Back-to-School Playdates: Reconnecting After Summer

Back-to-school season is weird: kids are thrilled and overwhelmed at the same time. New teacher, new classmates, new routines — and by Friday they're running on fumes.

This is the perfect moment for a low-key playdate with one familiar friend. Not a big group, not a new kid, not an elaborate activity. Just one safe person and something easy — playground, pizza, bikes around the block.

Keep it short (see: the 45-minute rule) and keep it early in the weekend so there's still downtime after. The goal is refueling, not another event on the calendar.

Bonus: it's intelligence gathering. Your kid will tell their friend things about school they won't tell you. Eavesdrop lovingly.