Baby and Toddler Classes

[lp0284]

Hi everyone!

I’m doing a bit of research into what parents really value in baby and toddler classes, and I’d love to hear your thoughts.

Whether it’s music, sensory play, movement, messy play, or something totally different what makes a class worth going back to for you and your little one?

A few things I’m curious about:

• What age your child is/was when you went to classes
• What types of classes you enjoyed (and which ones didn’t work for you)
• What made a class stand out? the teacher, structure, vibe, location, price, timing, etc.
• Anything missing locally that you wish existed

Would really appreciate your insights, it’ll help shape what kind of sessions might best support parents and little ones in the future

Thanks so much!
x

Hello,

I went to a group run by the local Salvation Army while I was on maternity leave (until baby was 13 months), I enjoyed it because it was structured but also quite chilled and 'anonymous' as it was a large group in a church hall. We used to sit in a big circle and, as I recall, it started with singing nursery rhymes together, then they would put on music and there were a couple of 'dancing tracks' (baby shark where we all walked round the room with the babies etc), then they brought out sensory items/toys for the children to play with while the parents chatted, and then they would uncover tough trays based on that week's theme - could be springtime, colours etc. It was very lively and chaotic, which I did enjoy.

I tried another group - HartBeeps - but it was a much smaller class (probably about 8 mums in total when I attended) and it felt very intense and quiet, with the leader asking us what 2 words come to mind when we think of our motherhood journey so far 😧 and similar.

Oh also!! My Salvation Army class was about £3 a session as I recall, and you could just drop in and pay on the day. Any kind of termly commitment would have put me off as sometimes we just couldn't attend due to timings not working with the baby, which I imagine could be quite common.

I’ve done many baby and toddler classes and as much as I enjoy them they are all much of a muchness. Movement and singing, parachutes, bubbles.

It’s nice to have some social time built in if it’s a paid class. The free or very cheap playgroups can be lovely but they can also be cliquey and not great if you have a volatile toddler <eyes DS>

My child is currently 2 and we only really go to church hall style toddler groups. The only group we pay for is a drop-in session at the local gymnastics club. It's free play on their equipment and is therefore an activity we couldn't do anywhere else but also isn't a structured class.
And we do weekly swimming lessons.

I don't want to pay through the nose for a term of classes when my son is likely to be unwell or take a badly timed nap etc. He's only a toddler so I really don't want to fill his week with structured activities when he can learn so much from playing freely.

I may take something up once he's 3 or 4 and is (1) better at following instructions and (2) able to express a true preference and understanding of what he would like to learn. Currently on my list would be a martial art, dance, or music.

Free play with some little stations for play dough etc. snack. Tea for mums. And plenty of time to chat with friends