Blargh!

[blizzard_babe]

So there is ONE organized toddler/preschool playgroup in my own. ONE. They advertise and advertise and advertise and state that they don't have much in the way of attendance.

The playgroup meets at... wait for it... 10am on Wednesdays.

I know of at least THREE people in my office alone who would attend with their kids if it were on Saturday.

Inquiries about a day change go unanswered. Complaints that they don't get much attendance continue.

[*MamaJen*]

Sounds like you have a four-person Saturday play group all ready to be set up! But seriously, have you thought about starting a local yahoo group or something and getting one running?
I know exactly what you mean, though. I wish the library had saturday or evenign storytimes. I would love to be able to take DS to one. He goes every week with his babysitter and every now and then I sneak out work for a few minutes to join them.

[blizzard_babe]

Originally Posted by *MamaJen*

Sounds like you have a four-person Saturday play group all ready to be set up! But seriously, have you thought about starting a local yahoo group or something and getting one running?
I know exactly what you mean, though. I wish the library had saturday or evenign storytimes. I would love to be able to take DS to one. He goes every week with his babysitter and every now and then I sneak out work for a few minutes to join them.

Yeah, we've all talked about it, but every one of us has like a million things on our respective plates right now, so no one wants to take on a leadership role... including me.

[Qestia]

Originally Posted by blizzard_babe

Yeah, we've all talked about it, but every one of us has like a million things on our respective plates right now, so no one wants to take on a leadership role... including me.

But it's easy, here: I'll do it for you now:

You: host playdate at your house this weekend
Person 2: next weekend
Person 3: third weekend
Person 4: 4th
You: 5th weekend

Whoever can come, comes, whoever can't, can't.

I am the most introverted person on earth but I started a weekend toddler group through advertising on CL and Yahoo and now there's about 6 of us, various members of how probably end up meeting once or twice a month for three years now... if I can do it you can too!!

[Carita]

yup - just call the other moms and ask if they want o come over on saturday - or better yet put them on a email list. playdate done!

[blizzard_babe]

OK, I'll talk to one of the other moms today.

It's actually a big gaping hole here, not having children's activities. There isn't a mall to go walk around, no indoor play areas to speak of, and just a tiny children's room at the library... plus consistently cold and windy weather... I think there are a lot of bored kids out there.

[Ellien C]

Can I ask what you are looking for in a toddler play group? Is it a chance for you to talk to other moms or get your kid playing with other kids? My kid was in day care and had a lots of opportunities to play with other kids and I made it a point to have work lunches with people I could talk to - so I never felt like I was missing out on anything.

I'm only asking because it seems like play groups have been created and everything thinks they are "supposed" to go, but I always wonder why. We never had them when I was a kid.

[blizzard_babe]

Well... part of it is because there just isn't much in the way of kid-friendly entertainment around here. It's not like we can go to the mall, or a children's museum, or much of a library, or a park (), or a YMCA, or an indoor play structure of any kind, or... much of anywhere beyond the grocery store. There just aren't many kid-friendly activities or locations.

DS LOVES going to his babysitter's house on the two mornings he goes (DH and I work alternating schedules, for the most part), and our babysitter says he pretty much just follows the slightly older kids around, watching them and playing with whatever they put down . I always feel like DS is one step ahead of us, if that makes any sense. He LOVES new experiences, and always seems tired and content after he's had a day full of "happenings." If it weren't for his two mornings a week at the babysitter's, he would literally (well, almost... he'd get bundled up and get in the car every one in a while to go pick one parent or the other up at work ) never leave the house.