Monthly PlaYDate SUBSCRIPTION BOX by Encourage Play

Designed to help your child build social skills THROUGH PLAY!

If you are anything like my family, we are scrambling to find the kids activities to keep them entertained during the summer weekends. While our kids are kept busy throughout the week with school and activities, they seem to stare at us with those ‘I’m bored” eyes and there is just so much ‘free-time’ activities you can do when you throw a toddler into the mix. Brie needs our attention and Brooke wants to be part of whatever it is she is doing. What we have learned is that kids love to learn through play and there are many wonderful resources that encourage family play. Janine Halloran, LMHC & School Counselor and Mom has created monthly PlaYDate subscription boxes and they seem to come at the perfect time when we need some extra resources to help kids learn social skills and FUN while playing.

The Official Journal of American Academy of Pediatrics puts it perfectly: “Play is essential to development because it contributes to the cognitive, physical, social, and emotional well-being of children and youth.”

So what is Included in the PlaYDate Kit:

A different theme every month!

Each month focuses on a different social skill designed to encourage play and friendships, with an explanation of why the topic of the month is important and helpful to kids who are learning how to play with others and build friendships.

Playdate Activities.

Yes! This one works so well for our kiddos. Each box includes ready to go activities for a small playdate (2 kids).

A family activity

Family Activity – The boxes include an activity that a family can do as part of a game night, or just for fun together to continue to build the skill. Really fun.

July’s Activity Box

Theme: Taking Turns!

Family Activities:
- Card Game Go Fish! Encourages family involvement and taking turns. Fun game for wonderful time with the kiddos.
- Partner Drawing. This activity involves each member of the family taking turns at drawing a picture together. Lots of fun!
- Tell a Story: Creating family stories where each person adds a sentence as the story happens.
Making Your Own Memory Game
- Memory Game that you personalized. The game includes 40 wooden coins, 40 stickers and a set of colored pencils. Your kids draw two of the same pictures on every two coins to make your very own personalized memory game. This is definitely the most fun we have had doing a family memory game!
Roll and Die and Make a Crazy Critter
- Creating a Critter is as simple as rolling a die and drawing the image that correspondence to the number on the die. There is a crazy critter board that has columns of die roll body parts versus the number that is on the die roll.

The Encourage Play box was a lot of fun for the whole family and Brooke had a blast being hands on in creating the game as well as being such a big girls at learning to take turns. This is a great way to do family game night and playing together as a family. It’s a fun creative process and we have had a wonderful time!

Some of the past box themes include;

Following Directions
Picking Up on Clues
Solving Problems
Managing Feelings
Flexibility
Working Together

Besides the monthly subscriptions, you can also purchase specific PlaYDate boxes perfectly designed for your family. We really love the DIY Treasure Hunt Box! While most of the boxes are geared for elementary aged children, we were able to easily incorporate Brie into the activities with the watchful eye of her parents (and Brooke)! What a wonderful way to spend a Saturday sans television and after all our outdoor activities were exhausted (mostly by the HEAT). Check out the Encourage Play website for ideas, subscription and box purchases perfect for you and your little ones. You won’t regret it.

DIY Treasure Hunt Box for just $ 10.00!