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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be frustrated that there are no toddler groups on weekends?

59 replies

Weekendwoes · 02/05/2021 09:14

I know logically that it's probably because the people who run them want time off with their families, or it's assumed that people will be off and about at weekends; but does anyone else get frustrated that there aren't any classes or groups at weekends for babies and toddlers? Depends on area I guess, but absolutely nothing here. Would love for DD to do gymnastics (weekdays only), under 5 football (weekdays), messy play (weekdays), sing and play sessions (all on weekdays), or anything in fact, but work Monday to Friday, and if I have annual leave most only offer term bookings so can't book the odd week.

Tempted to set my own up but have zero skills or talents!

OP posts:
Lulu1919 · 02/05/2021 09:19

Have a look at local parks....see if they offer anything at weekends ....
Does local pool do family swim sessions at weekend ?
Locally here there are football groups on saturdays ..not sure what age from though.

mnahmnah · 02/05/2021 09:19

I feel the same. I went back to work full time when they were both 6 months so I missed out on a lot of those classes and groups. But I totally understand why people don’t want to run them on a weekend. I think they would get plenty of interest though! There are football and rugby groups on a weekend where we are so we got involved in those.

Retrievemysanity · 02/05/2021 09:21

What does DD do when you’re working? My DD’s went to nursery when I was working and they did things like messy play, singing and football etc when they were there. My younger DD started ballet at 3 and that class was on a Saturday. May be area but I have friends dotted around the country who do football, rugby and swimming with their pre schoolers on weekends.

BuyYourOwnBBQGlenda · 02/05/2021 09:23

I feel the same! I love working but we are new to area and have few friends, none with kids of same age.

Jessicabrassica · 02/05/2021 09:25

Lots of weekend football, swimming dance and music for pre schoolers round here...

Northernsoullover · 02/05/2021 09:26

I am a lone parent and I used to hate weekends with toddlers. It was so lonely.

Telltaletall · 02/05/2021 09:27

Someone set one up on my town a few years ago because people said they wanted it but in reality uptake was low and they had to shut.

I think in the week sahm etc tend to it a fixed party of their routine whereas on a weekend people are more adhoc because they're balancing other things too. So it just doesn't make for such a reliable group of people (and therefore financial viability)

AmyandPhilipfan · 02/05/2021 09:27

I’m surprised you can’t find toddler football classes at the weekend. The national franchise groups like Didikicks and Little Kickers are all on at the weekend round my way.

Have you asked in local FB groups? That seems to be the best way of discovering groups in my area.

Dishwashersaurous · 02/05/2021 09:30

Entirely depends on area. If you live in an area where mainly two parent full working then there will be loads of weekend groups. Monkey music, diddidance, rugbytots etc all run at the weekend.

But if you live somewhere where lots of sahp then won't be demand for the weekend groups.

And the volunteer led groups are by their very nature there to help fill the week

Hardbackwriter · 02/05/2021 09:31

I found this too and it was why I took DS swimming, because it was about the only one that ran at the weekend. The one that really annoyed me is that the local library ran various things open to all during the week but the only weekend one was explicitly labelled as for dads, because of course mummy is home all week but daddy is out doing his big important job...

blueandcream · 02/05/2021 09:32

I’m back to work in September and will have to get ds on the swimming class list now for Saturdays (and pay for it!)

onepieceoflollipop · 02/05/2021 09:33

I was involved with starting one (music type sessions on a Saturday morning). It was well attended.

My kids were older at the time but I felt quite strongly I wanted to volunteer. Due to my shift work I wasn’t always able attend the regular week day groups and I was aware other working parents or lone parents may also be missing out.

You don’t necessarily need skills or talents.
You need one or two like minded friends or other parents.
You need a venue (maybe church hall or similar)
You could try a basic set up - toys, tea/coffee and trial a social type group?
We found breakfast type snacks to be very popular - bacon sandwich or home made cakes, proper coffee.

JammyGem · 02/05/2021 09:34

I feel the same. DH works at the weekends and I work full time weekdays, so would love to join a group with DD as something regular to do on weekends, but all the ones in my area are weekdays.

You'd think there would be more of a demand for them, there must be quite a few of us in the same position!

SockQueen · 02/05/2021 09:34

We have Socatots and Rugby tots locally on weekends, though I've never actually been as they start too early for my family of non-larks. And there are some baby swimming classes, though they have long waiting lists. Not a lot of the usual stay and play/music type groups though. I suspect it's a combination of the people running them wanting time with their families, and venues being able to make more money renting to adult groups/private hire for parties at weekends.

I sympathise though, it has been hard work this year. Weekends also mean the parks/woods etc are more full of older children, so the small ones sometimes don't get a look in.

minniemomo · 02/05/2021 09:38

Because on weekends we are with our own kids! Most people who run groups (I do) don't work weekends and the hall is used for other things on Saturdays (eg farmers market and weddings) and on Sundays it's church so no outside bookings but there is toddler church group for 3-5 year olds

Plumbear2 · 02/05/2021 09:54

Franchises like soccer tots etc usually run at weekends. Toddler groups etc tend to be run by volunteers while their own kids are at school so obviously they spend weekends with their own kids. Also venues for toddler groups tend to be booked at weekends for other events.

IceCreamAndCandyfloss · 02/05/2021 10:00

but does anyone else get frustrated that there aren't any classes or groups at weekends for babies and toddlers

No, can’t say I ever did. Babies and toddlers are so easy to amuse at home and plenty of places are open at the weekend to visit. They don’t play together at that age so very easy to replicate messy play, singing etc at home.

FeelinHappy · 02/05/2021 10:03

There are loads of activities round here on a Saturday morning and some are suitable for toddlers. They tend to be very early (swimming 8am, ballet 9am) but that used to suit us with our early risers. Maybe spread the net a little wider and target things that schoolchildren do too? All the things you've listed are not available AFAIK on Saturdays round here but there's swimming, ballet, football.

Hardbackwriter · 02/05/2021 10:06

@IceCreamAndCandyfloss

but does anyone else get frustrated that there aren't any classes or groups at weekends for babies and toddlers

No, can’t say I ever did. Babies and toddlers are so easy to amuse at home and plenty of places are open at the weekend to visit. They don’t play together at that age so very easy to replicate messy play, singing etc at home.

By that logic why are there baby and toddler classes at all?
ChameleonKola · 02/05/2021 10:07

@Hardbackwriter

I found this too and it was why I took DS swimming, because it was about the only one that ran at the weekend. The one that really annoyed me is that the local library ran various things open to all during the week but the only weekend one was explicitly labelled as for dads, because of course mummy is home all week but daddy is out doing his big important job...
Wtf! I hope you pointed that out to them!
blueandcream · 02/05/2021 10:07

Good old mumsnet - all babies need is a cuddle from mummy until they are eighteen months

Hardbackwriter · 02/05/2021 10:09

@blueandcream

Good old mumsnet - all babies need is a cuddle from mummy until they are eighteen months
And God forbid that mummy herself would enjoy any human interaction or directed activity. What is she, one of those awful, nasty.... extroverts?!
wizzywig · 02/05/2021 10:13

Soft play?

sweeneytoddsrazor · 02/05/2021 10:14

but the only weekend one was explicitly labelled as for dads, because of course mummy is home all week but daddy is out doing his big important job

I always assumed that this was because very often because Dads only had eow contact and it gave them chance to spend time with others in the same situation.

blueandcream · 02/05/2021 10:15

I will hold my hand up and say my life and my baby’s life is much happier and varied with swimming, baby sensory, baby signing, baby yoga - and coffee and cake in cafes.

Aren’t we always told happy mum = happy baby?

Who is really happy spending five days a week at home alone with a baby?

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