Regular Playgroups

These were taken during one of the sessions of our regular playgroup that I organised a while back.

I have been attending and organising playgroups since my 4.5yo was just 8 months old. Some were really informal, unstructured types while others had an agenda.

To me, a format that includes some structured activities has its appeal and merits. With a well-planned and executed playgroup, the participants have much to gain, whether they are a crawling infant or a walking toddler. 

The key, as always, is in knowing what age-appropriate stimulations to provide and activities to include for each age group, and even more importantly, how to engage them. The same principles can then be applied at home. 

A regular meeting also means an opportunity for the kids to bond and form friendships while they learn together. Most children strive in environments where they can learn with familiar peers. I often have parents tell me their kids learn better in the presence of other children.

When the young ones leave each session with an enriched experience and wholesome fun and the accompanying adults get some well-deserved time off to connect with other caregivers and learn from each other's experiences, the playgroup has already achieved something meaningful.