playdates matter
Positive experiences with friends play a
major and lasting role in a child’s well-being.
the research is clear
Connecting families. nurturing friendships.
Sadly, the state of youth mental health is worse than it's been in decades. Over 20% of elementary-aged children have a current mental health diagnosis, with many others remaining undiagnosed. Of course, many factors have led us here: the overuse of media, the pandemic, a climate of division in our country, and rising parent stress levels, among many others. The good news is that therapists, psychologists, and psychiatrists are very good at diagnosing and treating these issues. But let's work to prevent them.
Studies show that positive peer interactions as early as age five are protective against mental health issues into the teen years and adulthood. This is why we are so passionate about playdates. We hope you join us.
references
Children's Mental Health Data & Research Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2025, June 5). Data and statistics on children's mental health. https://www.cdc.gov/children-mental-health/data-research/index.html
ADHD Data & Statistics Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024, November 19). Data and statistics on ADHD | Attention-Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). https://www.cdc.gov/adhd/data/index.html
Autism Spectrum Disorder Data & Statistics Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities. (2025, May 27). Data and statistics on Autism Spectrum Disorder. https://www.cdc.gov/autism/data-research/index.html
Autism Prevalence Studies Data Table Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2025, May 27). Autism prevalence studies data table | Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). https://www.cdc.gov/autism/data-research/data-table.html
Laursen et al. Journal Article Laursen, B., Bukowski, W. M., Aunola, K., & Nurmi, J. E. (2007). Friendship moderates prospective associations between social isolation and adjustment problems in young children. Child Development, 78(4), 1395–1404. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-8624.2007.01072.x
how does time to play help ?
Strengthen Connections. Boost youth Well-Being.
mental health and social skills for kids
Nurture Whole-Child Wellbeing. Boost Achievement.
Foster Friendship & Inclusion: Every child gains equal access to friendship regardless of language, identity, or social class, combating isolation, bullying and loneliness.
Deepen Existing Bonds: Strengthen and enrich current friendships, developing critical social skills.
Combat Anxiety & Depression: Strong friendships at an early age buffer against youth mental health challenges well into teen and adulthood.
Boost Academic Performance: Meaningful social connections are directly linked to improved engagement & school success.
More Social, Less Media: Combat the negative effects of media overuse by providing easy to schedule, unstructured social interactions as an alternative.
Eliminate Language Barriers: Different languages in your school? No problem! The app is web-based so families can use any browser translator to fully engage with other parents.
make it easy for parents - so playdates actually happen
Remove Barriers for Parents. Encourage Social Interaction.
Schedule Playdates in 20 Seconds: No more tracking down contact info, cold texting, or comparing schedules.
See Times that Work for Everyone: The platform cross-references each child’s typical availability to show you times that should work for everyone.
Safe and Secure Classroom Groups: Connect with other verified parents in your child's class in a secure setting for worry-free playdates and birthday party planning.
Everyone’s in the Loop: All caregivers get direct access to playdate details and chat, no middleman.
Completely Free: Time to Play will always be a completely free resource to schools and families so every child has equal access to friendship.
New Adult Friendships and Support: Being a parent is hard and lonely at time. Playdates for kids open up more critical social connections for us grown-ups too!