Playgroups

What are playgroups
and why are they good for you and your kids? Well, although there are many different
kinds of playgroups (from the formal which includes themes and scheduled activities
to the information that just gathers together), they are all basically the same
thing: a group of children and their parents who get together on a regular basis.
That’s it. It doesn’t have to be anything fancier than that, just
an agreement between a group that you’re all going to get together regularly
so your kids can enjoy playtime together.

But, experts in
child development do tend to agree that playgroups have numerous other benefits
for kids. At the core, they assist children in developing the social skills
that they will need throughout the rest of their lives. Kids who are in playgroups
that meet consistently become familiar with the group and therefore comfortable
there. In this comfortable environment, they can stretch their wings, learning
different ways of interacting with others in the group. And this consistent
group can also give them a sense of community which helps children to better
develop in areas like self-esteem.

The playgroup is
good for parents, too. Not only does it give you a break from your busy day
in which you get to just relax and chat with other adults, but it also acts
as a great resource. Parents who spend time with other parents have access to
information about current health trends, local schools and the best area babysitters.
They also have a support network when things go wrong and a group to celebrate
with when life is good. These people differ from your friends who may come from
all walks of life in that they are specifically committed to you as a parent
and to the well being of your children.

Having a playgroup
also serves a purpose that benefits both the parent and the child, and that
is that the parent knows the other people in the playgroup. Obviously, it’s
important to know who your kids friends are and who they spend time with. The
playgroup facilitates this. As your kids get older and move on to making their
own friends in school, they may be able to make better choices because of the
groundwork that was laid for them in the playgroup. And the parent will know
what’s going on in the lives of their children during these important
young years.

So, playgroups serve
all kinds of different purposes. They can be structured in different ways and
may be made up of a variety of different families. But ultimately, what they
do is create a small sense of community in which you and your child can both
thrive. In this busy age, when communication is often limited to emails and
voice messages, it’s a relief to have a place like a playgroup where you
and your child can go to get that old-fashioned sense of community.

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