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

[Weekendwoes]

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 all our toddler groups were run entirely by volunteers for free.

On weekends it was parks, soft play, going to places were we have membership eg local farm.

Many volunteers had their own dc so you could aks the places who do it in the week to see if you can run one on the weekend?

Blue, absolutely, but we couldn't afford the paid classes but we did baby massage and had membership to some places and did toddler groups which were varied and fab.

Thanks for the replies, some good points and I do understand about the venues being used for other stuff at weekends and people who run them wanting time off. I have looked into the franchise sports but most seem to be 3 years plus here, not too much longer to go.

I do agree there's stuff to do at home, and I know she does loads of great stuff at nursery, it would just be nice to have the chance to do something together- and something different other than walks etc. I might try and gauge local interest and look into volunteering to try and set something up, or even I suppose an informal outdoor meet now it's summer.

Its also worth thinking longer term that genuinely if there is nothing in your area at weekends then that means not demand i the area.

Which further down the line means that afterschool club and holiday club provision might be limited too

Depends where you live. I have friends who live in urban areas who have a good offering of groups on the weekend, whereas local to me it's mostly church/volunteer run.

Ours is the opposite. Everything is on the weekend when I’m looking for week day activities!

As PPs said it's a good time for buying an annual pass to somewhere. When we had a newborn and a 2 year old my husband used to take 2 year old out to a little farm place every weekend just for an hour or so. Gives a bit of structure to the weekends.

Pretty much all the activities stop over the summer hols anyway of course.

Where I live there there would be plenty of free or cheap volunteer activities in the week like toddler groups but those on the weekend would be more professional messy play or dance and movement or tumble
Tots. Agree that for parents with EOW contact and who lack space or money there is not much for them to do.

I used to do swim at weekend as used to feel so lonely.

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

Do it! The majority of groups where I am are run by busy working Mums on their days off. As the phrase goes - if you want something done, ask a busy person!

I found myself running a village hall parent & toddler group on my day off when my DC were small. Everything you need to know can be found online. If you wanted to try it out in a low-key sort of way maybe use the summer to suggest a weekly outdoor meet-up in parks/wild spaces.

I used to run a toddler group on a Saturday. After the initial enthusiasm, the novelty wore off, and it folded after about a year. The problem is that once older siblings start school, weekends fill up with swimming lessons, football matches etc.

We had a lot of sports clubs when DS was little. Also cinema kids Saturday club.

There’s always Sunday school if you are that way inclined.

Check out Messy Church. Normally held on a Sunday afternoon for little ones and their families with bible story, craft, songs etc. Our church is restarting the group next week and it's for anyone in the community who wants to go, not just for those who'd normally go to church. (Our church runs the group once a month and three or four others in the area do the same so every week is covered.)
Also regular church services on a Sunday morning often have really good children's groups too. Might be worth considering.

It does depend where you live.

There are weekend things here, but they weren’t great so me and a friend set up a Dads toddler group on Sundays, it was quite popular and still going strong. My son has attended rugby tots since he has been old enough, thats good for people who like talking to the parents in a group because us coaches keep the children entertained.

Lots of stuff where we are - not the drop in groups, but preschool football, dance, swimming, gymnastics, usually from age around 2.5, maybe younger. Often attached to sports clubs for older kids, so maybe worth checking there.

I met other parents by going to same soft play every sat or Sunday morning.

Messy church

Rugby tots often have sat or sunday classes. They take from 2 years

www.rugbytots.co.uk/About

whatson4kids.co.uk/

This site lasts you search for things near you and filters by days

Babies and toddler groups are very much not for babies and toddlers, they are for the people caring for them. The fact the small people also have a nice time is a bonus so I’m afraid the “replicate at gone” argument does not hold water.

That used to annoy me to op. Also everything stopping for the school holidays was hard - I always felt that was when I needed it more

But on the other hand weekend and school holiday activities tend to have older school children coming along which ruined it for the little ones

Bullshit are toddler groups only beneficial to parents. My 2 year old is a proper little person with likes and dislikes - going to gymnastics is beyond exciting for her. I don't have a set of uneven bars, a foam pit or a qualified coach in my house... I think some mumsnetters forget how 'old' a 2 year old actually is - she can ride a balance bike, is beginning to read a clock, can recognise letters and numbers etc. It's very different to having a baby.

I did actually once set up a toddler group! I did have a free community room so that was a big help. I'm not sure it was entirely okay legally/ riskily as I didnt have a special insurance so I always insisted on parents being and staying there, I also used to get them to put in a couple of quid for finger paint etc and bring a snack dish. I did do risk assessment and I had experience in youth work but if the parents are there I dont see a problem. You could easily set up a meet-up with other parents in the park or something. I bet other parents would go for it!

I'm in a small town in the North West and there's lots of weekend options for my 13 month old so I didn't have any idea it was an issue. Have you tried looking at local forest schools, they often run weekend toddler sessions x

@Subordinateclause I don’t totally disagree with you but I also don’t think the “do it all yourself at home” is constructive or true which is what I was arguing against. I also get a lot of what you mention from paid for places such as soft-play, I don’t think it is always the main focus of baby groups. Round here they’re largely social and don’t offer what you mention. I also have a two year old but still feel the groups referred to in the OP are not largely for that.

I wouldn’t go as far as to call someone else’s opinion bullshit though, so we’re obviously all different.

Our library used to do a story/singing session for under 2s on a Saturday morning. Was really well attended...