Have recently taken the running of a MUMS/TODDLER group and need some help to ...

[onthewarpath]

I love this MT group, however, I would like to incorporate more "mum playing with children time " rather than just mums having coffee while children play. I am not to sure how to introduce it because I am still a bit unexperienced on the subject + I do realise MT is also a time when Mums want to do "nothing"?
Any comments, Ideas and suggestion welcome. I also would like your opinion on"messy play" as I am very reluctant, especially when food is involved.

[neolara]

At a very lovely toddler group I go to, there is always one craft activity which the kids can do with their parents if they want. The organisers make a model of what the kids are meant to make (e.g. this week it was a pumpkin made out of paper) and leave it out for parents to see. Then they provide all the equipment / paper / glue etc and the kids and mums get on with it. There is also singing (with bells to shake) for about 10 mins of the session. In another room, a volunteer reads a story to any kids who want it. Mums usually sit with the kids who listen to the story. This all seems to work really well.

Good luck with it all.

[Niecie]

The toddler group I used to run was very much like the one that neoclara goes to - a craft table with an example ready made up and all the bits available. (Don't up out more stuff than is needed or it will get wasted and can be costly). It is hugely popular though and the mothers have to help most of the time. They can still chat though.

We also have a singing session at the end.

Other things to encourage the mothers and children to play together are the book table and the puzzle table as most children need help with those.

Having been involved in two toddler groups in different places, if you want mothers involvement it helps to have the adult chairs out around the edge rather than having a chatting area at one end of the room whilst the children play at the other end - mind you room size has a big influence on this - too big a room means less parent/child interaction imo.

[onthewarpath]

I already have a craft table and it is true that it does work wery well.
For the singalong time , most of the children are happy to join in but the mums are reluctant (even with sheet with song word provided.)
The group takes place in a school hall so it is quite big I will try to put the chairs along the length rather than the width.
For the book corner, I have "sort of" got one, the problem is even though my english is not too bad, my french accent definitely spoils it with little ones. Had a mum who said she would do it but a change in her home situatuion made that she is not comming anymore.

I have a little newsletter every week and always ask parents who have a "talent" they can share if they want to get involved but it does not seem to work. Am I too ambitious?

[onthewarpath]

I already have a craft table and it is true that it does work wery well.
For the singalong time , most of the children are happy to join in but the mums are reluctant (even with sheet with song word provided.)
The group takes place in a school hall so it is quite big I will try to put the chairs along the length rather than the width.
For the book corner, I have "sort of" got one, the problem is even though my english is not too bad, my french accent definitely spoils it with little ones. Had a mum who said she would do it but a change in her home situatuion made that she is not comming anymore.

I have a little newsletter every week and always ask parents who have a "talent" they can share if they want to get involved but it does not seem to work. Am I too ambitious?

[tassisssss]

we have playdough out most weeks and have easels that can be up with chalk/crayons

we set chairs in a rectangle round some mats and set out the baby toys in that area. then all sit there for songtime followed by toast/fruit which is set out at low tables and chairs for the wee ones.

[Niecie]

The book table is for the mothers to read or look at the books with their little ones not to read to group of them. That would mean the rest of the mothers could go and chat which, I guess, is not ideal

What sort of songs do you have? If they have loads of actions the mums have to join in to help the LOs. Things like Wheels on the Bus or Ring-a-ring of Roses get people up and moving together. Forget the song sheets - they will know the words and they sound like they are using them to hide behind!

I think you can't expect miracles though. Can you get some friends on side to help get the group to gel better together?

[onthewarpath]

Great favoutit of the children are :
Sleeping bunnies
The scarcrow song
bouncing on a tractor
Wind a bobin up
Grand old Duke of York
Row your boat
...

• all the classics like Twinkle little star, Incy Wincy...
  
  The group is running very smoothly, the children seem happy to come, the mums seem to enjoy it too, and I certainly am looking for the next session. What I was after was a way to let's say a child is playing with lego, to get mum to build something with him, for mum + child to play together but maybe it is to similar to what they do at home and I should just give them a break. I do not mind the mums chatting with each other as it also is the point of MT to get mums to socialise when they do not often get the chance to. I think I have yet to find a balance between those two things socialising/playing.
  Recieved a "parachute Ball" that you inflate with as hair dryer It is large but still light enough for little ones to enjoy it. I think it would be an ideal "bonding tool" if only I had any idea of suitable games we could play with it.

[neolara]

What about getting a parachute and doing singing with that? The mums would have to help hold it up and it might encourage them to get a bit more involved.

[Niecie]

Oh, good idea if you have the room.

We couldn't do that as our room is slightly L-shaped and not huge but if you are in a school hall it should be fine.

[onthewarpath]

Thanks ladies, all suggerstion s noted. keep them comming!