Seeing your little one interact with others and learn how to navigate social situations is one of the best feelings in the world. After all, as parents, we desperately want our children to be happy. We want them to step out into the world with a sense of confidence and ease - and making friends is one of the first big steps in the right direction.

If your little one hasn’t been on a playdate before, then you may be wondering how it all works. You might be asking yourself questions such as - Who is going to supervise the children? How long will the playdate go on for? What time should I drop them off? Will they be safe in another person’s home?

Although you might have been afraid of coming across as a ‘pushy parent’ for wanting to ask these questions - please know that they are all completely valid! What’s more, we’re here to answer them!

First of all, let’s talk about why it’s important to ask questions before a playdate.

Why is it important to ask questions before a playdate?

People underestimate how scary it is to hand your child over to another grown-up, even if it is for a few hours. Although some parents will be more laid back about this sort of thing than others, it’s completely understandable to want to ask questions. In fact - we think it’s rather sensible! Although many homes will be a safe space for a child, unfortunately, there are a few that aren’t. There are some 3.5 million children each year that are treated in emergency departments for household accidents, recreational injuries, and even sometimes unintentional gun usage and poisonings.

Although it is unlikely your child will be exposed to any of these things - we say it’s better to be safe rather than sorry.

So, now that we’ve talked about why it’s important to ask questions before a playdate, let’s outline exactly what questions you should be asking and why:

What questions should you ask before a playdate?

Who is supervising my child?

Understanding exactly how your child will be supervised is important. The aim of asking this question is to gauge whether one of the parents will be home during the playdate, or whether there will be another adult caregiver present. If you find out that it is in fact another caregiver, it’s crucial you find out some background information first. For example, how old is this person? Have they looked after children before?

This will also help you understand whether a parent or caregiver will be nearby in case the children need something.

What will the children be doing?

Although it’s important to let children discover play on their own, getting a general sense of any playdate activities that have been planned is always a good idea. This allows you to get a handle on any physical dangers that your child may be exposed to during the playdate. For example, if there is a plan for them to ride bikes, is your child going to be provided with a helmet? If they are going to play on a trampoline, is the trampoline safe?

Are there guns in the home?

This might not be relevant depending on what country you live in. However, in some countries, like America, this is most definitely a question you should be asking. In the U.S., 1 out of every 3 homes with children has a gun. Although some parents will feel that simply talking to their children about the dangers of guns is sufficient protection, this is simply not enough. Children may still be curious and may attempt to handle a gun if they see one. This is why it’s important to find out first whether there is a gun in the home, and secondly, whether it is securely locked away.

What are the important questions I should ask before a play date?

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