AIBU to think Rhyme Time sessions are a bit twee?

[juneybean]

Seriously I went to my first today and was a bit at how utterly quaint it was.

I understand the point of baby groups is to give the mums a social outlet, but really the mothers at this group didn't speak to each other at all.

But I didn't feel welcomed at all, I sat down and wasn't even offered a song sheet so had no idea what I was supposed to be doing.

I'm fairly extrovert so it wasn't an issue for me but for some women who are quite shy would probably be put off.

The librarian taking the session seemed to concentrate one child instead of giving each child attention.

Yeah I probably am being a bit unreasonable...but meh...

See I know the words to wind the bobbin.

As for not going, not really helpful advice, as my boss would like me to take charge.

Technofairy and Gateau!

/stands up and applaudes/

Waiting with a bited breath for an infant pilates (or similar nonsense) chain to pop up.

I remember the first time i took my DD to a privately run Baby music session. I was horrified - all those yummy mummies and very americanised. BUT i persevered. I took DD from the age of 12 weeks til 3yrs. WE loved it! There were no song sheets, but the woman who ran it did lots of the same stuff and introduced new stuff slowly. It was brilliant, i really miss it - there were instruments, dancing (made us mums(and dads)) get involved. Now my DD is really lucky because the same lady goes to her pre-school once a week for a sing song session. I miss out though The lady (tempted to name her as i think she is so brilliant but of vourse i wont) had post graduate qualifications in music for young children and just makes it so enjoyable and always introduced stuff from all over the world - I seem to remember doing heads shoulders knees and toes in Hindi and Old Mac donalds farm in Swaheli (sp) plus lots of eastern european dancing - she should run a group for adults i tell ya!

Absolutely the best money i have EVER spent on DD. She now has a repertoire of songs and actions that i just don't think she would have had without it. I have to do "bouncing up and down on a big red/green/yellow tractor" every time we are on the see saw and DD laughs her head off. She had speech delay and i think that these music sessions did her more good than any speech therapy she had.

Cuppatea - Don't be dissing the "wind the bobbing up" its my number one favourite

Have to say though, was very disappointed with the Rhyme time at the library - but that might actually be because it is run by librarians who are, lets face it, shy and retiring by nature [runs!]

YANBU. I always felt a pressure to take my kids to these bloody things and I'm sure that any miniscule benefit they got from it did not assuage the total stress and inexplicable rage they induced in me. My youngest (who is the brightest and switched on of the lot) gets most of that kind of stuff from CBeebies and nursery now and I am sooooo pleased I've ditched the guilt of feeling that unless these things have a pay off for mummy (i.e. nice coffee/ social with other mums) too I don't bother.

YANB totallyU although I do think they can be good if they are well run. We went a couple of times when DS2 was little but he never sat down like the other children and didn't like doing the crafts at the end so we didn't go again.

I don't think you should go to any baby/toddler classes with the expectation of making adult friends though. They aren't what they are all about. If you want to meet people, toddler groups are the way to go or generally informal things where there is the opportunity to chat.