Thinking about setting up parent and child group, any thoughts?

[eleanorsmum]

I am seriously considering starting a parent and child group here in my local village and was wondering if any of you had done the same and what tips you may have. I have thought about using the local scout hut and about toys and subs. I have also had a CRB check done - it's just to be a coffee chat session with no structure so don't think i need to be qualifed btu I have a degree in education so thought that might help. If any one can shed any light I would be most grateful, PS CAT me if you want to know where I am and if you want to be a potential groupie!!!

Hi eleanorsmum, I run a parent and toddler group in my local church hall. I didn't set it up - it's been running for many years, but we have inherrited lots of toys over the years. We don't have a structure as such buit we make different areas with the toys ie. a carpetting area with all the baby toys. a large circuit like space (around a central block of tables where we eat lunch together first) for the ride one toys, a couple of pop up tunnels and tents linked together, a playdough table, a colouring table, and we usually have a craft activity going on too. Contact your local preschool learning alliance for advice. They are pretty good. Your local council; will have some too. We serve tea and coffee and cold drinks and charge subs of 50p per child and a maximum of £1 per family. Feel free to cat me if I can answer any questions. Good luck with it!

I havent got any experience running a group only from attending a group.
I only went a few times and stopped going all together in the end so ive got one or two suggestions which i hope will help you.
You say in the village where you live, does this mean that you all know each other from in and around the village? Is it small?
I only ask because one of the MAJOR problems i faced (and indeed there have been many many many threads about this problem if you read through the archives) was that they all knew each other and chatted with each other and i was very much an outsider.
I didnt know who was running the play group for probably the first 3 weeks of going. Not even she approached me or even noticed me.
I felt like i was back in the school play ground.
Please please meet and greet new faces, include and introduce them to one or two other mums. Take the time to show an interest in them and do it week in week out, not just the once.
Talk to them about events coming up or that you are organising.
I turnd up one week near Halloween and all the kids were dressed up and the mums had taken food in, we hadnt as we hadnt realised this was going to happen, i literally felt sick and wanted to just run out of the place.
This was a very very bad experience for me and ultimately for ds, and it doesnt have to be this way.
It can be a very lonely business bieng a mum.
From your post, it sounds great, it was all i needed what you are offering yet it was impossible to get.
Just to be able to get out of the house and have a coffee with some nice people who have children and all the quirks that go with them would have been great.
Good luck x

Eleanorsmum I have also considered doing this as I thought there was only one in my town, have found another and am going to check it out next week. However, Octobers family circle magazine has an article on part time jobs for mums and one was a mum and toddler group. they gave this e-mail as a reference www.pre-school.org.uk
Please let me know how you get on and can someone tell me how to CAT people and set myself up on it??

You can get grants to start parent and toddler groups. If you have a Salvation Army in your town, give them a ring and ask if they have considered starting a group, tell them you would be interested in helping to run it. Get in touch with local health visitors becasue they can promote it for you.

You have to keep sessions to under 2 hours otherwise you have to register with social services. Anyone who works in our groups has to do a child protection course. This is as much to protect yourself from accusations tbh. And believe me you might think it won't happen to me but i know people it has happened too.

Crb checks only stay relevant for 6 months i think.

If i can be any more help please CAT me you might already have enough info by now though.

Good luck

thnaks for the inof guys, the grants sound handy. Am speaking to a lady tonight about the hall and will take it from there. Donbean, I too went to one where i felt like such an outsider so would make every effort to include everyone. Thanks for the tips on ideas and stuff. Am buzzing to go now!!!!!!!!!

off to see the lady about the hall today. Do you think i need to let the council know or maybe the CSIW?