McDonalds Playground Suggestions

Once or twice a month, I take Grace to the McDonald’s playground to let her play.  Sometimes we go alone, and sometimes we meet other friends for a play date.  Based on my own experience, I follow three simple rules for a fun experience:

1. Eat first.  I prefer Grace to eat her happy meal before going to the play equipment.  If she went back and forth between her food and the playground, she would spread her own mess to other kids who are playing, and she would pick up germs and then put them in her mouth when she came back to eat again.  Ewww!
2. Clean up, then play.  After she’s done eating, we wash her hands and then she is good to go.  I take that opportunity to throw away the trash and clean up the table. 
3. Save the happy meal toy for when we are ready to leave.  I do this for several reasons.  One, it keeps the toy clean (no ketchup and saliva!).  Two, it keeps the toy from getting broken or lost on the play equipment.  Three, it is a HUGE motivation for when it is time to leave.  She never gets upset when I say it’s time to go, because she is looking forward to opening the toy and playing with it in the car on the way home.

This works for me!  For more Works-For-Me-Wednesday tips, visit We Are THAT Family.