Are all baby / preschooler groups intolerable or is it just my experience?

[cassietredegar]

The cliques, the over-preciousness of some parents with their darling children, the absolute rip off of the groups themselves (some around here are £20 a time!). Does anyone go to any groups they truly love or have made long term friends from? The best I’ve been to are actually the free church based huge ones.

Worked part time when DS toddler/preschooler, spent 2 weekdays with GPs living in same town, weekends with us or friends with kids. Gave up on baby/toddler groups as it seemed a rip off and the parents and kids we liked saw him at nursery and socially anyway. They get interactive group tone at nursery and ours had stay and play once a month too