Good morning. with my first child we went to a few baby groups and play groups, because my best friend also had a child the same age. there was a downside to 1 of the play groups, my child to seemed to get a stomach bug from there every couple of months so I packed up going to that one because it just looked a bit run down. I carried on taking her to the sure start centre until she started nursery before school.
my little boy is 2 and his first couple of years have been a completely different experience. There are two classes at the sure start centre but neither of them would work around the school runs for us. I'm ok with that because really I'm not sure that I do want to go to them on my own anyway. I found everyone had their groups already.
we've not been able to do a lot this winter because I can't drive but we go out for 2-hours everyday to do school runs. we walk through a grassy park with a river everyday so there is opportunity for him to run around and feed the ducks and play on the swings etc. as spring kicks in there's plenty more park areas around,so he will be able to go out and about a bit more when the weather allows it.I kind of plan to sort some sort of childcare out for him when he gets funded in January.I haven't quite worked out whether to send him to a nursery or childminder or a preschool because I have to really consider the distance between school and the nursery.it's a little bit tricky but in 2.5 years time they will both be at school together and it'll be a lot easier.
I made a passing comment this morning on the school run that because of all the rain and stuff we've been in the house a little bit more than I'd like recently. We like being outdoors so we're definitely looking forward to Spring. My friend said that he could do with doing the things that we did with our little ones. She said it will help him prepare for school and do him the world of good. she asked me if I knew anybody else with a child his age and I actually don't particularly know anybody with a child his age.I am getting to know a mum from school who has a little boy the same age actually but he goes to nursery 5 mornings a week.it's a shame otherwise I could ask this mum if she would like to go to the park and stuff with us. I know deep down he will be fine and he's got a big sister to play with and we'll get out and about a lot more in the better weather. He will also do a year and a half roughly of childcare before starting school. I'm just feeling a little bit guilty that he hasn't really had as much chance to socialize as my daughter did. I just wondered what people do who don't particularly use baby groups and things. I know it's a positive thing to use these groups but you don't have to and for different reasons people choose not to use them.he has just turned two you so it's ok isn't it for him to be with me most of the time at the moment?
Also my friend who said this has a car so she nips to town easily and to to grab this and go there. My son gets fed up so we limit time in town at the moment. I won't be able to afford driving lessons for the time being but it's on the list for the next few years. Being without a car is definitely making life limited but it is what it is for now.