I'm thinking of starting a play group in my home, but I'm not sure about doing it.

I'm a little hesitate to invite strangers into my home, but then I think why not, I used to go to playgroups and never met anyone I wouldn't want in my home. After all it would be moms with babies and toddlers.

We have a free play group sponsored by our local government, but who runs a play group for toddlers in the middle of the afternoon? Nap time is pretty important around here, I don't want to sacrifice a nap for a playgroup and end up with a cranky toddler. Not only that it's hard for me to get out with both children and hard to find an activity that's appropriate for both.

We are in the process of renovating our family room into a playroom, it would be an ideal place as there is a patio door to the backyard so we can go outside in the summer if it's nice, we have a very large backyard. There is a washroom off of the family room and a guest room if mom's are not comfortable nursing in front of others or they want to put their babies down for a nap.

I would invite moms with children ages 0-4 years. I'm thinking once a week, not sure what day, but I would like it to be from 10 am - 12 pm. I would ask that moms pick-up a coffee on the way (if they want one) and to bring snacks and drinks along for their children.

I haven't even really figured out how or who to invite. There is a local high school that runs a drop off centre three mornings a week, I thought maybe I would contact the director and ask if I could post an invitation.

Has anyone else done this? Any thoughts or suggestions? Pros/Cons.

TIA

By Christylee on Thursday, February 16, 2006 - 11:27 pm:

I had a very successful playgroup going for about a year and a half, I ran it through a yahoo group and we met at different homes, parks, and other places. We met once a week and I became close friends with several of the other moms in the group. www.matchingmoms.com was a valuable resource for me, you could post your playgroup and other people could search it.

If you have any questions or need tips or ideas feel free to email me at christylee 76 @ sbc global. net (without spaces)

I think once you get it going they pretty much run itself, or at least mine did. THE only thing I'd watch is the age range, sometimes older kids get bored if you end up with a bunch of babies... That happened to me, we had mostly babies and the few older ones didn't have as much fun and it was harder to plan outings and such.

Good luck and let me know if I can help, I had a blast doing it!

By Trina~moderator on Friday, February 17, 2006 - 08:51 am:

Check out this web site. It may be helpful.

MatchingMoms.org

By Conni on Friday, February 17, 2006 - 09:56 am:

There was a Mom on here that had her own playgroup. I think it was Dana?! Maybe she could help you out.

I think it's a great idea. In our area we have playgroups thru the Moms Club. And at church there is a Mommy and Me playgroup. They do something every other week.

By Heaventree on Friday, February 17, 2006 - 09:58 am:

Thanks Christylee, I'll send you an email this weekend.

Trina, thanks for posting that link, but it's for U.S. Moms. I found a site that starts groups in Canada and the US but they charge $70!!!!

I'll look into starting one on Yahoo.

Thanks again.

By Heaventree on Friday, February 17, 2006 - 09:59 am:

Conni,

We posted at the same time. I haven't seen Dana posting lately.

Did you attend any of these groups? What did you do? How were they run?

By Shellyg on Friday, February 17, 2006 - 01:00 pm:

My sister started a playgroup and she loves it. I believe she ran an ad in the paper right after my neice was born. They took turns having get togethers and each others houses. The "get togethers" last about an hour and a half. Now my neice is 5, and she still is friends with all the playgroup kids.

By Conni on Friday, February 17, 2006 - 01:18 pm:

I never did go to the Moms Club playgroups, but a best friend of mine did. They rotated houses each month and she enjoyed it. Whoever was hosting planned what they did it seems like? They also had a ladies night out once a month with no kids.

I did attend the ones at church from time to time. Sometimes they would get together in the church activity ctr, have lunch, craft and playtime. Other times they met at park and had lunch /playtime. Then sometimes they would meet at someones house and swim, etc... They also went on field trips (pizza place and made their own pizza's, zoo (we have a drive thru zoo with a petting area), museum (with a childrens area), etc... I did not go to everything.

By Conni on Friday, February 17, 2006 - 01:24 pm:

BTW- I wasnt ignoring you this morning. I posted quickly and then had to run and jump in shower and go to ds preschool. lol Their letter of the week was U. So we helped them make Upside down ice cream sundaes this morning... They were bouncing off the walls when they went home. hehehe