One of life’s important joys is teaching your child the value of friendship. You’ll be giving her the confidence it takes to make new friends and influence people. During pre-school years, play dates can be very helpful in this regard.

Dressing up and showing off her hair accessories collection develops the social skills that she’ll need when she grows up. And having fun sharing her baby gifts with her playmates teaches her how generosity works to uplift everyone.

Planning play dates with other parents helps you develop a healthy network, and while the children are playing, you and the other parents can take a break and enjoy some chit-chat. Share parenting tips and discuss parenting challenges. Who knows? You might just have the answers to their questions, or vice versa. Parents are a tremendous source of support for each other.

Here are more tips for you and your kids when you’re on play dates:

• If your child is not comfortable with new faces, start within the extended family. If she has siblings, let them join in as well. This is her first taste of play dates and it will introduce her to the concept of relating to others, which will be very helpful as she grows older.

• Eventually, introduce her to other kids who are close to her age. Your local playground is a place to meet other parents who may be interested in having play dates or starting a playgroup.

• Ask around for activities and events for children in your community center or local library. These are good places to meet other parents and families. It could be an arts and crafts workshop where you and your little one can design and make cute hair accessories together.

• If you are hosting the play date, make sure to ask for all details beforehand. Parents with more than one child may need to bring all of their children with them to the play date.

• Plan out fun activities for the kids. If it’s an all-girl play date, they may enjoy playing dress up as princesses. You can use old clothes as props and pretty embellishments like hair clips. Depending on the activities you planned, the children might need adult supervision. Be ready to assist them.

• What’s a play date without some snacks? Just be sure to check if anybody has food allergies.

• Try to keep the first few play dates short, to see if the kids hit it off. If they get along well and enjoy it, then you can start increasing the time of succeeding dates.

• Your place does not have to be play date central. You can talk to the other parents and take turns hosting.

• Play dates are meant to be enjoyable. If your child is going through separation anxiety, it may not be the right time for play dates yet.