If you have a child in preschool or older, have you started to notice that they indirectly choose your friends for you?

It's the cutest thing: they hit it off with a classmate, and everyday you hear about how they did this together, or they did that together...and soon you're setting up a playdate so they can do the same outside of class. You hope you'll "click" just as easily with the new playmate's parents - but there's no guarantees.

Studies have shown that parents who build strong relationships with others who have children of the same age are healthier - emotionally as well as physically. And you've gotta be healthy to keep up with your kids!

Take the lead and make it a point to meet others in your neighborhood, or even strike up a conversation while in line at Publix. You never know where a new friendship will bloom, and even a shy child will eventually follow your example in seeking out new friends.

A Few Local Resources

• Capital City Moms Club Formerly the Best Beginnings Moms Club and currently boasting over 300 members, they have a calendar of events to encourage moms (and dads!) to meet each other and socialize while their kids do the same. The website is hosted on MeetUp.com, where you'll find a handful of other groups for parents, as well as other interests.
• MomsLikeMe local forums The Tallahassee Democrat sponsors the local facet of a nationwide network of online forums for parents. You're able to post and answer questions, join debates and discussions, and just share the parenting experience with others from the comfort of your keyboard.
• Our Kids' Calendar We recently added an events calendar to our website, which has kid-friendly ongoings throughout the week. Many of these are great places to meet other parents, and get plugged in to the community! (You'll also find at the bottom a list of weekly Kids' Nights at local restaurants, when kids eat free!)

I've seen dads participating in each of the suggested resources above - and it's encouraged. So don't be deceived by the names! An involved dad is always a celebrated and welcomed participant. I highly recommend this article to dads who know they need some "parental playdates," as it has so many awesome dad-focused ideas and websites: Connecting with Other Parents: Help for Dads with Cold Feet