Making Playgroups Work For You and Your Toddler

Playgroups Can Be a Lifesaver for Parents

It's noon. The living room is strewn with toys your baby has rejected. You haven't left the house in two days. You can't remember the last time you had a conversation about anything other than the latest episode of Sesame Street. You love being a mom, but right now you just can't seem to remember exactly why. If this sounds even vaguely familiar, you should consider starting a playgroup.

Playgroups don't just benefit children – they can be a lifesaver for parents as well. Grown-ups can catch up on current events, linger over a cup of coffee, reconnect with their communities. Kids, of course, have the opportunity to interact, play with new and different toys, and if you're really lucky, to wear themselves out enough to take an afternoon nap.

Starting a playgroup is relatively simple, and you'll be reaping the rewards for years to come. The first step is to decide how structured you want the playgroup to be. Will parents just deposit their kids in the living room and pick them up two hours later? Or will there be specific activities for the children?

"One playgroup I attended had four "times": playtime, snacktime, circle time (on the floor, while the tables were cleaned up for . . .) craft time," says mother of two Kristen Ghesquiere. "Although the kids really enjoyed the unstructured playtime, I went to another playgroup where that's all there was - just kids and toys - and it got pretty chaotic pretty fast."

Most moms recommend that you make it clear from the beginning that parents are required to stay at the playgroup, unless you want to give away free babysitting services to half your neighborhood.