100+ Ultimate Playdate Ideas for 5 Year Olds

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Creating playdate ideas for 5 year olds can be so much fun!

There are endless options when it comes to activities that you can do.

Whether you stay indoors or venture outdoors, your little ones will have a blast! This article will share some of our favorite playdate ideas for five-year-olds. So get ready to have some fun!

Playdate Benefits

Parents often worry about their child’s social and emotional development. One way to encourage positive social skills is through playdates.

Here are some benefits of playdates:

Provide opportunities to share, take turns, and cooperate with others
Practice communication and problem-solving skills
Helps children learn how to handle emotions such as frustration and disappointment.

Of course, not all playdates will be perfect. There may be some disagreements or arguments.

However, these challenges can also provide valuable lessons. Kids can learn how to resolve conflicts peacefully.

Playdates can be a fun and beneficial way for your kids to socialize while learning essential life skills.

playdate ideas for 5 year olds — Outside Play at a Park Playdate

Indoor Playdate Ideas

Little girl playing a board game — Board Game Playdate

Board Games

Rhino Hero is a triple award-winning card game that is perfect for 5-year-olds
The Family Treasure Hunt Game can be modified for your playdate. It includes indoor & outdoor hunts.
Ticket to Ride First Journey is a super fun game. It takes 15-30 minutes to play a game.
Dragon’s Breath is an entertaining game. It won Children’s Game of the Year!
Outfoxed is perfect for your playdate. Classic whodunit board game!
Bugs in the Kitchen is easy to learn and play with. The kids will love it!
Learning Resources Sum Swamp Game is an addition and subtraction game kids will love!
Disney Princess Matching Game, Your princess-loving girls will have so much fun!
Domino Creations Set is a 100-piece neon domino set. Create designs and watch them tumble!
Candy Land Deluxe This is a little pricey but worth it. It also comes in a beautiful nostalgic tin and not a cheap box.
Sorry Deluxe Game This comes in a nostalgic tin like the Candy Land game. I LOVE IT!!!
Kids Monopoly Junior is perfect for 5-year-old playdates! Check it out for other variations of this game!

More Board Game Ideas

Chutes and Ladders: Disney Princess Edition Perfect for a princess-themed playdate!
Giant Checkers Board Game Rug With Reversible Tic Tac Toe Kids will LOVE this!
Connect Four Classic fun for kids of all ages!
Connect Four Jumbo Game With Carrying Bag Worth the money to invest in this. So fun!!
Twister is a classic game that is so much fun for kids!
Blokus is an over-sized game board that is a lot of fun for younger and older kids!
The Floor is Lava. My kids love playing this game! Perfect for playdates!
Operation Board Game that is a lot of nerve-wracking fun!
The Game of Life Junior is a super fun board game!
Clue Disney Edition, The kids will enjoy this Disney-themed game!
Kerplunk, Your kids will love this blast from the past game!
Guess Who is such a fun game your children will enjoy!
Hungry Hungry Hippos Unicorn Edition You will be the mom of the year with this one!?
Enchanted Forest is a magical treasure hunt game.
Picture Charades is perfect for five-year-olds

person playing Uno card game — Card Game Playdate

Kids Card Games Ideas

War Card Game is a beautifully illustrated game with cats and dogs.
Crazy Eights with funny animal illustrations.
Spoons The game of card grabbing and spoon snagging!
Uno Classic card game in a sturdy storage tin!

Paper Games Ideas

Hangman
Tick Tack Toe
Dots and Boxes Click on the link to learn how to play!

Video Games Ideas

2 children painting on a playdate — Painting Playdate

Arts and Craft Playdate Ideas

Art Projects

Click on the links for instructions for these projects!

Crafts Projects

Sensory Play Ideas

Find more details on how to create these from The Spruce Crafts!

Homemade Slime
Frozen Pom Pom Bin
Scented Edible Finger paints
Rainbow Soap Foam
DIY Stress Ball
Alphabet Car Wash
Calm Down Bottle
Magnetic Alphabet Fishing

More Fun Indoor Playdate Ideas

Creating an Indoor Fort or Clubhouse

Use sheets, blankets, cardboard boxes, or pillows. And let your kids use their imaginations!

Children having a dance party — Dance Party Playdate

Dance Party in Living Room

Don’t overthink this one or go overboard. Put on some fun music and let them dance! Provide fun snacks and drinks, and you are all set!

DIY Indoor Bowling

Click here for instructions on how to easily do this!

Indoor Treasure Hunt or Scavenger Hunt

Check these scavenger hunt ideas out for lots of fun times with your kids!

Children looking at a map having a scavenger hunt outside — Scavenger Hunt Playdate

Magic Tricks Ideas

Try these fun magic tricks with the kids!

Indoor Obstacle Course

Check out this obstacle course article for the best way to create a DIY obstacle course!

Guess the Object Game

First, put interesting objects in a box.
Blindfold the child.
Then, have them take turns guessing what the items are.

Gymnastics Fun

Set up a “balance beam” with painter’s tape on the floor.
Walk forwards and then backward
Try doing this blindfolded, “feeling” the tape with their feet

Create a “Road” With Painter’s Tape For Your Child’s Hot Wheel Cars

This game can go as far as your imagination can dream up!
The “road” can go throughout your house using objects for obstacles, street signs, little houses, etc.

The Floor is Lava Game

All you need to do for this is yell, “the floor is lava!” And the kids will take over from there!?

Children playing Princess dress-up and superhero dress-up — Princess or Superhero Dress Up Playdate

Build a Dollhouse With Cards and Tape

I LOVE this idea because building card houses can frustrate young children. But taping the structures together remedies that problem! And they can have fun afterward with their little dolls and animals in their new dollhouse. Check out the instructions for the doll house of cards from artfulparent.com.

Even MORE Indoor Playdate Ideas

Put Together a Play, Performance, or Puppet Show
Princess Dress Up
Superhero Dress Up
Movie and Snacks
Puzzles
Indoor Tea Party or Picnic
Duck Duck Goose
Musical Chairs
Coloring
Stencils and Stamps
Play “Teacher” Taking Turns With Who is Teacher and Student
Play With Play-Doh or Make Your Own

Baking and Games Activities

Bake cookies or muffins together
Simon says, indoor or outdoors.
Painting Party With Watercolors, Chalk Pastels, or Acrylic Paints
I spy
Hot Potato game
Balloon Keep Up Game
Balloon Volleyball
Sock Basketball
Indoor Marbles
Play With Legos or Building Blocks
Indoor Picnic
Play With Magnet Tiles
Jewelry Making

Children bouncing in a bounce house — Bounce House Playdate

Places to Go for Playdates

Chuck E. Cheese
Bounce House
Bowling
Roller skating
Ice skating
Museum
Aquarium
Movie Theater
Laser Tag
Arcade Play Place
Mini-golf
local park play area
zoo
Amusement Park
Water Park

Outdoor Playdate Activities

Water play, water table, sprinklers
Scavenger hunt
Obstacle course
Ring toss
Bubbles
Nerf guns
Hide and seek
Backyard camping
Chalk play in the driveway
Hopscotch
Outdoor marbles
Fly a kite
Picnic

2 boys flying a kite — Kite Flying Playdate

Frequently Asked Questions

How long should a playdate be for 5-year-olds?

How long a playdate should depend on your chosen activities. And what the child’s parents agree to.

An afternoon or 3-4 hours is a reasonable time frame if you know your child’s friends well. Mornings can also be a great time of day to have a playdate. They could play for 2-3 hours and go home after lunch.

At what age are playdates important?

When is the best age to begin having playdates? It depends on the child. Some toddlers may be ready to socialize with other kids as early as 18 months old. At the same time, others may not be interested in playdates until they are 3 or 4 years old.

Paying attention to your child’s cues is important since there aren’t any hard and fast rules. If they seem interested in interacting with other kids, then a playdate could be a great way to encourage socialization.

Of course, it’s important to supervise playdates closely, regardless of your child’s age. Being vigilant ensures that no one gets hurt. And that the playdate is enjoyable for all involved.

What food should I prepare for a playdate?

First, ask the child’s parents if they have any food allergies or intolerances. Secondly, you’ll want to ensure that the food is something that both children and adults enjoy. And finally, you’ll want to choose relatively easy foods to eat and clean up.

Some great options for playdate snack time include fruit kabobs, veggie straws, mini pizzas, and yogurt parfaits.

These foods are fun to eat, easy to clean up, and unlikely to cause any allergies. So whether you’re looking for some healthy snacks or some sweet treats, these options should have you covered.

How do you end a playdate?

The end of a playdate can be tricky, especially if your child is having a good time. And he doesn’t want it to end!

If possible, try to end the playdate positively by doing something that everyone will enjoy. For example, you could have a final snack or game together.

You could also take a few minutes to chat with the other adults about how the playdate went. If your child is still reluctant to leave, try to explain that it’s time to go home. Let them know that they’ll see their friends again soon.

Finally, say goodbye and “thank you” before leaving. A little politeness goes a long way in ensuring that future playdates are just as enjoyable.

tug of war playdate ideas for 5 year olds

Final Thoughts

With this list of 100+ fun playdate ideas for five-year-olds, you should be able to find plenty of activities that will keep your little ones entertained.

From indoor games and crafts to outdoor adventures and challenges, there’s something for everyone on this list.

Mix things up so that the playdates never get too predictable or boring. And have fun with it! The goal is to create happy memories for both you and your child.

What’s your favorite activity from our list? Do you have an idea to share?

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