Emilia's Big Firsts · Story 8
About “Emilia's First Playdate”
- Ages: 2-5
- Season: Emilia's Big Firsts, story 8
Emilia invites her classmate Ellie over to play. When they both want the same music box, a sand timer, a generous first turn and some teamwork turn a tug-of-war into the tallest tower ever.
The trouble in this story is one every parent has refereed: two children, one toy. Emilia and Ellie both grab a sparkly music box, it stops playing, and both end up sad. Nobody gets scolded. Mommy brings in a sand timer, which changes the grabbing into one turn and then another, and Emilia chooses to let her guest go first. When the sand runs out, Ellie hands the music box back. After that the two friends stack a tower together, laugh when it crashes, and split a single cookie down the middle. The whole visit is here, from a hand-drawn invitation to a wave at the door.
- sharing
- taking turns
- friendship
- teamwork
- first playdate
This story comes out on YouTube on October 21. You can read it below and print its coloring page now.
The three big words
- invite
- A card that asks a friend to come.
- generous
- Happy to share what you have.
- teamwork
- Friends working together.
Tips for grown-ups
- Show your child how a timer works before a friend comes over, so the idea isn't new in the middle of a squabble. A sand timer, a kitchen timer or a slow count all work.
- Before the guest arrives, put away one or two toys that are too special to share, and set out toys that are easy to take turns with.
- Name generous moments out loud, the way the narrator does when Emilia lets Ellie go first.
- When a tug-of-war starts, talk about how both children feel before fixing it, just as the story pauses on Ellie's drooping ears and Emilia's grumbly tummy.
- Plan a building project for two. A tower that crashes is a chance to laugh and build it again, like Emilia and Ellie do.
- Make the invitation together with crayons, so your child has a part in planning the visit.
Talk about it
After watching, ask:
- What did Emilia make for Ellie?
- Which toy did they both want?
- What helped them take turns?
- Who had the first turn?
- What happened to the tall tower?
- How did they share the cookie?
Try this together
Practice taking turns with one favorite toy, using a timer or a slow count to twenty. Then build a block tower together, one block each, and count how tall it gets before it tumbles.
Free coloring page
Emilia's First Playdate: print it (US Letter or A4) or color it on screen.
Read the story
With crayons and glitter, Emilia drew
a card for her classmate: Come play! It's for you!
A card that asks a friend to come is an invite.
Ellie said yes to the invite! Saturday! All right!
On Saturday morning, she tidied her room,
and lined up her toys... zoom, zoom, ZOOM!
Then knock, knock! Who's there? Ellie! A hug!
They hugged, and they jumped on the big bunny rug!
They played with the blocks, and the drum, and the cars.
They played dress-up: a crown, and a cape full of stars!
Then they both wanted the very same toy:
a sparkly music box. Uh-oh. Oh boy.
Emilia pulled. And Ellie pulled too.
Mine! said the tugging. Now what to do?
The music box stopped. Ellie's ears drooped down low.
And Emilia's tummy felt grumbly. Oh no.
Then Mommy came in with a timer of sand.
When the sand runs down, it's your turn. Understand?
A turn for Ellie, and then one for you.
Tick, tock, tick, tock... the sand trickled through.
Emilia let Ellie go first. Oh, how kind!
Being generous means sharing, with friends in your mind.
When the sand ran down, it was Emilia's turn,
and generous Ellie gave it back. What a thing to learn!
Then they built a big tower, as tall as could be.
Ellie stacked one, and Emilia stacked... three!
Friends working together? That's teamwork! Hooray!
With teamwork, the tower grew tall. Hip, hooray!
Then... CRASH! went the tower, all over the floor!
They giggled, and giggled, and built it once more!
For snack, there was one big cookie. Just one.
She broke it in two. Half for each! What fun!
Then Ellie went home, with a wave at the door.
Best friends! Let's play again! Let's play some more!
Her very first playdate! She did it! Let's sing,
and clap, and dance, and do the She-Did-It thing!
Then off to her chart, for spot number eight:
a heart sticker, for a friend who is great!
Eight big firsts, done! Is she proud? Oh, yes!
Just one spot to go! What's next? Can you guess?
Big words today! Say them with me!
Invite!
A card that asks a friend to come.
Generous!
Happy to share what you have.
Teamwork!
Friends working together.
Every big first starts out wobbly and new,
then one day you do it! Hooray! Look at you!
Next time, Emilia's big-girl bed! Bye-bye!
Questions parents ask
How can I help my toddler take turns with a friend?
The story makes turns concrete: a sand timer shows when one turn ends and the next begins, and the guest goes first. Practicing with a timer at home gives your child a head start.
Is this a good story to watch before a child's first playdate?
Yes. It walks through the whole visit, from making an invitation and tidying up to snack time and the goodbye at the door, so your child knows what to expect.