Playgroup - worth it?

[drewid]

Hello :)

We've never been to playgroup (shock horror!!) and I'm wondering whether it is worth going to? Andrew is almost 11 months and crawling, not yet walking.

I know its a good idea for parents to meet, but is it worth it for the bubs at this age?

Thanks :)

[draught]

Hi Nicole
My girls go to playgroup with their nanny (I was never organised enough to take them when I was at home:o ). They started going when DD2 was 9 months - and she has loved it since day one. She gets to play with different things - including paint and glitter and glue and sand etc that I don't always think to let her play with at home - so it is a good way of expanding their (and your) play ideas. IMO they don't really need the "socialising" because they don't actually play "with" each other - but exposing them to other little people and sounds and sights can only be positive. I would say - give it a go - and if you don't like it, go to a different one until you find the one that works for you and him!

[Refresh]

Yup, it is definately worth it for you and for bubs!:D

[Refresh]

...and Im talking, Thursday morning, Rivercity 9.30am! :p

[My3kids]

I think it's worth it, My littliest has been going since he was 6 weeks old. He had to go as his big brother goes. But i found that DS is a lot better than the other 2 were with leaving me. The older 2 just clung to me, where DS just is happy to sit and crawl around knowing i'm still there he loves the other children. Just want's to play!

[Foxy]

Nicole, it's definitely worth it!

We have been going since DS was around 6 months when they just lay on the floor together while the Mums talked. Now they are all around 10 months to 1 year and while they don't actually "play together" they are definitely becoming more aware of one another.

Ours is not a formal "playgroup", we don't do planned activities or anything, we just meet up once a week to chat etc. It's a great opportunity for you to meet other mums and talk about the type of things we do on BH.

For me, the other lovely thing about it, is that two of the other boys are booked into the same school as my DS (I know, I know), and I think it will be so nice for him to already have "friends".

Hope you find a good one! :)

[Jo77]

Good question, Nicole. I am thinking about joining one around The Gap. Katie, is that the playgroup at the Rivercity church you are talking about? I've seen it up on their noticeboard, but I wasn't sure if you had to be a member of the church to attend?

[Refresh]

YAY JO77! COme along on a Thursday! You definately dont need to be a member of the church come (infact theres normally only me and one or two others who come from church.) It's just a communtiy playgroup:)

If Thursday doesnt suit, there is also TUes and Wed - but then of course you wont get to meet me and the lovely Nicole;)
LOL

[WeThree]

it is soooo worth going, i started taking coops when he was only a few mths old and he loved watching the other kids, or lie, sit on the floor and play with the baby toys. when he started to get more mobile he would explore more things, help himself to everyones morning tea etc, its just nice to give them a change of scenery and expose them to some things they might not do or see at home
coops now gets right into the craft, storytime and riding the bikes, tilly loves watching all the kids and crawling around getting into everything and has just started sitting up with the bigger kids at morning tea, its so cute!! so id say definetly give it a go :)

[Jo77]

Thanks Katie, I would love to come along and meet you and Nicole, as long as there is room for another one! How much is it, and do I need to bring anything? Also, I assume it's not on this Thursday being a public holiday?

[Peaceangels]

From personal experience I would say it is definately worth giving playgroup a go & 11mths is a good age.

Check out a few places first to see how they are run and if they have sufficient toys/activities for your son's age (or a broad range of toys/activities for all ages).

My two benefit greatly from Playgroup and both enjoy it immensely. DS1 has been going since he was 12mths old and DS2 has been going since birth.

Our playgroup is through the local Tafe, which is run by the teachers and assisted by student's (who sometimes are doing observation or written assignments).

They vary the activities weekly and the room is set up in such a way that their is about 4 different corners with age appropriate toys (ie hospital corner, or kitchen corner complete with food, ovens, frigde, utensils etc and their is a section for the babies), then tables set up with various craft activities or painting, plus outdoor activities when the weather permits.

It is structured well with a routine of play for an hour or so, then a teacher read's a book/s, then afternoon tea, more play and then singing/dancing before we all sing the goodbye song.

I have also met a few nice mothers at playgroup and we occasionally go out to dinner together.

[Ana Gram]

I have a different opinion to everyone else. We went to play group once and will never ever return as I found all the mothers horrible.

[Supermum]

I have a different opinion to everyone else. We went to play group once and will never ever return as I found all the mothers horrible.
You probably copped a judgemental bunch chelle. There's good and bad in all. Why don't you start your own?

If I were at home I'd definitely be interested in a playgroup for my children. It not only keeps the kids interested and socialisted, it keeps you interested and socialised!

[Ky]

I have a different opinion to everyone else. We went to play group once and will never ever return as I found all the mothers horrible.

Chelle ...

I went to several playgroups and had the same experience as you ... I just had to keep looking until I found one that I "fit" in at! Even though I have found a good one, I would rather stay at home.

I go because Daniel gets so much out of it! He is a very social kid and seems to crave other kids to play with ... he is always saying "hello, what's your name?" to strangers and then replying with "(insert name), what a nice name, my name is Daniel, this is Bella and this is Mummy". Today at the quick "in and out" at the supermarket we met Darren, Peter, Chloe, Sarah and Nanny McFee (don't think that is real for some silly reason ... lol!). We regularly meet all in sundry, so he seems to really crave contact!

[Ana Gram]

To be perfectly honest, I don't want to subject myself of my daughter to that treatment on the off chance I might find one. DD is still quite socialable, so I don't think it is doing her any harm not to go.

[WeThree]

hey chelle, i can understand why this would upset you and your daughter, like one of the other mums said, you can always organise your own, even if it is just an informal meet up once a wk at your place, with some painting for the kids and stuff, you can also all go together to different places once or twice a term, like the pool or a nearby indoor play centre. i find putting coops into daycare once a wk has also been great for him, he has made so many friends, gets invited to bday parties etc and has heaps of fun :)

[our little treasures]

We go to one that was very clicky... but now I love it and have become part of the group took a few weeks for us all to get to know each other but now I am so glad I stuck at it..

[Refresh]

Hi JO! Yup there's always room for another:) The Thursday group is lovely and small. No, its not on tomorro but will be next week! Its $2 or $3 I cant remember lol and we normally just bring something for the kids to share (sandwich, banana, whatever.)

Sounds great:D

[rebeccamum]

My daugther is 17 weeks old and a little bit fussy with feeding and sleeping. I find sleeping is not too bad when we go out but feeding is a nightmare. She always refuses to drink when we're out (she doesn't drink a lot when we're at home either but going out is worse). I'm reluctant to take her to a playgroup because of our feeding problem. It's pity because I have a feeling she'll enjoy playgroup because she's quite socialable. I'm not sure if 17 weeks old is too young for such an activity. What is she going to do when she's at a playgroup anyway? Staring at other kids? Playing with her own toes? :)

I'd love to do a playgroup thing one day though but am not sure where to find it.