Setting up a new toddler group - what makes a good group?

[Orinoco]

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Sensitive helpers who notice if newcomers are sitting by themselves and try and introduce them to others!

Clean toys for diff ages,
carpet/rugs for the baby area,
bouncy seats, soft rings, for the baby area,
Lots of cups of tea and biscuits!!!!

cake!

Craft activities.

See for good ideas.

Some I go to do a singing session at the end after tidy up time. That always goes down well.

Others have an activity on a small table organised by one of the mums or helpers. Diff each week.
Eg. xmas/easter/fathers/mothers day cards, sticking,
painting,
playdough etc.

what happened there?

not all standing around cliquily discussing what your older ones get up to at primary school

not being too big for your venue, if you can help it.

Friendliness, fun activities and healthy snacks.

Honestly? I think it just depends on getting the right people together. If you are unfortunate enough to have someone who is dominant yet lacks social kids, you can have freshly baked biscuits, nice coffee, plenty of toys and a garden and finish with sing-a-longs etc and it doesn't come off.

How you get rid of the annoying ones is something I haven't figured out though.

lacks social SKILLS I meant to say

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Friendly helpers/atmosphere
Separate baby area so the smaller ones don't get trampled by the more boisterous types
Clean loos
Good coffee
Reasonably politically correct snacks for the children (marmite sandwiches and grapes perhaps rather than really sugary stuff)
Singing
Secure exits etc to stop the more determined escape artists (aids parental relaxation)

sep area for bikes so children dont run over babies with their bikes
seating area inportant needs to b close for adults to chat but also be able to c children
song time is good
story time for the older children
play doh
clean toys
fruit for snack or rice cakes
a smile

Sorry to mention it but Public Liability Insurance.

An acoustically suitable venue. Rare.
Some occasional bits like talks from interesting people. An example would be T Ramsay, not.
Clean mugs.
Comfy seats.

rotate toys so not the same ones each week

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Check with the school, you may find you are covered on their insurance as you are on their premises but I'd get something in writing to say so. Everyone seems so keen to make the most from an accident these days.