Are you looking for playdate activities for 5-year-olds? If so, you have come to the right spot! In this post, I’ll be sharing fun and easy playdate activities for the 5-year-old in your life.
What Are Playdates
Playdates are like scheduled hangouts for kids, where they can play and have fun with their friends. It’s a time for them to enjoy each other’s company and do activities they like, whether playing games, doing crafts or exploring the outdoors.
What Are The Benefits Of Playdates
Playdates for 5-year-olds offer several benefits. They promote social skills like sharing, taking turns, and making friends. Through play, kids develop creativity, problem-solving abilities, and communication skills.
Playdates also provide opportunities for fun and learning in a social setting, contributing to a child’s overall social and emotional development.
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Indoor Playdate Activities for 5-Year-Olds
These playdate activities are great for indoors. So whether it’s raining or you can’t do outdoor activities here are some options for indoor play dates that will keep the young kids happy.
Build With Legos or Blocks
Get creative with Legos or Blocks. Bring them out and have the kids build something fun.
If you have Legos there is an app called Brickit that allows you to build a new creation with the Legos you already have. It is something I see every Lego-obsessed kid getting into. Not only that, but this would be a great activity on a rainy day.
Play With Balloons
Playing with balloons might not sound like anything particularly exciting, but trust me, kids love it. You will be amazed at how much joy and entertainment they can get from something as simple as a balloon.
One fun idea is to turn it into a game, like keeping the balloon from touching the ground, which can keep the little ones entertained for hours.
Be sure to keep an eye out on the kids since this can be a choking hazard if they were to put them in their mouths.
Bake Cookies or Cupcakes
Bake cookies with them or have the kids help you make cupcakes. When done, they can take the time to decorate their cupcakes. Provide sprinkles and frosting. This is a good idea for young children and older kids.
Hide And Seek
What fun way to keep the younger children happy and busy than by playing hide and seek? The best part is you don’t have to do anything for the kids to have so much fun.
Musical Chairs or Freeze Dance
Musical chairs and freeze dance are great games for 5-year-olds. They are easy to understand and super fun. Both games keep kids active, entertained, and giggling with their friends. The best part is you have everything you need to play the game.
Have a Dance Party
Hosting a dance party is another great idea for playdates. Play some Kidz Bop music or other kid-friendly music, and watch the kids have a great time. Even older children would enjoy getting in on the fun and showing off their dance moves.
Build a Fort
Grab a bunch of blankets, pillows, and some chairs, and build an epic fort in the living room. It will be your go-to rainy-day activity. Don’t forget to bring out the healthy snacks. Any five-year-old is going to love that.
Indoor Treasure Hunt
An indoor treasure hunt is awesome for 5-year-olds at playdates because it’s like a fun game of hide-and-seek with hidden surprises. They get to work together, solve clues, and find cool stuff, which makes it super exciting and keeps them entertained.
Plus, it is a way for them to use their brains and teamwork skills while having a blast with their friends.
Play With Magnet Tiles
If you’ve got magnet tiles lying around, they are a great way to keep the little ones busy during playdates. With magnet tiles, kids can let their imaginations run wild, building everything from race car tracks to castles. It’s a fun and open-ended activity that sparks creativity and keeps them engaged for hours!
Dress Up and Pretend Play
This will spark their imagination! Have them play doctor or like they are at the grocery store. Not only will they have a blast, but they will be preoccupied for a good time.
Build a Cardboard Box Fort
It’s like building a fort but with cardboard boxes instead! Sometimes, the simplest things are the most appealing to kids, and this is one of them. If you have any spare boxes lying around the house, this is the best way to put them to use and have some fun!
Simon Says
Simon Says is good for 5-year-olds because it is a fun game where they copy actions. They also learn to listen carefully and follow instructions.
It is an easy and active game that helps them practice taking turns—all important skills for little ones! What a fantastic way for the kids to play and keep them entertained.
Watch a Movie
Go all out and watch a movie. Pick the yummy snacks, maybe some fresh fruit, and bring out the comfy pillows. Have the kids pick out the movie they want to watch. There’s not much work that goes into this so it’ll be an easy activity that will keep them happy and entertained. The kids will enjoy it.
Play The Floor is Lava
Any five-year-old is going to love playing the floor is lava! Set the ground rules and let them know they can’t touch the ground. Watch as they figure out how to get from one side of the room to the other. Not only will this keep them busy but they will also be working on their problem-solving skills.
Outdoor Playdate Activities for 5-Year-Olds
If you are looking for outdoor play activities here are several playdate activities for 5-year-olds that will keep them entertained:
Freeze Toys in a Bowl
Freeze toys in a bowl is just that. You grab some plastic toys small to medium-sized toys that will fit in a plastic bowl then you freeze them. The goal is to save the toys/get them out.
They can toss them to the ground to make it easier to break free or use their body heat, a wooden mallet, or whatever you want. They will have so much fun trying to get them out. You can also put them in an ice cube tray.
Build an Obstacle Course
Build a couple of different obstacle courses for the little kids! Have them jump over hula hoops, cones, or cushions if you were doing this indoors. Incorporate things like crawling, balancing, or weaving through cones.
It will keep the kids busy all while they are having a blast doing this.
Outdoor Picnic
Take the kids to the local park for a picnic. The best thing about this is they can run around the playground and get all that energy out. Bring some healthy snacks, maybe some fresh fruit, then afterward go to the ice cream parlor for a little treat.
Red Light, Green Light Game
Red light, green light for five years olds is another great idea for playdates. It is a classic game that all kids love doing.
Sensory Play
Sensory play is a hit at playdates with 5-year-olds because kids can dive in, scoop up, and discover all sorts of cool textures, from smooth rice to squishy beans.
It is a hands-on way for them to play, explore, and have a good time with their friend. The best part, in my opinion, is you can easily change up the sensory bins to something else.
Explore a Nearby Park
Go to your local park or go to a new park you have not been to and let the kids roam around to get all that energy out. Bring a soccer ball or maybe a frisbee they can play with.
Play With Water Balloons
Playing with water balloons is perfect for hot summer days, and Bunch O Balloons make it super easy to fill them up.
Try drawing a target on a wall or the ground and have a blast tossing water balloons at it. It is a simple yet exciting game that will keep everyone occupied and happy. Put this on your list of fun activities for playdates! The younger and older children will have a blast doing this.
Outdoor Scavenger Hunt
An outdoor scavenger hunt is a great playdate activity for 5-year-olds because it’s like a fun adventure in the backyard. Kids get to search for particular treasures while enjoying fresh air and playtime with friends. If an outdoor scavenger hunt isn’t an option you can also do an indoor scavenger hunt. If that is the case take a look at this one right here.
Sidewalk Chalk Drawing
Bring out the chalk and have the kids draw. This is something you won’t have to do much to keep them happy and you most likely have chalk at home. So it’s a win-win!
Blow Bubbles
It is a simple activity you can do with 5-year-olds! Not only will they have fun, but you probably already have some in hand, making this an ideal activity for young kids. We love the big bubble wands.
If you don’t have that check it out. It’s a big hit for us. I can see kids of all ages having fun with it.
Arts and Crafts Playdate Activities for 5-Year-Olds
Here are several arts and crafts activities for 5-year-olds to consider:
Finger Painting
Set up a designated area with all the supplies needed and bring out the washable finger paint. Then, let the kids unleash their creativity as they have a blast creating their unique artwork. This is a simple and enjoyable activity that your five-year-old will have fun doing.
Play With Playdough
Playing with playdough at playdates is awesome for 5-year-olds because they can make all sorts of cool things, which sparks their imagination and creativity. It’s also a great way for them to hang out with friends and have a good time together!
Make Friendship Bracelets
Making friendship bracelets at playdates is a blast for 5-year-olds! They get to choose their favorite beads and strings to share with their friends.
It’s a fun activity that lets them be creative. Alternatively, you can make necklaces from pasta. There are so many creative ways kids can make bracelets or necklaces. This is a fun way for them to spend time with their friends.
Paint Rocks
Head outside with the kids to hunt for rocks to paint—it’s a blast! Once you have finished painting them, hide the rocks around your neighborhood for others to find.
Make Paper Airplanes & Decorate Them
Making a paper airplane is a simple thing anyone can do. Not only that, but every young kid will think it’s the coolest thing. Once you are done doing the paper airplane, color it.
Play With Sticker Books
Playing with sticker books is a great activity for a 5-year-old because it encourages creativity and helps develop fine motor skills. Kids love selecting stickers and placing them in the books, which spark their imagination.
This also allows them to practice hand-eye coordination and dexterity as they peel and stick the stickers.
Here are some sticker books we love playing with!
Paint With Water
If you have never heard of painting with water it is quite simple. It is a mess-free activity that can be done indoors or outdoors. Kids use paintbrushes or sponges to paint on surfaces that change color when wet.
This activity helps develop fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination. Plus, since this is just water, cleanup is a breeze. Making it ideal for playdates where parents want to minimize mess.
Final Thoughts on Playdate Activities For 5-Year-Old
By scheduling playdate activities, parents can encourage their child’s social skills, imagination, and confidence while bringing up a love for learning and friendship that will last a lifetime.
So, whether it’s crafting masterpieces, tackling adventures, or simply sharing giggles, every playdate is a chance for children to thrive and make the most of their precious childhood moments.
If you found some great playdate activities for 5-year-olds in this post feel free to share this with a friend or save it to refer back to when you need to.
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