What do you expect your toddler to do at playgroup???

[Nemo1977]

Just wondering as was talking to another mum of a little girl [2.5yrs] who is at playgroup with DS. They both started in sept and my idea was it was basically a toddler group but where I get to leave him. She said she wasnt sure if she was very impressed as they were not doing anything educational...surely there is plenty of time for educational play when they start school etc.

It depends on the group. You need to shop around to find one that suits your needs. Some will be more educationally-minded than others.

MP it isnt me I dont mind it just being about DS playing and socialising..especially as he needs to work on his speech. I was just surprised that this lady thought thats what they should be doing.

Just wondering shat the other lady wanted them to be doing?

Personally, I like the playing ones better. I think there's plenty of time for "educational" groups - even when they start school there is a strong emphasis on learning through play. Learning to share, listen, converse with other children is imo socially educational anyway - these are all really important skills.

the whole purpose is for toddlers to go and play and socialise isnt it? thats exactly what happens in our toddler gorup, they have fun, they will be educating non stop once in school, so they need to have fun before they do!!

Playgroups, as I understand them, tend to help children with socialising and play in a slightly structured way i.e. not a free-for-all but organised activities and play.

Our local one also introduces the children to things they will encounter at school so that they are familiar with them when they start school (simple register-taking, changing for a PE lesson, show and tell etc).

Emphasis should be on fun but with a bit of subtle introduction to educational experiences IMHO. Plenty of time for formal learning in the years ahead

Nemo sorry I didn't mean to imply YOU needed to shop around - SHE needs to shop around. I visited a lot when my dd was 2.5 but wasn't happy with any of them - they all felt a bit like Lord of The Flies. The private nursery she goes to is far more structured which I much preferred (and so did she).

I suppose it depends what you mean by educational?

I briefly volunteered in a pre-school playgroup and the session basically was made up of when the children arrived, they chose an activity (toys), and for the first half of the morning they moved around the activities freely, while staff went around the room playing with and supervising the children. Then there was circle time, with drinks & snacks, afterwards an organised activity e.g. baking or painting, followed by circle time with a story, then it was home time.

To me, all of that IS educational to a 3 year old!

Was she expecting them to be sitting down learning the alphabet or something?

I didnt actually ask her what she thought they should be doing..however she did slate them and say her DD loves to paint but has never come home with a painting. DS started same time as her DD and in the past 3 weeks we have had an abundance of pictures come home..usually with some description written on by one of the playworkers.