Hanson Lisa - The Playdate Busy Book: 200 Fun Activities for Kids of Different Ages

To our childhood friends with whom we spent endless hours in imaginary play: Thank you for the incredible memories and inspiration. And to the many playmates of our children, Kyle, Noah, Brooke, and Jake: Through you and with you, we get to continue on with the fun!

This is no secret: We love to have fun. And this experience has been just that. Thanks to the great team at Meadowbrook Press who made this project enjoyable from start to finish. To Bruce Lanskyfor his gift of knowing what parents would love to see in a Busy Book. Were incredibly thankful that you called us again! To Liya Lev Oertel for her encouragement and for keeping us on track.

To our friends and familyMom, Dad, and Amywho cheered us on and to our nephew, Jack, who reminded us on a daily basis of the sweet, energetic play of a two-year-old. And of course, we thank our husbands, Matt and Kevin, and our children, Kyle, Noah, Brooke, and Jake. You guys make everything fun.

As twins, theres not much we havent done together. Growing up, we spent a lot of time with each other playing, attending school, and reaching milestones. We learned early on how to exchange ideas, compromise, be creative, and share good times.

Our childhood neighborhood was flush with kids. Wed spend the day drawing chalk houses, setting up pretend classrooms, or getting a few rounds of kickball started at the end of our dead-end street. We knew it was time to come home when the streetlights went out. We knew we could count on the fact that tomorrow would bring even more fun.

Playdates can offer that same kind of wonder. This creative generation of parents wouldnt dare let busy lives and sparsely populated neighborhoods get in the way of their children having fun and making friends. And thus, we believe, is how the idea of playdates was born: a special time for kids of all ages to get together, create, imagine, and celebrate holidays or other milestones as a group. Playdates offer an added bonus for parents too: They afford opportunities for us older folk to form parental alliances (the same type of alliances we formed in our childhood neighborhoods) and get in on some innocent and wild fun (the same type of fun we had as kids!).

Inside the pages of this book are some of our favorite, re-imagined games and activities of years past. Weve mingled many of the activities with modern touches that were inspired by watching our own children play.

We started sharing our ideas with friends and family members who, like us, longed for group activities that were easy to do, required simple materials, and encouraged positive interactions among children. Their enthusiastic response to our suggestions prompted us to conclude that other parents and caregivers of multiple children might benefit from our ideas, too. That conclusion culminated into the book youre holding in your hands: The Playdate Busy Book, the newest addition to Meadowbrook Presss popular Busy Book line.

Youll find over two hundred activities in this book, and each has been designed to engage multiple children of varying ages. The great news is that this book can be used when youve got a group of children of all ages or if youve just invited the toddler playgroup over. All the activities have been parent tested and child approved! Weve organized the book into themed chapters so you can easily find ideas for fun play outdoors and out on the town, plus indoor activities for when the weather keeps you inside. Weve also included ideas for creative movement and music, kitchen adventures, learning exploration, arts and crafts, pretend play, seasonal celebrations, and more. In addition, we offer fun and positive ways your playgroup can work together as a team and make their world a better place.

Heres what youll find in each activity:

An easy-to-reference grid listing the materials youll need for all ages (Safety note: The grid indicates the items you will neednot necessarily the items that are safe for that age group to use themselves. For example, you may need scissors or glue to complete the activity for the babybut do not give the scissors or glue to the baby.)

A brief overview explaining setup and general instructions

Developmentally appropriate guidelines for four separate age groups (Babies, Toddlers, Preschoolers, and School-Age Children)

Throughout the book, weve also included detailed illustrations, helpful host tips, and personal anecdotes about our own experiences enjoying these activities with our children.

Regardless of the ages of the children in your group, we suggest reading each activity in its entirety before getting started. This will not only give you the complete overview of the activity, but it will also allow you to tailor the activity to your playgroups unique interests and abilities. Because children develop at different rates, you may find a suggestion for another age group will work better for a given child. For instance, in the activity Strollin through Nature (), a toddler may want to sort nature objectsthe suggested activity for his age groupbut he may also want to participate in the guessing game listed under instructions for preschoolers. This is a book that can grow with each child!

We also encourage you and your playgroup to be creative with each activity. Dont be afraid to modify it to better suit your play area, climate, or childrens moods and interests.

Writing this book together reminded us how special our own childhood friendships were. We realized that fun never has to end! Our hope for The Playdate Busy Book is that itll help young children learn the beauty of friendship and the importance of having fun. If you have any questions or comments about this book, you can e-mail us or write us in care of Meadowbrook Press. Wed love to hear from you!

P.S. In recognition of that fact that kids do indeed come in two sexes, we alternate the use of masculine and feminine pronouns throughout this book.

Learn to love rainy days. When its pouring outside, linger in your pajamas longer, enjoy breakfast at a more leisurely pace, and claim the day as yours.

Lisa

Its easy for kids to feel cooped up when it rains, but in this chapter, youll find simple and fun activities to bring out the sunny side of bad weather! Weve included our favorite indoor activities and games, like building with blocks and playing hide-and-seek, plus silly art projects and creative games that will get kids moving. Theres even an indoor picnic. These activities may even have children wishing for rain!

Heres a fun game sure to topple the rainy-day blues.