Sure start classes, any good?

[sarahloula]

My local sure start centre run two classes appropriate for my two year old dd, 'room to play' and 'fantasy and fair tales', any idea what they entail? I'm wanting to socialise my dd more as she is currently looked after by my mum or dh and very shy.

Not been to any but only because our sure start centre wasn't running at the time. Why not give them a try?

IME the vary massively. My friends surestart (that I often went along to) was fab. Lots of different sessions, lots of activities, and friendly leaders. They even funded her to retrain in childcare whilst she volunteered for them.

My local surestart, had one class suitable for DDs age, weren't really very exciting and when I rang after DC2 had been born they weren't particularly helpful and welcoming. I take her to a private family run group now that costs three times as much but is worth every penny

It's just a question of areas and who runs them so go along and see what it's like!!

Ours runs a stay and play session as well as things like baby massage, parenting classes, cookery sessions, play and learn and a host of others.

Sign up and go along, and if you don't like it, free up the space for someone else.

One of our local centres has a grandparents session as well as they recognise that more and more parents rely on their own parents for childcare. Perhaps find one of these for your mum to go along to? she will make new friends as well

Personally, I loved our centre; it was attached to the school so I could drop my eldest off and then go straight in. I had hideous PND and if I had had to go further afield I probably wouldn't have made the effort. The staff knew about my PND as well and were brilliant at getting me involved.

Our surestart is fab, really busy for lots of different things. Dd is 2.4 and I have pretty much been going to something there weekly since she was born. First breastfeeding support, then several 4-6 week group sessions and have been going to a weigh and play drop in since she was around 18 months - when we stopped the breastfeeding support. Give it a go - it has certainly been a lifesaver for me.