logo

The Global Domain Name (url) Families.com is currently available for acquisition. Please contact by phone at 805-627-1955 or Email for Details

How to Build A Play Group

You know, you read a lot of advice about getting your toddler involved in a playgroup. It’s good for the toddler and it’s good for you as a parent, but what few of these ‘advice’ pieces forget to mention is how to get a playgroup set up so your toddler can enjoy it.

Well, first and foremost, you’re going to look for parents or family members with children about the same age as your toddler. You can look at your Church, at a community message board or at a local school or place of business like a gymnastics, dance or other ‘kid’ oriented school. Mommy and me classes are great places to meet other parents with children about the same age as your toddler.

Setting Up the Playgroup

Let’s say you’re interested in setting up a playgroup. Begin by advertising the existence of a playgroup either in your Church newsletter or community bulletin board. Designate a place for the playgroup to meet – at a park, a mall playground area or other. Let other parents know that you’ll be there at x time on x day for x amount of time.

Chances are, it may take a few weeks before you have a large number of parents showing up, but a playgroup can consist of two to four children and be great. It’s a great way for your toddler to interact with others and for you to enjoy some time with other adults.

Yes, Moms and Dads, these playgroups are for you, too. The best number for a playgroup is around 5 to 6 children. This is a manageable group and it can be accommodated in plenty of different areas especially in bad weather if the group has to move indoors. Chances are, especially during the first few weeks, the playgroups will always meet at neutral locations, but there’s nothing wrong with deciding to meet at different houses as time goes on – but that’s completely up to the playgroup parents.

If you have a larger turnout, try to break it up into two subgroups – that way you have a playgroup a couple of times a week and parents can mix and match as needed. Trying meet regularly and try to target mornings as playgroup time. Mornings are typically best for most toddler types. Moms that do this for a while might suggest that the dads have a playgroup on the weekends. This can give the Dads some socialization time with their children and other dads and give Moms a much-needed opportunity to go out for coffee or just have some downtime to themselves.

You might also want to employ the following suggestions in setting up your playgroup:

  • Limit the toys the toddlers can bring – you’re looking for them to be active and playing with each other and not fighting over toys
  • Parents should be responsible for their own food and drink and don’t let the toddlers carry it around with them to be fought over with the other toddlers
  • Be consistent in the time and place for the playgroup and set up a communication chain in case of emergency, changes in plans or bad weather
  • Create a mommy kit to carry with you to playgroups that include band aids, antibiotic cream and even a mini icepack that can be snapped to be activated for the occasional bump, bruise or cut
  • Parents should be available to the toddlers and watchful, but they shouldn’t hover – after all the idea is for the parents to get to interact while the toddlers are interacting
  • Set a group number that is comfortable for the parents and toddlers involved, usually groups of 4 to 6 are best
  • Decide on basic safety rules and responses, toddlers that are biting should be removed for a period of time and so forth
  • Set the rules of the group ahead of time, there’s nothing worse than two parents devolving into an argument over how to handle something when it can be decided on ahead of time by cool and rational thought
  • If the playgroup meets at a home, make a concerted effort to always help with the cleanup, there’s nothing worse than descending on someone’s home and leaving it a disaster area when the playgroup leaves
  • Accept that there will be hurt feelings from time to time and promote the skills you want to teach your toddlers by communicating your thoughts and apologies to the other parents involved

What else can you think of to set the right tone for a playgroup?

Related Articles:

Tag! You’re Out!

Summer is Coming.. . And What to Do With the Kids?

Mom Fitness – When You Need to Be Home

Veggie Enchilada Recipe for Playgroup

This entry was posted in Moms & Dads and tagged , , , , by Heather Long. Bookmark the permalink.

About Heather Long

Heather Long is 35 years old and currently lives in Wylie, Texas. She has been a freelance writer for six years. Her husband and she met while working together at America Online over ten years ago. They have a beautiful daughter who just turned five years old. She is learning to read and preparing for kindergarten in the fall. An author of more than 300 articles and 500+ web copy pieces, Heather has also written three books as a ghostwriter. Empty Canoe Publishing accepted a novel of her own. A former horse breeder, Heather used to get most of her exercise outside. In late 2004, early 2005 Heather started studying fitness full time in order to get herself back into shape. Heather worked with a personal trainer for six months and works out regularly. She enjoys shaking up her routine and checking out new exercises. Her current favorites are the treadmill (she walks up to 90 minutes daily) and doing yoga for stretching. She also performs strength training two to three times a week. Her goals include performing in a marathon such as the Walk for Breast Cancer Awareness or Team in Training for Lymphoma research. She enjoys sharing her knowledge and experience through the fitness and marriage blogs.