about exploring the great outdoors and putting that creativity to work.
8. Alien Space Station
Turn a part of your home or backyard into an "alien space station" where kids can pretend to be aliens or astronauts. Provide them with craft materials to create "space gadgets," "alien artifacts," or even "space food" from Play-Doh. This setting will blast off your kids into some serious imaginative play!
9. Make a Fantasy Map
Give the children large pieces of paper and art supplies to create maps of imaginary places, like treasure islands, magical kingdoms, or outer space colonies. It's a fantastic journey of creativity, storytelling, and a dash of geography.
10. Create a Time Capsule
Encourage the children to create their own time capsules. Provide small boxes or containers and let them fill these with a letter to their future self, or drawings. Explain the concept of burying it in the backyard (or storing it somewhere safe) to be opened in the future.
11. DIY Mini Golf
Set up a mini-golf course using items from around the house or yard. Children can use a small ball and a toy club or make their own clubs from cardboard tubes. Designing the course and playing through it offers a blend of creativity, physical activity, and problem-solving.
12. Balloon Tennis
Create a simple indoor or backyard game with balloons and homemade rackets made from paper plates and sticks. Set up a "net" using a string or a piece of furniture. It's a blast that gets kids moving and laughing, all without needing too much space.
13. Fairy and Gnome Garden
Kids can create a magical fairy or gnome garden using a large container. Provide them with natural and found objects to decorate their garden, such as pebbles, twigs, leaves, and anything that looks enchanting. It's a wonderful way to spark kids' imagination and feel closer to nature.
14. Indoor Camping Adventure
Who says you can't camp indoors? Throw up a tent or build a cozy fort right in your living room. With flashlight storytelling, microwave s'mores, and campfire games and stories, it's the perfect indoor adventure.
15. Read Aloud Book Club
Many kids love to hear their parents or friends read books aloud. Just be sure to pick up an engaging and not very long story, so children are more likely to stay focused.
Books based on TV shows can be engaging for children as they can have a lot to talk about after the story ends, especially if not all the children saw that particular TV show. Your 5-year-old guests will appreciate reading and then playing Spiderman or other superheroes they have just read about. Choose a book in advance and set some background like costumes or crafts for kids to play later on.
16. Do a Craft Together
Crafting is an easy activity if you do not want to entertain children on a playdate. Prepare various interesting craft materials, like buttons, feathers, wooden pieces, play dough, and let them follow their imagination. You could also offer a specific theme for their crafts, like dragons, dinosaurs, fairies, etc. When children create together, they build their social skills and cooperation and learn the power of working together.
17. Board Games
At five years of age, children get increasingly competitive, and their ego blooms. That is why they love to compete with each other and play games. However, losing might be especially painful for a child of this age. That is why think ahead about the age of the children on a playdate and choose more cooperative games to exclude possible meltdowns. Or choose an equal number of competitive and cooperative games to counterbalance them. Also, focusing on cooperative games for a playdate with three or four children is an excellent idea because it engages and develops social skills: teamwork, empathy, turn-taking, etc.
Fun board games for a 5-year-olds' playdate would be Jenga,
Twister (technically not a board game, but still very exciting), Activity, Alias, Codenames, Labyrinth, Ticket To Ride, Uno, etc.
RELATED: The Best Board Game for 5 Year Olds That Kids Really Love
7-year-olds have more advanced cognitive and self-control skills to enjoy more complex games like Dixit (for a big party), Monopoly, Scrabble, Pandemic, etc.
18. Sing Along Dance Party
Have each child pick their favorite song and see who can master the most hilarious dance. You could use YouTube videos as a source of the dance moves or use the PS4 Just Dance if you have one. Some kids might be shy at the beginning, but they will eventually warm up to the idea.
You can also get them moving with games like freeze dance. Let one of the children be a DJ. When the DJ starts the music, all the other children start dancing, but they must freeze in their positions once the music stops. Anyone who continues moving after the stop is out. The game continues until there is one person left who becomes the winner.
19. Good Old Games
- Set up a shadow theater on the wall with paper and light. Kids will love watching their shadows dance around on the wall.
- Prepare some dress-ups for children, especially for 5-year-olds, and let them dive into the magic of pretend play. They can even select a story or a theme and stage it together.
- Good old charades are also an excellent way for children to perform in front of their friends.
- Telephone game. This one is hilarious so give it a try to warm children up. Have children sit in a circle. One child thinks up a sentence and then whispers it to the next player, who repeats it to the other person on their other side. This process continues around the circle until it reaches the last person who should say the sentence aloud. Because many errors pile up during the sentence transmission around the circle, the ending sentence is usually really different from the beginning one.
- Simon says. To start the game, have one person say "Simon Says" before making a command. Kids only need to follow commands that include "Simon Says." If you want it to be more challenging for older kids, use faster and more difficult-to-complete orders like running in circles or jumping up and down on one leg, etc.
- The Floor is Lava. A classic game that never gets old. Designate specific areas or items as "safe zones" and everything else as lava. The kids must navigate from one end of the area to the other without touching the ground. It's simple, fun, and requires no setup, perfect for spontaneous adventure play.
RELATED: Family Memories: Fun Activities For Family Bonding
20. Baking Party
Throw a baking party and let the kids bake their favorite cake or cupcakes. Children perceive cooking as a combination of science and magic. You can add a touch of mystery by adding a special ingredient (you can choose spices or unusual food coloring or some flavored extract). Tell children that this ingredient will give them the power of a superhero, for example. They will surely love the idea and will feel charged with superpowers afterward.
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OUTDOOR PLAYDATE IDEAS
21. Obstacle Course Race
This playdate idea is ideal for summertime to get kids moving. Build your obstacles with what you already have at home or in your backyard, e.g., a bench, a hosepipe, a tree stump. Make the course as difficult as you want: make it short and easy for young kids or challenging with more obstacles that older kids will enjoy. Kids will improve their agility by jumping over and crawling through the hurdles. You can also do relay races which are fun games for playdates with more kids.
22. Cornhole or Ring Toss Game
Cornhole, a classic outdoor game, is a great way to engage many kids on a playdate. The rules are pretty straightforward: to toss a bean bag into the hole. Despite its simplicity, this game is very competitive and raises a lot of laughs.
If you don't have the cornhole game at home and don't want to invest in it, the ring toss game would make a great alternative. The principle is quite close to the cornhole: you toss an object to hit the goal. Kids will enjoy playing both of them.
23. Balancing Challenges
Back to Back: Have kids sit with their backs against each other. Have them stand up without using their hands. They will need to push against each other at the same time to do that.
Do the Hop: Put a banana peel over one of the child's feet. When that foot lifts, can the child hop up and down without losing it?
Don't Drop the Ball: Challenge the kids to squeeze a ball between their knees. Can they walk, or even hop or skip?
RELATED: Gross Motor Skills in Babies/Toddlers/Preschoolers: From A to Z
24. Shadow Tag
In this amusing game, you tag the person's shadow with your feet. However, this game is suitable for sunny days only. The closer to noon, the harder it is to do.
25. Hide and Seek
All-time classics, and there is a reason for that. Everyone knows the rules, the game is dynamic, and it is a common interest of small children. There are dozens of rule variations for this game, but the basic principle stays the same: one person closes their eyes and counts to a certain number without looking and then tries to find the others. You can think of your own additional rules to make the game even more exciting.
26. Rock Balancing Art
Collect various sizes of flat rocks and stones and challenge the kids to create rock-balancing sculptures. This activity promotes concentration, patience, and a sense of accomplishment when they see their structure standing tall.
27. Outdoor Painting Gallery
Set up easels or tables with canvases or large sheets of paper outside. Provide washable paints and brushes, and let the kids create their masterpieces in the fresh air. It's a fun mess that's easy to clean up and a fantastic way to be inspired by the beauty around us.
28. Water Balloon Piñatas
Hang water balloons from a tree or a structure at a safe height. Let the kids take turns being blindfolded and gently swinging at them with a soft bat or stick. This cool and splashy game is perfect for warm days but the kids must bring spare clothes for this one!
29. Whimsical Wind Chime Workshop
Collect materials that make interesting sounds, such as shells, beads, old keys, and tin cans. Guide the kids in creating their own wind chimes, which they can take home. This activity combines creativity with lessons on recycling and sound.
30. Glow-in-the-Dark Games Night
Host a playdate in the early evening and set up games that glow in the dark. Think about using glow sticks for a ring toss game, glow-in-the-dark paint for hopscotch, or hide and seek with glow bracelets. It's a magical twist that turns familiar games into something extraordinary.
31. Sensory Scavenger Hunt
Create a scavenger hunt that focuses on the senses. Include tasks like finding something smooth, something that makes a noise, and something with a distinct smell. This encourages mindful exploration and a deeper connection with the environment.
32. Rainbow Bubble Station
Mix up a giant batch of bubble solution and set up various bubble-making tools, from traditional wands to homemade shapes. Add a little food coloring to create rainbow bubbles, and watch the kids marvel at the colors and chase the bubbles around.
33. Mud Kitchen Madness
Set up a "mud kitchen" in a corner of the yard with old pots, pans, utensils, and water. Let the kids "cook" with mud, leaves, and petals. This sensory play is incredibly fun and encourages imaginative play and connection with nature.
34. Nature Mandalas
Encourage the kids to collect natural materials and arrange them into beautiful mandalas on the ground. This artful activity promotes mindfulness, creativity, and an appreciation for the beauty of natural patterns.
RELATED: Mother and Daughter Date Ideas: Memorable Bonding Activities
ADVENTURE GAMES FOR KIDS
35. Escape room
Escape rooms are gaining in popularity these days, and the goal is to solve puzzles and clues to escape a room. You can easily set up at-home escape rooms with kits you can buy online. Such adventure games foster creativity, problem-solving, cooperation, and teamwork while providing fun for kids. Escape room game is a relatively easy way to make an exciting playdate.
36. Treasure hunt
The treasure hunt is a great way to explore the area around your house. You can make it an interactive game by hiding clues and adding some obstacles children have to overcome while finding them. They will have so much fun!
37. Geocaching game
Geocaching is an outdoor treasure hunt for GPS-enabled devices. It requires navigating to a specific set of GPS coordinates and finding the geocache (container) hidden at that location. The game at its simplest level is suitable even for small children so that it may become an exciting experience for your playdate party. Geocaching requires online registration; more on geocaching, read here.
38. Camping Activities
You don't have to go on a real camping trip to have some outdoor fun! Set a tent in your backyard, go on a nature scavenger hunt, play camping bingo (e.g., find several bugs or flowers and identify them.), build a campfire and cook marshmallows, tell stories and sing songs.
Playdate Ideas For 5 to 7 Year Olds By Season
Winter outdoor playdate ideas
Winter playdates don't have to be dull! With the right entertainment, playdates can be fun and full of adventure - even in the colder months. Depending on your location, your winter might be cold and snowy or mild, or even warm.
Here we provide suggestions for a classic winter, so if the winter at your location is warmer or doesn't have much snow, please, look for spring/ autumn ideas in our list instead. Nevertheless, our indoor winter playdate ideas can be beneficial for any winter country across the globe.
39. Make a Snowman
Bundle up your 5-7-year-old and their friends in warm winter clothes and head outside to build a snowman. Have them decorate the snowman with things they can find like acorns, pinecones, or sticks to make it look like a real person! You can even add a carrot for a nose!
40. Build with Snow
Have children build a train tunnel, a garage, a fairy house, an igloo, or an entire snow city if you have enough snow in your area. Kids love snow building and can engage in this activity for hours! You can add lights to their buildings to add some magic and even have a winter tea party which we describe below.
41. Feed the Birds
Using pinecones, peanut butter, and birdseed, the kids can make their bird feeders for hanging in their backyard. This activity is not only fun, but it also teaches them about nature and caring for animals.
42. Make Snow Angels
Who can create the biggest?
43. Have a Snowball Fight
This is sure to be a hit with your 5-7-year-old and their friends. Make sure everyone has enough snowballs to participate in the fun and let them have at it! Be sure to keep an eye on them so they don't get too carried away.
44. Go Sledding/Tobogganing
What better way to spend a winter playdate than to go sledding? Find a local hill and let the kids ride down it with their friends.
45. Ice Skate
If you have access to an ice rink, take the kids for a spin on the ice. Even if you don't know any fancy skating moves, your 5-7-year-old and their friends will have a blast learning the basics together.
46. Have a Winter Tea Party
Hot chocolate is always a hit with kids! Make some hot cocoa for your little ones and their friends and enjoy it together in an impromptu winter tea party. Kids will especially appreciate hot chocolate after the active outdoor games.
47. Go on a Nature Walk
Bundle up and go on a nature walk with your 5-7-year-old and their friends. Look for animal footprints, collect fallen pinecones or acorns, or find any other interesting objects in nature to keep the kids engaged.
Winter Indoor Playdate Ideas For Chilly Days
48. Have an Indoor Picnic
If the weather outside is too cold to handle, bring the picnic inside! Create a blanket fort with cushions or blankets, bring out some delicious snacks or drinks, and have an indoor picnic with your 5-7-year-old and their friends.
49. Watch a Movie
Put on some popcorn and set up a cozy spot with blankets, pillows, and cushions for your kids and their friends to watch a winter movie together. For an even more unforgettable experience, take the kids to the movies for some large-scale entertainment!
50. Make Winter Crafts
Make paper snowflakes, glue cotton balls to make snowmen, or make winter wreaths from twigs and pinecones. There are so many fun crafts to choose from that will keep your 5-7 year old entertained for hours!
51. Unlock Kids' Building Skills
Have children construct intricate structures with toothpicks, marshmallows, blueberries, grapes, strawberries, etc. However, time is of the essence as these materials tend to vanish rapidly!
52. Visit a Museum
During the chilly winter months, there's no better way to explore the culture and expand kids' understanding of the world than by visiting museums, exhibitions, and planetariums. Look for nearby science, art, or history museum to take your kids and their friends to explore.
53. Visit a Water Park
Bring a full dose of summertime joy to your children by taking them to this exhilarating winter fun. Just make sure that everyone is feeling their best and ready for the experience!
54. Go to the Theater/Ice Show/Puppet Show For Kids
If you have access to a theater or ice show, gather your 5-7-year-old and their friends for some amazing performance. Classics like "Swan Lake" or "Nutcracker" are captivating enough for 5 to 7-year-olds to comprehend and enjoy. Kids will be 100% captivated by the vibrant costumes and beautiful music. However, it is best to read or discuss the story you are about to watch beforehand so that they can follow along with the story.
55. Build With Ice Cubes
Transform ordinary ice cubes into extraordinary sculptures with the help of some food color, glitter, plastic figurines, and other materials. This is a fun activity that can keep your 5-7-year-old and their friends entertained for hours!
56. Attend a Light Show
If accessible in your region, this astounding spectacle for children will take their breath away! Besides, some light shows are held outdoors, making it a perfect outdoor activity to participate in after the sun sets, adding enchantment and magic to the occasion.
57. Bake Chocolate Cookies
Make wintertime even more delightful for your 5-7-year-old and their friends by whipping up together some tasty treats in the kitchen. Bake a batch of mouthwatering chocolate cookies or cupcakes that they will love! Not only is this fun activity sure to keep them entertained, but it's a delicious treat too!
58. Visit a Chocolate-Making Masterclass
Have kids learn and experience the process of creating chocolates, from tempering to garnishing. They will love everything, from melting the chocolate to pouring and shaping it into creative forms. This is a great way for them to learn about how different chocolates are made, as well as have fun with their friends!
59. Visit a Pottery Masterclass
From making one-of-a-kind sculptures to decorating their pots and mugs, a pottery masterclass is an educational yet fun activity that your 5-7-year-old and their friends will love. With the help of a creative instructor, they can explore different methods for crafting unique pieces of artwork with clay. Outside of a playdate, a pottery masterclass is a perfect way to spend quality time together as a family during wintertime.
Spring Outdoor Playdate Ideas
60. Plant a Garden
Planting a garden is a great way to entertain children. However, not all parents will understand if you ask their kids to plant flowers in your garden, so it is better to discuss this idea beforehand. On a playdate, have children pick out some flowers, vegetables, or herbs that they would like to grow, then set up a small garden together. Every time the kids will come for a playdate at your house again, they will watch how much their plants have grown.
61. Go on a Hike
Grab a picnic lunch and take the kids on a nature walk. Create a list of natural items for the kids to find in the surrounding area, such as rocks, leaves, flowers, or pinecones. Encourage them to observe the plants, birds, and other wildlife they come across during their hike. You can even do a scavenger hunt while on a hike or have children take photos of things they have found. You can also bring along binoculars or magnifying glasses to help them get a closer look.
62. Play Outdoor Games
Gather some balls, Frisbees, jump ropes, and hula hoops; play ring toss or cornhole bag games; offer kids to play hopscotch, tag, catch, or hide and seek in the backyard. This will be a great way for the kids to get some exercise and enjoy the fresh air and a fantastic alternative to screen time.
63. Have a Picnic
Pack some snacks, finger foods, and drinks and head to the park for a picnic with the kids. Let them explore the outdoors while they munch on their favorite treats. Make sure to bring some fun activities such as coloring books, puzzles, or board games to keep them entertained!
64. Water Balloon Toss
On warmer days, the kids can cool off and have fun with a water balloon toss. Fill up a bucket of water balloons and let the kids toss them back and forth to each other. This activity is sure to create laughter and smiles.
65. Fly Kites
Take advantage of the spring winds and fly a kite with the kids. You can even have them make simple kites before they go out, making it a fun and creative activity!
66. Take Nature Photos
Bring along a camera or smartphone and let the kids take some awesome nature shots. They’ll love capturing beautiful moments in time outdoors!
67. Go Stargazing
On a clear night, take the kids to a field or park and tell them a story about the stars and planets. This is a great way to show them the wonders of our universe.
68. Sidewalk Chalk Art
Encourage the kids to unleash their creativity by drawing their favorite designs on the sidewalk or driveway with sidewalk chalk. This activity is perfect for warmer days when the sun is shining.
69. Obstacle Course
Set up an outdoor obstacle course using cones, hula hoops, and other items. The kids can race each other through the course or try to complete it in the fastest time.
70. Scavenger Hunt With a Twist
Create a scavenger hunt where the kids have to find clues to solve a puzzle or riddle, which will lead them to their prize at the end. This activity is perfect for kids who love to solve mysteries and puzzles.
71. Go on a Bike Ride
Spring is a great time to dust off the bikes and go for a ride. Take a leisurely ride through the neighborhood or park, or try out a new bike trail for a bit of adventure.
Spring Indoor Playdate Ideas For Rainy Days
72. Arts & Crafts
Set up a craft station and let the kids use their creativity to make spring-themed crafts such as flower crowns, butterfly wings, or paper flowers.
73. Reading Hour
Encourage reading by creating a cozy reading nook with books about spring or other topics that interest the kids. You can also have a spring-themed book club where the kids can share their favorite books and stories.
74. Baking
Get the kids involved in the kitchen by baking some spring-themed treats like sugar cookies with flower shapes or bird's nest cupcakes.
75. Science Experiments
Teach the kids about the science of spring by conducting simple experiments at home. For example, create a rain cloud in a jar or make a nature-themed sensory bin.
76. Movie Day
Have a movie day with spring-themed movies such as "Bambi," "A Bug's Life," "Charlotte's Web," or "Peter Rabbit."
77. Play Dough Fun
Get playdough out along with cookie cutters, rolling pins, and other fun tools to have an afternoon of molding their creations!
78. Have a Scavenger Hunt
Create a scavenger hunt with items hidden around the house. You can use clues or riddles to make it more challenging and fun for the kids.
79. Indoor Bowling
Set up some recycled bottles or cans in a row and let each child take turns rolling a ball down an aisle to try and knock them down.
80. Card Games
Bring out the card sets and let the kids play some classic or new games like Go Fish, Uno, or Sleeping Queens!
81. Clay Modeling
Provide each child with a block of clay and get creative by making sculptures and figurines together.
82. Imaginary Play
Set up an indoor play area and have the kids use their imaginations to create their adventures with dolls, stuffed animals, or action figures.
83. Board Games
Pull out some classic board games like Monopoly, Ticket to Ride, Jenga, or Outfoxed (for 5-year-olds) that you can all enjoy together!
84. Imagination Games
Have the kids explore their imaginations by playing classic games like make-believe, miming, and charades.
Summer Outdoor Playdate Ideas
All the outdoor activities listed for springtime are also great for summer, but we've gathered even more ideas to make your kid's summer playdates extra special.
85. Nature Art
Collect interesting leaves, pinecones, and other items from nature and use them to craft a beautiful work of art. Moss, bark, and twigs are great starting materials that can be shaped into pictures or animals. Kids can also pick up some flowers on a nature walk or in your garden and dry them for future art projects, or create a beautiful pressed flower book.
86. Nature Sounds
Waking up at the break of dawn to go explore nature with children could be a thrilling experience! Although it may not elicit too much enthusiasm from parents, this unique opportunity is certainly worth getting out of bed for. Beforehand, make sure there are birds in your area so that they can hear those amazing chirps and songs. To really add to the experience, pack a light breakfast picnic for kids before heading out on your adventure!
87. Outdoor Cooking
Have a barbeque party for kids in your backyard or to make it even more exciting, show them how to cook a simple meal on a campfire. Also, chocolate fondue (or even a chocolate fountain) is a guaranteed hit with kids, and your backyard makes the perfect spot for them to indulge in this delicious treat without having to worry about making a mess or dirtying furniture. Experience it for yourself!
88. Camping
If you have access to camping facilities, and want to invest in your kids' memories, you could invite a couple of your kids' friends to enjoy camping with your family. If taking other kids camping seems too challenging for you, consider backyard campout. Have kids pitch up a tent in the backyard, help them roast marshmallows over a campfire, tell stories, and stargaze with your kids!
89. Water Games
A pool party is an amazing idea for a summer playdate, but not everyone has access to a pool. But this is not a reason to skip water fun in the summer. You could have kids play with a water hose, a sprinkler, or a DIY splash pad. Kids can create their DIY splash pad using a tarp, a hose, and a few household items. Place the tarp on the ground, attach the hose to the top, and turn on the water to create a fun and refreshing play area.
Five-year-old kids especially love playing with water, and they can do it for hours. You can buy a water table or use a big plastic container. In this case, it is better to have a container for each child. Add in some funnels, sponges, cups, bath foam, bath bombs, toy water animals, and other accessories to help the kids have a more exciting time playing.
The water play could quickly transform into a water shooting battle in summer, especially with Nerf Super Soaker.
90. Nature Bingo
Take kids on a nature walk and turn a classic game into an outdoor adventure by identifying different items from a bingo card made ahead of time. You can also use a scavenger hunt list or take pictures.
91. Outdoor Movie Night
Set up a projector and screen in the backyard, lay down some blankets and watch a movie together with the kids! Let them pick out their favorite show or movie to make it extra special. This is an especially fun idea for a sleepover playdate.
92. Outdoor Art
Set up an outdoor art station with sidewalk chalk, paint, paper, clay, or even mud. Also, kids can collect a bunch of rocks and use them to create painted masterpieces. Kids can paint patterns, animals, or even messages on the rocks, and then display them in the yard or leave it for other people to find on a nature walk.
93. Outdoor STEM Experiments
Set up a few outdoor STEM experiments like making a battery out of dirt, popping bags experiment, or rock testing to name a few.
94. Active Games
Have kids play classic games like tag, hide and seek, hopscotch, and jump rope, or have a mini Olympics with events like relay races, long jump, and discus throw (using Frisbees) in your backyard. Five to seven-year-old kids are still less obsessed with their screens than older kids, so it will be much easier for you to get them moving and have fun outside.
95. Picnic
Pack a picnic and head to a nearby park. You could even bring a kite to fly or a ball to play with. Ball games are always appreciated by kids and the park is a perfect place to enjoy them. Here are several ball games ideas for kids.
96. A summertime visit to the beach, lake, river, or outdoor water park is sure to be an unforgettable experience for kids! These classic activities are a guaranteed crowd-pleaser when it comes to playdate fun.
97. Visit the Zoo or Botanical Garden
Take your kids to their local zoo or botanical garden for a fun and educational playdate. The animals, plants, and other attractions will keep them entertained for hours. Plus, it is a great opportunity for them to learn about nature and wildlife in a hands-on way!
Summer Indoor Playdate Ideas For a Hot Or Rainy Day
If the weather is too hot or rainy to go outside, there are still plenty of fun indoor playdate ideas for 5-7-year-olds in the summer. Here are a few ideas:
98. Visit an indoor playground, a trampoline park, or indoor rock climbing
99. For older kids, escape rooms are always fun and interesting;
100. Kids' bowling;
101. Go to a planetarium, museums, and exhibitions for kids;
102. Visit an aquarium
A few more ideas for the at-home summer playdates:
103. Indoor Picnic: Spread out a blanket and have an indoor picnic with summer-inspired foods like sandwiches, fruit, and lemonade.
104. Science Experiments: Set up some simple science experiments that kids can do at home. For example, make homemade slime or create a volcano with baking soda and vinegar.
105. Cooking: Have the kids help make some summer treats like homemade ice cream or popsicles.
106. Movie Marathon: Have a movie marathon with summer-themed movies like "Finding Nemo," "Moana," or "The Lion King."
107. Craft Time: Set up a craft station with summer-themed materials like seashells, sand, and popsicle sticks. Kids can make jewelry, picture frames, or even create their beach scene.
108. Board Games: Have a board game marathon and play some games with a summer twist like "Kingdomino", "Wildcraft!," "Lemonade Shake Up!", or "Trekking The National Parks."
Fall Outdoor Playdate Ideas For 5 to 7 Year Olds
Fall playdates are the perfect way to capture the magic of the season. If you’re looking for playdate ideas for 5-7-year-olds, there are plenty of options that can help create lasting memories.
109. Apple Picking
Take kids on an adventure to your local orchard, pick out their favorite apples, and then go home and bake a delicious homemade apple pie together. Or, you can make caramel apples using different colors and decorations.
110. Pumpkin Patch
Nothing says fall like a trip to the pumpkin patch! Let kids pick out their pumpkins and then use them for fun activities like pumpkin decorating. For this, set up a pumpkin decorating station with paint, markers, and other craft supplies.
111. Leaf Pile Jumping
Get outside and enjoy a classic game of leaf pile jumping! It will be sure to get the kids outside and make memories.
112. Hayride
Take the kids on a hayride at a local farm or pumpkin patch! Kids can enjoy the sights and sounds of fall as they take in all the beauty that nature has to offer.
113. Bonfire
Use a campfire to cook simple fall treats like roasted marshmallows, hot dogs, and s'mores. Sing songs, tell stories, read to them, and enjoy the warmth of the fire.
114. Leaf Art
Collect colorful leaves from your backyard and make some fall-themed art projects! Kids can create a masterpiece with glues, markers, and different colored leaves.
115. Acorn Collecting
Take kids on a hunt for acorns! You can collect them, paint them, or even use them to build tiny castles or houses.
116. Mud Pie Making
Have kids gather some mud and sticks, mix them with a little water, and have the kids create their very own mud pies!
117. Explore Nature
Take the kids on hikes around your neighborhood or local trails so they can explore all that nature has to offer. Give kids a list of items to find in nature like pinecones, rocks, leaves, or even animals! They can run around searching for different items which are sure to put a smile on their face. You can combine the nature walk with bird watching. Moreover, if the parents agree, kids will have an amazing opportunity to explore their inner Tarzan and experience some tree climbing - a super cool activity they will love!
118. Kite Flying
Get outside, grab a kite, and let kids practice their aim as they try to fly it along the breeze.
119. Constellation Searching
The fall season is a perfect time for some star gazing. On clear nights, head outside with kids and look up at the night sky – use binoculars or a telescope if you have one and search for constellations together.
120. Scarecrow Building
Set up a scarecrow building station with old clothes, hay, and other materials. Kids can work together to build a scarecrow to decorate the yard.
121. Bobbing For Apples
Fill a large tub with water and place apples in it. Have the kids try to pick up an apple with their teeth, but no hands are allowed!
122. Harvest Festival
Attend a harvest festival with kids. Or, organize a harvest festival in your backyard with activities like apple juice pressing, pumpkin carving, and fall-themed arts and crafts.
123. Fairy houses
Gather natural materials like sticks, leaves, and acorns, and let the kids create their own fairy houses in a special area of the garden or backyard or on your nature walk.
124. Fairy Tale Walks
Take the kids on a walk through the woods or park and encourage them to use their imaginations to create their own fairy tales or stories inspired by the natural surroundings.
125. Halloween Party
Have a Halloween party for the kids to enjoy spooky decorations, costume contests, and trick-or-treating.
126. Building and Construction
Using natural materials, children can build outdoor structures such as forts or sculptures. This is a great way to encourage physical activity, creativity, and imagination in 5-7-year-olds. opportunity for physical activity.
Fall Indoor Playdate Ideas For 5 to 7-Year-Olds
127. Window Star Suncatchers
A beautiful way to make the fall season magical and bright is to create window stars. Show the children how to create origami paper stars, which they can later stick to the windows at home. There are plenty of tutorials on window stars, for example, this one.
128. Nature Art
Collect natural materials like leaves, twigs, and acorns, and use them to create art, such as making a nature mandala or creating a leaf collage. Show kids how to do leaf rubbings. They can collect different types of leaves, place them under a piece of paper, and use crayons or pencils to rub the colors and patterns onto the paper.
129. Leaf Lanterns
Use fall leaves to make beautiful lanterns. Collect a variety of leaves, press them between wax paper, and then iron the wax paper together to make the lantern.
130. Apple Dolls
Peel and carve apples into doll-like shapes, then use toothpicks, twine, and natural materials like leaves and acorns to create clothing and accessories for the apple dolls.
131. Playing with Light and Shadows
Set up a dark space, such as a tent in the living room, and have children explore light and shadows using flashlights or LED lanterns.
132. Bird Feeders
Offer kids to make bird feeders to help birds during the cooler months. You can cut apples in half, spread peanut butter over them and sprinkle bird feed on top to make a nutritious snack for the birds.
133. Oobleck
Oobleck is easy to make with just two ingredients (cornstarch and water) and it’s great fun for kids of all ages! Allow kids to get creative with colors and textures.
134. DIY Playdough
Have fun making homemade playdough in autumn colors like orange, brown, or yellow. You can also add spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, or cloves for a festive scent.
135. Pumpkin Carving
Give children a chance to express themselves by carving pumpkins. Provide safety tools and easy-to-use stencils to help them create their own design.
136. Pumpkin Painting
Not all kids are old enough or ready for pumpkin carving. An alternative is to let them paint pumpkins using non-toxic paints, glitter, or even glue and leaves. This way, children can still enjoy the fun of pumpkin decorating safely.
137. Baking Fall Treats
Get the kids involved in baking fall treats such as pumpkin pies, apple crisps, or spiced muffins.
138. Science Experiments
Fall can be a great time to explore science with such fun experiments, like apple volcanoes, expanding ghosts, leaf science, and many more.
PLAYDATE RULES
1. You would want to set a definite start and end time for your playdate so that people know when to come and when to leave. Usually, for 5-7-year olds 3 hours is the max they can tolerate. However, plan different activities for kids to do during these three hours as their attention span is still relatively short. For example, if you want children to focus during the book club, then plan it at the beginning, and after that, move to active games or let them go wild in an unstructured play.
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2. The number of kids on a playdate depends on your child's personality. If your child tends to be shy or introverted, inviting 20 of his/her classmates would not be a pleasant experience for him/her. But even if you have a life-of-the-party at home, you would still want to keep a manageable number of kids on a playdate. Up to 5 is usually more than enough in this case.
3. Choose the rooms for a playdate and block the areas where you do not want children to get. By doing so, you will keep the house tidy, limiting the mess to a particular space only. Then you will not be exhausted with cleaning afterward and will not hesitate to host another playdate in the future.
4. Teach your child to be a host of the party. Explain to him /her the rules and let him/her help you set up. This will be an excellent opportunity for your child to learn how to take care of his friends, have some responsibility and make them feel at home.
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5. Speaking of food, keep in mind that children tend not to eat much when they are running around, so use this as an excuse to order some pizzas and small healthy snacks, like apple chips, carrot cookie bites, or mango smoothie. Also, consult with parents about the menu for potential allergies.