Am i the only one who can't stand toddler groups??

[anon1987]

My children are 4,7,11 so I'm past that stage now, but I was never one to want to go to toddler groups.

I just find them a little irritating. Am I the only one??

My dds all started 15 hours free nursery at 2yrs 9 months so I also never felt the need.

"Can't stand" is a bit of a bold statement to make if you've never been to one. How about stating that the idea of going doesn't appeal to you? Or are you just trying to be controversial?

I dislike them too. I guess they are great for kids but I hate them. My local groups are so clicky and bitchy!

I have a two year old daughter who really needs to socialise but I don't think I can face it!

I went to one at a local community centre with DS. I didn't know anyone there and found it really patronising, boring and inane. Most of the other mothers there were sahm and there was a focus on healthy eating and weaning rather than activities to amuse the baby.

Oh yeah boring old sahms. I've never heard of a toddler group concentrating on anything other than old donated toys, crafts and biscuits TBH.

Oh I hate these "I am so much more deep and interesting than all the sahm/school gate mums/playgroup mums- I really have nothing in common with those mundanes" as if they are a different species. Get over yourselves.

I'm finding the idea of being "patronised" by a toddler group quite funny

I agree they can be a tad tedious and I only go if I've got nothing better to do. I also go in winter more than summer.

However:
Many many people don't have family with other young children nearby like you do. Toddler groups and activities are the way they meet people with children of a similar age. Like Caterina said, once you've met them through the playgroups, you can meet up and do your own thing. But you need to meet them in the first place.
Many people don't live near enough to a beach to drive there and back in a reasonable time. Same for zoo and other popular attractions.
Some people don't have their own car so will mainly only go to local events.
Most SAHPs I know don't send their DCs to nursery until they're funded the term after their third birthday as it is expensive, particularly when you're on one salary. So toddler groups and other organised activities can fill the gap.

lampshade I wasn't suggesting that the mums were patronising, the people running the group were patronising. They assumed that the mums were completely unaware of how to care for their babies and it was all aimed at the lowest common denominator. I mentioned the sahm factor because I had nothing in common with any of them and their whole worlds began and ended with their babies.

I am going to sound really judgemental but the group was not in a particularly nice area of the city and none of the other mums were sahm because their partners were earning sufficiently to keep them, most were second or third generation unemployed.

Activities were, for example, how to cook and puree vegetables. And why you shouldn't feed your babies on Skips and cola. Not being completely clueless, I felt patronised.

I guess maybe we're talking about different toddler groups? The ones in church halls that I go to don't try and teach you anything?! It's literally toys and biscuits. And some singing.