To feel patronised by this?!

[chelseamorning]

As is often the case with these things (and life in general) some people at our local toddler group don't pull their weight with helping to put out or pack up the toys. However the majority of us do.

At yesterdays' session, the Chair of the group announced that it was tidy up time and then said things were going to happen a little differently. She pulled some cards out of her pocket which had different tasks written on each one. She then asked us all to go over and take a card and then carry out the task on it!

How utterly patronising! As I said, the majority of people there do pull their weight. It was interesting to see that those who wouldn't normally help out just slunk away and didn't take a card/task. Therefore I really can't see the benefit.

And for the record, 'no', I didn't take a ruddy card. Nor did a number of others near me. However I did do my bit and tidied up as usual.

AIBU to be expected to be treated like an adult and not a child at a toddler group?!

Exactly, Alicet. Our Group has a rota for opening up and there are set times for tidying everything away, setting out/tidying away the snack tables etc, which should, in theory, ensure that everyone takes their turn. There are the ones who seem happy to ignore this and sit tight whilst everyone else does the work, but generally it works well, if everyone is doing something, it becomes easy to spot the shirkers. If you don't formalise these things it's hard to ensure that everyone is doing a fair share.

I'm afraid your attitude to this has been precious Chelsea. It's not as if she screamed, shouted, ranted and cracked a whipe at you. She gave you, along with everyone else, a card with a task on it! Oh, honestly.

whip

I liked cracked a whipe better Had image of mad frazzled mum whacking lazy people round the head with a packet of baby wipes!!! grin]

LOL Alicet!!! You do sometimes get to that point, don't you (or is that just me?! )

i usually leave playgroup before it ends due to time etc, i must be terrible.

TBH if i am there i will help, but i go there and pay so i can chat and relax for an hour, there are plenty of people who volunteer (and even where 'uniforms') so i cant understand why it HAS to bethe parents who tidy up. i understand that it is helpful and a good example but why so neccessary, unless ou dont have helpers and do rely on a parent rota of course

I think what you are describing is different to a toddler group? I've been to one similar to the one you describe - it was in a church hall and was staffed by volunteers who wore tunics. They served the teas/snacks etc and ran it as a church group. I suppose I'm thinking of our toddler group which although run by a parent committee expects all parents to pitch in and help with the weekly setting up/tidying away etc.

Alicet, I usually arrive in time to help put things out so I know who pitches in to help at this time, AND I'm there until the end.

Again, Paolosgirl, I'm not precious. She actually shouted for everyone to line up and take a task card. We all had to form a bloomin' line. Not very grown up, is it? A simple list would have sufficed.

Perhaps she had to shout over the noise? I know our toddler group is very noisy (I would imagine most of them are), and our Committee regularly yell when it's tidy up time, or that someone is needed to wash up or whatever - it wouldn't occur to me to complain that I was being shouted at.
You are being precious - just get on with it, or as Alicet said, go elsewhere and find a group where the Chair does things your way and to your liking. Or set a toddler group up yourself.

I think you're missing the point, Paolosgirl.

Nope, don't think so.

It seems quite a good idea to me. I must be a child at heart!

I don't think the cards work and found most people are put off
When I took over running ours I tried scrapping the cards but found me and 2 others were always left to open up wash up tidy up

Might as well stay at home at least I would have the satisfaction my house was clean