activities for a 1 y/o play-date?

[bbjam2007]

this weekend i am going to have a play-date for my DD...i am clueless about what do to entertain them:shrug7:, there will be DD- 16 months, another at 18 months and a 20 month old.
what kind of activities should i do?
i was thinking along the lines of
drawing, puppets or something like that...but they will be here for a good 3 or 4 hours and those wont last that long
any ideas?
TIA!

(something cheap please! :)

[TheWoman]

At that age kids don't play together so much as they play near each other and steal toys. Trying to get them to all do the same activity is like herding cats.

If it were me I would just put out a lot of toys and let them play while you play with them and referee as necessary. To the kids visiting the toys will be new so they will be interesting. Your dd will have a renewed interest in her old toys because the other kids are playing with them. That and a few rounds of peek-a-boo should keep them pretty busy.

[MrsPinecone]

What TheWoman said.

3-4 hours is an insanely long playdate at that age. Heck, DS is two and we don't have playdates that long. At one year we did 2 hours at the absolute maximum, and that was only if all the parties didn't cry or fall asleep.

[mamajenny2]

If you aren't too worried about the mess it will make, shaving cream and pudding are 2 things my children loved to play in at that age. A shower curtain on the table makes clean up easy and at that age they love anything they can play in. Good luck with your playdate and let us know how it went. Jenny

[amjurey]

1. definitely drawing/coloring. this will keep my 19 mon entertained for awhile.
2. storytime where you have to "interact" with the books is good as well. we love sandra boynton's barnyard dance at the moment.
3. play music and have a dance party.
4. Some blown up balloons to toss around. they are cheap and they don't hurt (people or things).

Good luck!!!!

[MrsPinecone]

If you aren't too worried about the mess it will make, shaving cream and pudding are 2 things my children loved to play in at that age.

Shaving cream?!?

At 16 months, and even now at 2, my DS sticks his hands in his mouth too much. It looks an awful lot like whipped cream, and I am sure he'd try to eat it.

Shaving cream is an older kid thing to me.

[greenrays]

Wow that is a long time~~~

Do you have a sandbox??

I agree that they won't play together, at that age the kids are still in parallel play or side by side play and don't interact unless they are stealing something!!

Do you have blocks? Those are always fun for kids.

My son is 18 months and he only likes to color on walls and doors and tvcabinets, not so much in the coloring books yet. So be careful w/crayons!!!! I can't imagine all those kids w/crayons and having to keep an eye out.

Bubbles?? Kids looooove bubbles and you can sing songs to them and then blow the bubbles and see who can pop them the fastest.

Books, and lots of them!! Some may not sit for books though, again it depends on the child.

[mamajenny2]

Shaving cream?!?

At 16 months, and even now at 2, my DS sticks his hands in his mouth too much. It looks an awful lot like whipped cream, and I am sure he'd try to eat it.

Shaving cream is an older kid thing to me.

I do believe I said shaving cream or pudding, if you have a child that puts everything in their mouth, I had 1 that did 1 that didn't, then I would go with the pudding. Or you can google homemade paint and let them fingerpaint. Nothing in it will hurt the children and both mom and the kids will have fun playing together.

[jenntip]

I like that idea of shaving cream and pudding! If your child puts their hands in their mouth you would obviously not give them the shaving cream.....
Pudding is a great idea! Kids always love a mess and it's easy for you to clean up.
Good looking out mamajenny2...

[greenrays]

I always have to throw this in there====make sure there aren't food allergies if you DO pudding. I know my son wouldn't be able to come over if there was a "pudding party"

Also, I agree again..... that's too many young children to watch and try and stop from putting shaving cream in their mouths.

You can make edible playdough, I've never tried but I saw it on tv I think or online.