Why playdates are key to preparing young kids for school
Why playdates are key to preparing young kids for school
Playdates are the best way to prepare young children for school, according to a leading family psychologist.
Dr. Martha Deiros Collado has 25 years of clinical experience and has conducted research by examining peer-reviewed papers (particularly longitudinal studies and meta-analysis) on playdates, school readiness, social play in the early years, socialization in 2-to 6-year-olds, loneliness and parenting.
She said one of the most valuable things parents can do before September has nothing to do with reading or numbers — it's arranging a playdate.
Kids between the ages of 4 and 6 who play with other children “regularly” learn to practice things like turn-taking, empathy, patience, communication and problem-solving in a “natural and meaningful way” — making them more “school ready.”
As Dr. Martha explained to BBC Studios, “Playdates are the most important thing a parent can arrange to help a child get ready for school.
“There is a wealth of science that shows children’s early play experiences with peers positively predicts better social skills and peer acceptance in reception class or kindergarten.”
The advice follows a March 31 to April 9 poll of 2,500 parents of 3- to 7-year-olds from the U.K., the U.S. and Australia commissioned by BBC Studios and carried out through OnePoll.
It found 81% have a playdate once a month or more. A further 62% believe that playdates help their child to feel more confident around other children. For 39% of those polled, the most important part of a playdate is simply seeing their child have fun.
While Dr. Martha agrees, she believes the real value often lies beneath the surface.
Through play, kids are learning how to take turns, communicate, cope when things do not go their way and build confidence with other children before they start school, according to Dr. Martha: “In the classroom, children need to share space, take turns and navigate bumps and conflicts with other children.”
“Playdates give them the chance to begin building those skills before they start school — they are like impromptu mini life-skills workshops.”
But Dr. Martha is keen to remind parents that playdates don’t always need to be smooth and trouble-free. She added, “Importantly, playdates do not need to be perfect to be valuable.
“Small disagreements, little moments of frustration and working things out together are all part of how children learn.”
When asked what activities make for a successful playdate, free outdoor play in a garden or park came top with 77% of those polled saying this was key.
Simple crafts and drawing came second (64%), with role-play and imaginative games coming third (53%).
Dr. Martha said, “Free play can be incredibly valuable for children. “It gives them the chance to imagine, negotiate, solve little problems and build confidence together, all in a way that feels natural and enjoyable.”
The poll also found that playdates can help parents and carers build local support networks.
Almost 4 in 10 (39%) said playdates have helped them to build new friendships with other adults, and similarly, 36% said they’ve had a positive impact on their social life. But while playdates appear to have many benefits, they’re not always easy to arrange.
Challenges include not knowing other parents well (32%), clashing schedules (42%), feeling awkward about reaching out (21%) and worrying about hosting at home (18%).
But children aren’t burdened with such concerns — they just want to have great playdates spent playing outside (60%), playing with toys (60%) and very often, enjoying snacks (56%).
This story was produced by BBC Studios and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
