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$400/Hour "Play Date" Consultants For Rich Kids Who Suck At Playing With Others
By
Jen Chung
Published Jul 19, 2013
Modified Jul 19, 2013
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By
Jen Chung
Published Jul 19, 2013
Modified Jul 19, 2013
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Rich people do the darndest things! They buy $6.5 million apartments for their two-year-olds (and $95 million penthouses for themselves). They hire disabled guides to cut the line at Disney World. They venture below 59th Street. And, now, they are paying $400/hour to "recreation" experts to help their toddlers to learn how to play with others.
The Post has details on this trend, which appeals to parents who are set on sending their kids to private schools like Trinity and Horace Mann:
These pricy pre-planned play times are monitored by instructors who teach them the proper way to socialize with their well-heeled peers in order to maximize their chances of getting into New York’s elite private schools.
“Some kids need a little bit more work” at learning how to play, said Suzanne Rheault, the CEO of one of the firms that organize play dates, called Aristotle Circle. “Sometimes [parents] hear from our experts that there are some areas to improve.”
Rheault’s pricey play dates involve groups of three to five 4-year-olds playing in a room. The experts closely monitor how the kids share crayons, color, follow directions in Simon Says, and hold a pencil.
Why are these kids so crappy at playing with others? It's because they have so many other classes, like Mandarin and music, that they have no idea how to be spontaneous. Isn't this really a cue for a nanny with a heart of gold?
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play date
play date consultant
private school
private school admissions
rich people
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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