By: Karen Musclow
Now that I’ve shared with you about why I chose to join a playgroup and how it’s worked out for us, I thought I’d share some tips about what to look for when deciding if a playgroup is right for you.
1. Are you able to participate in outings at least once a month? Most groups request this of you as a minimum requirement. Take note of when and where the group usually meets. A good group will use all weekdays at varying times. Mine often starts outings at 10:30 with very little variation on that. However, that works for me.
2. Have you asked your employers if they’re okay with you officially joining a group? Who will pay the dues (often $5-$20/year)? Are there any questions they have of the group? For example, Mrs. D wanted to ensure that the children in the group were up-to-date on their vaccinations. Though I didn’t ask each specific mom, I did speak with the leaders who assured me they knew of no one in the group to be anti-vaccinations. This was a good enough answer for my boss.
3. Are you and your charges fairly open to new people and experiences? A playgroup may not be the best choice for an especially shy child. On the other hand, a small group may be just what that child needs! T prefers to stay home every day. But, once I get him out the door, he enjoys all of our trips and loves to play with other children.
4. Are the children in the group similar age to your charges? Though it’s great to expose children to older and younger ones, at least some of the children should be close in age to those you care for.
5. Are activities affordable? Look for a wide variety of outings including some that are free (such as meeting at a park) and many others under $10. Excepting the zoo and museum (we have membership), I think my group has only done 1 outing that cost us over $15.
6, If the playgroup often meets in people’s homes, make extra sure that your employers are aware of and okay with that. Also, check to see if you’d be expected to host a meet-up. If you’re comfortable doing that, you can ask your employers. Otherwise, check with the group leaders to see if you could avoid that or host at a local park instead.
7. A good playgroup will be flexible. Meaning, they’ll understand if you have to back out at the last minute or if you need to leave early. This shouldn’t be a problem at all. After all…they all have children too!
8. How do you find a playgroup? I suggest checking www.Momslikeme.com and www.Meetup.com.
In the end, the most important thing is to find a group that you and the children you care for are comfortable with and enjoy being around. Have fun!