Play date
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A play date or playdate is an arranged appointment for children to get together for a few hours to play. Playdates have become the standard for children of many western cultures because the work schedules for busy parents, along with media warnings about leaving children unattended, prevent the kind of play that children of other generations participated in. Playdates are also arranged by destinations that feature child-friendly programs like museums, parks or playgrounds.
The intention for a playdate is for children to have time to play either in a supervised location or on a computer. Playdates are different from activities or scheduled sports because they are not usually as structured.
Playdates are a late 20th century innovation. Playdates are becoming part of the vernacular of popular culture, and are a form of children’s down time. Most parents prefer that children use these hours to form friendships with one-on-one play or with small groups. With young children, most parents stay for a playdate and use that time to form their own friendships and parental alliances.
