Is he too young for Mother & Toddler Groups

[Bubbles01]

My son is 15 months and now things have opened back up I have been going to Mother & Toddler groups.

Alot of the children seem to be a bit older, more 2.5 - 3 years old and all seem to play lovely with the toys & their mums etc.

My son, from the moment he gets there goes into hyper mode, running around, he doesn't really play much with the toys but insists on being into everthing he shouldn't. I find I spend the whole time running around after him. For example he tried to walk off with another mums drink. He pushes other peoples pushchairs nearly into the children. Climbing on chairs, trys all the doors etc etc... I try to divert his attention from whatever he is doing & remain calm but he has massive tantrums and throws toys around. Unfortunately the times do fall in to his morning nap time (by 30 minutes) so towards the end he is exhausted from the group but refuses to calm down but the meltdowns obviously get worse.

He is a very active little boy which is why I wanted to go & mix him with other children but he doesn't play with them, also I end up feeling quite rude as people try & talk to me but I always have to end up cutting them short to stop my son getting up to his next trick.

I know this is probably normal behavour for a very active boy but I just was wondering if I should wait until he is a bit older?

Tia

He's just a baby still. I don't blame you for looking for environments where he can learn but it doesn't sound right for him yet. I would try again in 6 months and right now, stick to parks and other places where there are fewer risks. The thing is....as a Mum at these groups, you never get to just sit down really. You're always having to run after them to some extent.

Thankyou, thats what I was thinking. Everyone keeps telling me I should go to help him socialise & learn but I just don't think he's ready yet.

If it's a true 'playgroup' then he perhaps is a bit young as he is unlikely to be particularly interested in true play with other kids til nearer 2.5. Are there maybe any baby gymnastics groups or dancing classes or football classes he might be more interested in? He might need to be 18-24MO for these though x

I took mine to úgroups from when he was tiny ie 3weeks he is 3.5yrs now.
Very active and would be v similar to what you describe but we kept going to them, it was good for both of us.i made friends as did he even though when younger he never played each other just around them and I ran after him alot
We went to music groups, library, gymboree etc and I set up my own group pre lockdown
. He was always the crazy one and although I was often flustered by it all we kept it up. I always asked if it was being lead by someone to tell me if he is too disruptive but they all enjoyed him there
The one I ran I just made sure he stayed away from the babies and he would just zoom around the room!
I always followed him around thinking when do I get to sit like other mums might. By now at 3. 5 he is very good at asking kids to play with him and v social and tends to go towards sligtly older kids and I've even sat on a bench in the park a few times watching him!
So I'd say if you want to keto going then don't be worried, if he gets to much then leave, I've done it alot but I n the end I though it was more, positive to go.
I understand the nap timings, during that I woukd just leave when needed to or plan for him to nap on way home

ITO groups this is a bit of an awkward inbetweeny age as they're getting old for the baby groups but too young really for structured classes like dance. I found that the true baby groups eg baby sensory were very much geared at none-mobile babies and they got a bit judgemental and snooty about the mobile baby's perfectly normal need to move. One I did love until mine was almost 2 was baby college. Much more relaxed and constantly reminding us that babies learn through moving and encouraged us to let them wander. If there's one in your area I'd highly recommend x