woman coming to toddler group without a toddler

[adventuregirl]

I have namechanged so noone from our group knows its me. And a few details may be altered, but nothing that will change the story.

I help out at a toddler group. A woman from the local church has started to come along, and talks to the mums, and often tries to recruit to her church. I am not anti-religion by a long shot, but this makes me a bit uncomfortable. I think she thinks she is supporting the group, although she doesnt help and also doesnt pay.

In the past, she has handed out bible literature, but she was asked to stop by the group leader as she said it wasnt the appropriate place to do this.

She doesnt come to help, just to talk to the mums. I don't like the way she comes, without any children, to a group for parents and children. I know a couple of other mums feel the same way too. should we approach the leader and ask her to say something - perhaps something about it setting a precedent for people to come along without children?

I just find it a bit odd, and uncomfortable.

Why dont you say something like this to her: "Seeing that you spend so much time her, and obviously enjoy being here, why dont you help out, as you dont have a child to look after? It would be nice to have some help tidy up, collecting used cups, and maybe making up squash and serving biscuits?"

Obviously, more diplomatically, perhaps....

Maybe she will get the hint, or actually start helping.

snowflakes has a point.

I don't think that I would like this if I was running the group. Are non parents/carers legally allowed to be in there from a child safety point of view (would be different obviously if she was there in some official capacity - serving drinks etc). She may well be lonely but it doesn't make it fine for her to be hanging around. If she was a 50 year old man loitering around toddler groups I'm sure that people wouldn't like it - shouldn't be any different because she is a woman.

I run a toddler group and would not allow an adult to come without a child in tow. Certainly not on a regular basis. Quite apart from being a bit weird, it would certainly conflict with our child protection policy - adults in regular contact with the children have to be CRB checked and all the rest.

And we are a church group, but I still don't go in for handing out Christian literature and pushy evangelism. Members are invited to appropriate, child-friendly services from time to time (Harvest, Nativity etc), and there is some info about church children's activities on the noticeboard, but that is as far as it goes. Otherwise, we concentrate on providing a loving and supportive environment, in which children are welcomed - much as Jesus did (well, that's the idea anyway!)

thanks everyone
you have spurred me on to talk to the leader to get her to stop coming.
church stuff kind of governs the conversation, so although she might not be actively recruiting, it would appear to be like that to some people.
and yes, the child protection line is probably the best way in - I bet the leader has some guidelines for groups somewhere that we could wave under he nose.

very odd