Weekend Activities for Six Year Old

I think we have become a generation of scheduling play, which makes it harder and harder for our kids to use their creativity and self discovery. Let them learn how to entertain themselves, rather than taking it on as our responsibility.

My kids are older, but if I had to do it again, I'd banish the word "play-date" and allow my kids to be the directors of their own social lives, even at younger ages.

I'm not saying don't have friends over. But I'd be reluctant to "fill up a calendar". Take each day as it comes. Play with the neighbors. Be spontaneous. Coach your child on using the phone and calling up her friends to invite them over or out to play if she complains about being lonely.

I didn't start our son in any activities till he was in 2nd grade.
So at kindergarten age he got plenty of unstructured play time.
He built forts out of blankets, pillows and cardboard boxes.
I never scheduled any play dates.
We'd sometimes go to a firehouse open house/pancake breakfast but not every weekend.
Sometimes we'd go to one of several playgrounds and run around for a few hours or collect lost golf balls on a trail next to the golf course.
It's nice to sometimes have a playmate.
But it's also nice to not have one too.
Don't over schedule her - leave her some free time.

i honestly don't get this.
6 year olds should be brimming with energy and ideas and things to do. i never felt it necessary to schedule every hour for them, nor do i think it's healthy to do so.
one play date or trip the library or park per weekend is the most i'd do. the rest of their gloriously unencumbered weekend time should be theirs to fill with imagination, toys, books and running around outside.
khairete
S.

Yes, when you don't have kids in the neighborhood you have to make an effort to have kids over, that's what I always did.
And AGAIN, she needs to learn how to play independently sometimes. I have an ADHD daughter who hates to be on her own but I just tell her sorry sweetheart, as much as you want constant stimulation that just isn't realistic. Your daughter needs to learn the same thing.

Don't overschedule her. She needs this time away from school to enjoy, relax and have fun.

Occasionally you can call a parent & request a playdate at your house or at
a local park.

Let you daughter sleep in a little, have fun at home playing w/her toys.

Take her to different parks near your home.
Make weekly trips to the library.
Take her to an outdoor mall to walk around.
If any of your malls have indoor playgrounds....take her there to play w/other kids & get some activity.

She's already going to have a rec program so she'll need some rest from
that.

Take her to a kids movie.
Play cards w/her.
Play board games w/her.
Take her grocery shopping with you so you both get out of the house.

This is the itme to let her be....have fun & rest.

Take her to the zoo, out to lunch, out for yogurt etc.
Occasional fun outings but don't over do it. Let her relax & enjoy her summer.

We always had a YMCA membership so we could drop in anytime we wanted to use the playstructure, the pool or to participate in drop in activities. My kids often had playdates with friends, both at our house and at the friends houses.

My almost 6 year old daughter has nothing scheduled on the weekends. She did have morning soccer games on Saturday but this has ended. We make breakfast. If I have to go grocery shopping or run an errand she usually wants to come with me. We might go swimming or to the library. I walk the dog each morning and about half the time she joins me...we go to a nearby trail which she loves exploring. Sometimes she invites a friend over. Sometimes we go to a movie (not often though). Sometimes we have a family outing planned...the beach, hiking, exploring another town, a museum or something like this. She likes to ride her bike or scooter so we will sometimes to a neighborhood walk where she can ride. Sometimes I get out art supplies or craft supplies and set them out and get her started on something. My son is 11 and when he was 6 he was super social and always wanted a friend over...so about every other weekend we invited over one of his friends or he got invited over to their house. Or he would play with neighborhood kids. Right now most of the neighbor kids are my son's age and not young like my daughter. She often comes up with some kind of pretend game all on her own when she is bored. If your daughter is really bored, then yes, why don't you invite over one of her friends on a regular basis. I see nothing wrong with that!

I say go for it in terms of calling to set up play dates. However, at this age, prepared to host the parent for the first few times (or every time if the pool is open) because until the other parents get to know you and get to see how the kids get along, they will probably want to make sure everything is ok at the playdate.

Sure. Of course your daughter needs to learn to play alone some but years ago there were other kids outside to just go join in with. That doesn't happen as easily now so unfortunately parents have to schedule things.