Juliet Easland noticed it was just a little too quiet upstairs when she was hosting a recent playdate for her 4-year-old. So she tiptoed up to her child’s bedroom and encountered an unexpected scene: “My daughter, with the help of her friend, had completely dismantled her bed, slats and all,” recalls the Brookline, MA, public relations writer and mom of two. “I wanted to be angry, but I had to admire their teamwork—and such a resourceful way of delaying bedtime,” adds Juliet, who couldn’t help but wonder, If they can take apart a bed, can I get them to clean the gutters?

What working mom hasn’t wished she could harness the frenetic energy of kids on a playdate and use it for good (think collating your cost-benefit report or even tidying your desk) versus evil (think finger painting gone wild)? After all, keeping kids—and guest mommies—entertained can be exhausting, especially when you’re fitting the “date” between swimming lessons and loads of laundry. Still, for your child’s sake, you’d like to be the cool house on the block, a spot where kids flock for fun. This can be tricky terrain. You don’t want to be too hands-on and risk limiting young imaginations. But if you’re too hands-off, you risk chaos—or worse yet, boredom.

A welcome middle ground can be found with a bit of planning and a handful of easy-to-execute ideas. “There’s so much to learn by watching your child interact with other children in unfamiliar circumstances,” says Jenn Berman, PhD, a family therapist and author of The A to Z Guide to Raising Happy and Confident Kids. So stop worrying, and let the games begin. If this is the first time a child is playing at your house, start out with playthings (kids love the contents of another child’s toy box). Once they tire of the toys—or are embroiled in a tug-of-war over a Transformer—it’s time for some structure. You’ll have had the chance to gauge temperaments so that you can match up an appropriate activity. A quick review of the ground rules in your house (no hitting, no hiding the hermit crab, no dismantling furniture) and you’re ready to start. Read on to find the mom- and kid-tested ideas that suit you best.