Weekly activities/classes/groups for your toddler?

[Degrassi]

I have a 13 month old DS who is looked after by DH in the day whilst I am at work (I work full time in the day, DH works evenings/weekends).

Apart from weekly swimming lessons, DS is yet to participate in any other scheduled weekly activities such as playgroups, etc. DH seems to be getting a bit restless with the SAHD routine and our DS is an only child so I think it’s a good time to start scheduling more outings and regular activities. I like the look of Gymbaroo and also think a play group would be a great start.

I'm interested to know what other parents are doing with their LO's of a similar age? Do you have activities/classes/groups that you attend? What kind of other outings do you find are great for this age?

[River Song]

we do play group and we love it...great place for them to be occupied and for parents too.

there are 3 dads that come to ours...out of about 15 total

[Madame Mayhem]

We do a music and movement class once a week and highly recommend it, the kids love it

[Boost]

We do- Mainly Music, Pram Fit, Rhyme Time, Gymbaroo and Mums Group! Mainly Music is a winner with DS.

[Lock and Lu]

My 13 month old DS does gymbaroo with my mum and it's great. My DD did it from a similar age for about 18 months and I think it did wonders for her motor skills.

[Sunnybambino]

DD (15mths) does - Rhymetime at the local library, Mother's group, playgroup, toddler gym at the PCYC, baby signing and swimming. I'm thinking about starting her at toddler jam (toddler dance/singing class). I like having one activity a day to keep us busy (but not TOO busy!).

[captainscaptain]

DS and me get sick of being home all the time too! Sometimes it's nice to have a restful day at home, but not everyday.

We go to story and rhyme time at the library, playrgroup and he has just started staying in creche whilst I work out at gym for a short while :) I'd love to do swimming lessons but can't really afford it :(

[wannaBamumma]

Dd does kindermusik and I cannot recommend it highly enough!!

[Mum2Lil13]

We go to scheduled play group once or twice a week, I usually catch up with my mothers group on Thursdays and I'm about to start taking dd (14 months) to read and rhyme on Wednesday mornings because she loves books and is always handing them to me so I can read to her. She loves getting out and about, she has no siblings or family closer to her age and it's great socially for her to explore new things away from the house :)

[Elijahs Mum]

Dd does kindermusik and I cannot recommend it highly enough!!

I am thinking of doing this for DS (17 months) what do they do exactly?

[wannaBamumma]

I am thinking of doing this for DS (17 months) what do they do exactly?

It's like a music lesson but all the songs are really interactive and tailored to your babies age and development stage. I've been taking dd since she was about 4 months old and she absolutely loves it!! Each term you get a take home pack with a new instrument, book and cd to play at home. Dd can sing so many songs now and taps along to the beat when the music is on. Geez I sound like I work there!! I think you can do a free trial class so I would definitely recommend doing that and see how you find it! :)

[trishalishous]

we do (did, DD has a broken leg)
Monday: toddler gym (PCYC $5 including morning tea)/creche (if I feel like having a workout instead), swimming
Tuesday: Play in the Park (YMCA, Free)
Wednesday: Playgroup or Rhymetime (library, free)
Thursday: Rhyme time (community centre $2) or Daycare
Friday: ABA meeting, Rhyme time (community centre $2)

[waterlily]

DD is now 2.5 but when she was 1 we were going to 2 playgroups.

1 was just a local community one the other was at a play centre and it's amazing. We also went to a kindy gym one at the YMCA but I didn't like the people or the kids so ende up leaving. We also did dance for awhile but it was way too structured for our liking, DD just wanted to run around dancing (which is what we thought baby/toddler dance would be!! Boy we were wrong!)

Now that DD is 2 we have added bowling and about to start a music or dance class.

[Degrassi]

Thanks for the replies everyone :)

DS has been to playgroup twice now and him and DH both enjoy it!

Swimming lessons finish up this week, so we'll be looking for something to replace it. Lots of great ideas here.

[brydz]

Mr V had a crack at our local toddler music classes first term. He enjoyed them I think but he does not have the concentration of the other kids and just runs amok and tires everyone out.
We tried story time once at the library and decided for the same ebergy filled reasons not ti return.
This term im considering the tumble tots classes because it better suits his energy levels and now he is old enough to enrol.
Otherwise we just do our own activities and play at home or go out for walks to the park and lake and stuff

[carleena]

We do playgroup, rhyme time and swimming. She also goes to daycare twice a week

[tjewell]

Ooooo I just looked up rhyme time :) looks like I'll be going.

Does anyone know of a place that does gymnastics for a 2.5yr old?
I'm in Baldivis (Perth) don't mind driving

[duckduckgoose]

DS goes to playgroup with my dad.
We also do "launch into learning" (like a playgroup run through schools) and a toddler song and movement (like kindy gym) at the pcyc.

We also get out of the house and go to the park or the beach or visit friends. We go to the library but don't do rhyme time as DS can't concentrate and wanders around pulling books off the shelves and annoying the other kids. I was sooo embarrassed last time and won't go back!

We HAVE to get out of the house everyday or we go insane. I figure, he's just figured out walking, he gets bored walking around the same house all day, playing with the same toys. I try to do something structured in the morning and then something like the park in the afternoon.

[FearlessLeader]

Just wanted to butt in and say- please don't give up on rhyme time just because your toddler's a tornado! I am a children's librarian and every chance I can, I take my little tornado to rhyme time just to show the other parents that it's completely fine and normal. They eventually get it, and now DS is 2 and races into the library calling out the other librarian's name, sits on the mat, knows all the songs. He still wanders off and tries to climb in the librarian's lap and grabs at the books from time to time, but he really loves it, and i much prefer him learning to sit still and listen and participate @ the library for free than paying for toddler classes which just end up a waste. And while they are running around they're actually taking more in than you'd think!

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[tormy]

i work part time so for the 2 days that i am home with DS we do swimming 1 day a week and we usually go to a park the other day. we also sometimes goto the paint and play thing that is run by the local govt.

[danik]

Just wanted to butt in and say- please don't give up on rhyme time just because your toddler's a tornado! I am a children's librarian and every chance I can, I take my little tornado to rhyme time just to show the other parents that it's completely fine and normal. They eventually get it, and now DS is 2 and races into the library calling out the other librarian's name, sits on the mat, knows all the songs. He still wanders off and tries to climb in the librarian's lap and grabs at the books from time to time, but he really loves it, and i much prefer him learning to sit still and listen and participate @ the library for free than paying for toddler classes which just end up a waste. And while they are running around they're actually taking more in than you'd think!

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I second this! I'm a library clerk who works in a public library and we know what under 3's are like-not much self control and a whole lotta energy:) We just love that the mums bring their kidlets in and visit their local library. My DH brought our DD2 to our local Rhymetime while I was working (not conducting it though) and she had a great time running around:)

[jazzcait]

I used to be vice-president of a playgroup so my DD;s used to go to that, but we had to cancel playgroup due to lack of interest so now I have to find something else.

[Mopoke]

wow im amazed at all the stuff you can go to. we have basicaly nothing here. there is playgroup once a week but its on a day that i work, theres a mobile playgroup that comes to a nearby village once a fortnight that we mostly go to an thats about it apart from family day care 2 days/week while im at work.

no such thing as a mothers group in this little town, ABA group closed down years ago, theres a storytime thing at the library but it says for preschol kids or ages 3-5 or something, swimming lessons ae only on in January and they were for 18 months+