Any under 5 activities in Normandy?

[penny09]

We are moving to Normandy next week and was wondering if there are any stay and play groups or other under 5 activities around in the area. We meet lots of mums and babies here in the UK and would like to have some social interactions in France too. Any suggestions?

[Othersideofthechannel]

IME not much of this nature going on in rural France although did find two groups for 3s and under in towns 20k drive from home (I'm in rural Pas de Calais). Most 3+ children go to school so there's nothing to cater for them.

Ask at your mairie and the mairie of the biggest towns nearby.

They may also have information at the PMI clinics (where you can get babies and infants weighed and vaccinated for free)

Also the library may organise 'contes' although round here that only seems to be during the holidays.

Swimming pools often run 'bébé nageurs' sessions.
Music schools sometimes do introductory music classes from age 4 but round here most start at 6.

Round our way the 'halte garderie' is a lovely place with fab equipment but you don't get to stay, you leave your child. Ours organises family get-togethers (Easter egg hunt, meet Father Christmas, summer picnic etc) which was a good way to meet other parents.

TBH social life for for/based around the children didn't really kick off until the oldest was at school.

Good luck with your move!

[flyingcloud]

Otherside, sorry for the thread hijack, any update on the thing you CAT-ed me about?

[WhatsThatDuckDoingThere]

I don't know about playgroups and the like, but there is a fantastic place in Normandy for a day out. It is a walk through an enchanted woodland, there are little houses built throughout that depict well known fairytales, except they're all a bit run down and some have become homes to bugs, so the children see a charming little dolls house, and the parents see a macabre, unnerving scene somewhat akin to a horror movie - I might have exaggerated a little there, but you get the picture.

It's been a good 7 or 8 years since I last visited it, they may have cleaned it up by now, but I hope not

It could be this one and although the auberge looks familiar, I can't be sure and I don't remember there being anything else there other than the enchanted wood walk but maybe they've developed it in the last few years.

[scouserabroad]

I used to take the DDs to a playgroup run by the LAEP (lieu accueil parents - enfants) which was in the same building as the municipal daycare nursery. It was quite good (activities, etc.) but the children were mostly babies / young toddlers, as they all go to school when they are 3. There was also a storytime at the local library, and swimming lessons for toddlers at the pool (didn't try this). IME quite a lot of activities (music, art, sport etc.) start for 4/5 year olds.

Your best bet is probably to ask someone at the mairie, or daycare nursery, or local library maybe? Or ask other parents if you know any. Of course some people may be really snotty not very helpful, but this approach is how I found most of the activities I took my DDs to as toddlers - searching online was no help at all for this type of thing!

[Othersideofthechannel]

FC, none whatsoever!
But we're used to "it's really urgent, you must let us know by yesterday" and then a six week delay before we get any response!!

[flyingcloud]

How frustrating for you. I hope you hear soon, have you made any arrangements or started to look into moving?

Were we both on the same track about the potential employer?

[Othersideofthechannel]

No idea! It's through an agency and they haven't had any response from their client to the CVs they put forward.