a hot cocoa play date is the perfect way to stay warm and cozy this winter with your littles…and also makes for the cutest christmas party or valentine’s day set up!

whether you’re gearing up for a christmas party or you’re gearing up for the new year, full of possibilities and promises, it is busy! in ohio, these first few months bring about the true winter weather… snow, freezing temps and also the perfect time for a hot cocoa playdate! one of the things i have found vital to my sanity + happiness as a stay at home mama is the ability to see other adults, build friendships + make these days count with our babes. the time is fleeting and one of the many things i enjoy is having friends + family over for play dates! the kids always love having their buddies over and it also lends itself to some fun mama chat + comradery in this journey of mamahood.

get your hot chocolate play date supplies

one main rule i have in our house is to keep things simple.. as a busy mama to four babes, on a budget, i tend to judge what is worth my time and what is worth it to purchase. for playdates {often with other twin mama’s}, our house quickly fills up and top on the list is filling bellies! i like to keep the menu simple with snacks {and a box of frozen mac n cheese if the time calls for it}.

hot cocoa play date

on the menu:

hot cocoa of course {a gallon of milk in the crockpot + swiss miss to desired!}
this hot cocoa is a favorite!
fruit salad {our favorite serving bowls}
mini muffins
marshmallow stick men
marshmallow floaters
chocolate stirring sticks
the cutest personalized hot cocoa mugs

a craft or activity

aside from a snack, i always like to have one low maintenance craft or activity. i’m not someone that is bothered by a little mess, so as long as it’s easy to clean up, i’m happy to throw some towels or newspaper on the floor and let the kids go to town painting or playing with a ‘messy/sensory box’….enter this instant snow!! especially if you live in a state that doesn’t wind up with the beautiful white powder, this is such a fun way to get the fun inside! just follow the directions and let the kids play. after first introducing, i always add in some scoops and bowls to add to the fun!

checkout these other winter toddler activities:

the mitten | toddler tuesday

watercolor snowflake resist | toddler tuesday

canvas snowflake resist | toddler tuesdays

a little take home

while absolutely not necessary, a little goody bag to take home is always fun…and for this type of play date, a simple baggie with some cute marshmallows, a chocolate stirring stick, paired with a packet of hot cocoa is sure to do the trick!

a huge thank you to the amazing ivory lamb photography for capturing our fun! as always, all thoughts and opinions expressed are 100% my own.

floating marshmallow snowmen
floating snowflake marshmallows
marshmallow snowmen on a stick
chocolate stirring sticks
personalized hot cocoa mugs {old – similar here}