Is there anything more nerve-wracking than trying to organize your first kid’s playdate? One parent took to Reddit to vent about the stress of reaching out to another parent for a playdate, and honestly, many of us feel this in our bones.
The parent shared her story: “My super social 4-year-old has been asking to hang out with her friend from daycare, so I finally bit the bullet and texted her mom. This is more stressful than dating ever was 🫠 does it get easier?”
I just asked another parent for a play date and it feels worse than dating.
byu/One-Organization-917 inParenting
The overwhelming stress of making the first move
For parents, setting up playdates can feel like navigating a whole new social minefield. One commenter, Ok_Masterpiece_8830, summed it up perfectly: “That’s basically every single time for me and trying to make Mom friends. I’ve managed to make a couple of them, but they live far away, so it’s just squirrelly trying to get everyone together.”
Another, sunrisedHorizon, added: “It feels so much like dating, and I get so anxious when I don’t get a response straight away. I hate it.”
Even worse? The dreaded ghosting. But, as o_Tiger_7067 reminded everyone: “It gets a lot easier. It takes practice! And there’s usually a script you can follow… Also, don’t feel bad if they ghost you. On to the next one 🤷🏻♀️.”
A creative hack: playdate “business cards”
One of the most creative solutions came from a user named punknprncss, who shared a brilliant idea: “I’ve heard the new thing is printing little business cards for the kids. ‘Hi, my name is Joey. I’d like to have a playdate, please have your grownup text my mom to set it up.’” Genius.
It’s practical, cute, and takes the pressure off parents who struggle with those initial awkward conversations. While it may be too much for a 4-year-old, for older kids, this idea could be a game-changer.
Related: Introverted parents will love this mom’s playdate ‘business cards’
Is there an app for that?
The thread exploded with parents joking about how playdate planning feels like dating apps. One commenter, ReginaldDwight, suggested: “We need some sort of (absolutely nonsexual obviously) playdate Tinder. Kinder. I interact with people online far easier than in person.”
Honestly, that’s not far from reality. For parents feeling the stress of coordinating playdates, apps like BeeKyn are making it easier than ever. BeeKyn helps families find personalized playdate matches based on their preferences and helps with custom scheduling tools, making that awkward first move less daunting.
So, the next time you’re sweating over a text to another parent, remember that you’re not alone. It’s awkward now, but it gets easier with time (or a little help from technology).
Related: Viral TikTok ignites debate about charging ‘expenses’ to fellow parents after playdates
Let’s make it easier for parents
Parenting is hard enough without the added stress of playdate negotiations. Whether you’re printing “playdate cards,” downloading a helpful app, or just rolling with the awkwardness, the key is to keep showing up for your kids—and yourself.
Would you try “playdate cards” or an app like BeeKyn? Let us know your favorite hacks for setting up playdates in the comments!
