Starting Your Own Playgroup
The playgroup wasn’t something the previous owners threw in at the closing to sweeten the deal. Actually, they had two young children of their own, and because the furnished basement is spacious and the perfect place for the kids to romp and roll—their house (now ours) was home-base for a pre-established playgroup. When we moved in, it was perfect. Not only did were we free from fumbling with all those plastic child-proofing do-hickeys, there was an even greater convenience: I didn’t have to scramble to find an activity for the kids while we settled into a new neighborhood. I didn’t have to organize a playgroup. In essence—I inherited one. What a score! AMY One of the mothers in my playgroup told me the amazing story of how the playgroup in our house was started. The woman who lived in the house before me, Amy, found herself in a strange predicament. She had two very young children close in age. When she moved to Long Island, she did so without having any family and friends here. Not knowing a soul in Suffolk County, she was desperate. With no family members nearby to lean on for support, or to entertain the kids when she was exhausted, she was left to fend for herself. She longed for interaction for her two boys and needed to meet some adults to connect with. Amy was lonely—but very clever. She drove around the neighborhood, walked the streets with her stroller, looking for signs of children. She peeked around and took note of what houses had kiddy-toys scattered on the lawn. She looked for swing-sets in the back yard. She listened for children playing. Then she did something very bold. She placed a roll of “LIFE-SAVERS” in the mailboxes of the chosen homes. The roll of candy had a note attached that read “Let’s be each other’s life-savers!” She wrote a brief introduction, and included her phone number. She went home and waited for the phone to ring. And it did! A bunch of really great women responded to Amy’s call for “life-savers”, and the playgroup has been in place ever since. If Amy’s approach to starting a playgroup is too bold, there are other ways you can organize one. Hit the Net The Internet is a great place to start if you’re a bit shy, but want some group interaction. There are tons, (I mean tons) of outlets to get the word out or find the information you are looking for. Local message boards and discussion forums are the best place to start. If you have never posted a message on a forum… no worries. You’ll find most message boards are quite friendly and the members are often quick to help. The Internet is an amazing tool for moms to meet up. There are also many “parenting” sites on the net that connect moms who live near each other. Try using Google by trying in key words, such as: (the name of your town) playgroup. Spread the Word Tell everyone, (even your mailman), that you are interested in meeting some moms and would like to start a playgroup Everyone has a friend, of a friend, of a friend, who’s next-door neighbor has a 3 year old daughter and wants to join a playgroup. OK—maybe it’s not that complex, but do get the word out to everyone you know. People are always so willing to help when you just simply ask. You can always ask around your pediatrician’s office, or join a “Mommy and Me” class to get some leads. KIDS FUN ON THE RUN Once you find some moms willing to take part in the fun, remember, playgroups are supposed to be FUN, so have a blast with your new group. If a playgroup in a person’s home doesn’t sound like a whole lot of fun, then, yes—you must think outside the sandbox. I asked Debra Miller of Commack, NY, to spill her secrets. She was the brain-child of a successful playgroup called: KIDS FUN ON THE RUN. When she wanted some interaction for herself and her two children, (Timothy and Stephanie), she got word out among family and friends. She also let her fingers to the walking and used Internet and yellow pages to find “fun things to do on Long Island”. And as the name suggests, KIDS FUN ON THE RUN was not a playgroup bound to the house. Yet organizing a “traveling” activity-packed playgroup was no easy task. She tells me the most difficult aspect of organizing this playgroup was finding a day that would work for everyone. “I made a schedule with dates up to two months in advance. This way, it would give the moms notice as to what activity or field trip we were doing on that specific date. We met every other week and I rotated with trips to parks (that wouldn’t cost any money) and trips to museums, zoos, and children’s plays (that did cost money).” Debra missed her former job as a project manager, and organizing this playgroup was indeed a “project” to manage. So what’s her advice to moms looking to start a playgroup of their own? “Try to keep the same aged children in the playgroup. It makes the activities easier to plan. Ask each mom if they have an idea of where to go, so they all feel like they have a part in the planning.” She also notes that the “dates” were not too formal. Unless she needed a specific headcount (like seeing a children’s play at Theatre Three in Port Jefferson,) the moms didn’t have to RSVP to the organizer. They could just join in on the fun as they saw fit. Whether your playgroup is on the go, or in the house, the interaction for both parents and kids is worth all the effort put forth in organizing it. Unless, of course, you’re like me, and your house came with one—primed for fun Janene Mascarella
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When we moved to 