Parent and Toddler Groups
By elfbwillow
@elfbwillow (307)
June 8, 2010 8:12am CST
Do you/did you take your toddler to many toddler groups? What was your experience?
I started taking my daughter to groups when she was a baby as there was a really lovely baby group which had a number of people I knew from my pre-natal classes. We went here until she was about a year old and then moved up to the toddler group run by the same people. This again was a lovely group though I found that I barely knew anyone as the other mums went to the thursday group which I couldnt attend. My daughter loved the group though so I perservered though it felt lonely at times having no one there to talk to even though I made every effort though being shy doesnt help!
We now attend a local surestart center where we go to a drop in a play once a week as well as other activities as and when they come up. I go here with a friend and feel the mums here are more open to discussions and there are a lot of other shy people so we are all in the same boat. The staff here are great in the main too.
I think it is important to take your toddler to groups such as these and they are really great when it is raining outside. It helps your toddler learn to ennact with other children in preperation for school later on.
1 person likes this
6 responses
@la_chique (1498)
•
8 Jun 10
My sister in law took my nephew to a parent and toddler group and it actually helped her as well as my nephew as she has agoraphobia and going to the group helped her to get out of the house and meet other people.
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@karen1969 (1779)
•
15 Jun 10
I have had agoraphobia and it helped me too, as I felt I really had to make an effort to get out of the house, to help my kids as they enjoyed the groups.
@evepin (721)
• Philippines
8 Jun 10
i dont bring my 2yo daughter to toddler groups or as they call it here, playgroups. This is because we are fortunate enough to live in a condo complex where there are a lot of kids her age and they regularly play in the clubhouse everyday. this probably helped her cope with socializing with other kids when she attended playschool and summer program for toddlers.
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@elfbwillow (307)
•
9 Jun 10
I think that is as good as any toddler group. Do you get to chat etc with the other parents?
@maximax8 (31053)
• United Kingdom
8 Jun 10
I take my toddler son and baby daughter to stay at play which is a session for disabled children and their parent. My son really enjoys seeing the other children and my daughter loves having so many different toys to play with. I like chatting to the other moms that go there. Sometimes I think we all have quite similar experiences bringing our disabled child up.
I also belong to a mom's group for my local area. They plan days out, meet ups and weekends away camping. There are some other children that my two young ones like playing with. I know that it can be challenging for a shy lady or shy child to join such a group. I think that the socializing helps my children and sitting down eating plus drinking at snack time.
@cicisnana (772)
• United States
10 Jun 10
My children didn't attend any toddler groups because I had 5 children all spaced less than 2 years apart. I had my youngest when my oldest was 6, so they all had one another to play with as well as countless cousins who all lived within the neighborhood too. I had family that was always in contact with one another, since we all lived within just a few 3 or 4 blocks from one another and we could walk just to see each other. As well as plenty of friends. So I didn't feel like a toddler group was necessary at all.
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CICILIA and 
DANTE'S NANA
CICILIA and DANTE'S NANA1 person likes this
@oldchem1 (8132)
•
9 Jun 10
My husband and I used to be very much involved in a local mother and toddler group that was held at the local church hall before we moved house.
It was very popular and lots of people ( both mums and kids) made friendships that lasted for a long time.
The only disadvantage I find with them is that if you have a clingy child (as my son was) it can be hard to get them to leave your knee, I used to like the old 'playschool' idea where children over 2 stayed without their mums, it did help to make my child less clingy and independent and prepared for nursery and school.
Unfortunatly the Mum & toddler group I mentioned initially had to close when the church shut down and the hall was demolished for houses!!
Sad day
@karen1969 (1779)
•
15 Jun 10
Yes, I took my kids to parent and toddler groups when they were little. I usually enjoyed them, though sometimes it was hard to make friends as there were cliques and you had to make the effort to introduce yourself to people, which isn't always easy to do.
I think they are great for the kids though. They get to meet other children and to play with a wide range of toys that they don't have at home. It teaches them how to be sociable and to share as well.
