Rant: I think scheduled playdates are overrated for young kids

Everyone seems to think setting up regular playdates is a must for social development. I hear parents talk about filling their calendars with them. With my three kids, I found that structured meetups often lead to more fuss and fights. The kids feel pressured, and it turns into me managing moods instead of them having fun. We started just letting them play with whoever is around in the yard or neighborhood. They make friends naturally and learn to adapt better. I believe free, unstructured time is more valuable than forced social hours. So, I skip the rigid schedule and let things happen on their own.

3 comments

3 Comments

victor_jones995d ago

Ever notice how we try to plan every minute for kids, then wonder why they get so stressed? It reminds me of seeing adults map out every weekend with errands and events, then complain they're exhausted. Sometimes the best stuff happens when you just leave a big empty space on the calendar and see what fills it.

grace3204d ago

Disagree here, planning isn't always bad. @victorhill's daughter burned out, but that's one case. Kids need some structure to learn and grow. Adults also benefit from having plans to get things done. Leaving empty space is nice, but too much can lead to wasting time. It's about balance, not ditching all schedules.

victorhill5d ago

My daughter's burnout from too many clubs showed me we need more unscheduled days.