Why are children's activities always in the morning?

[moomina]

Have just got back from my local library where I went to check out what is on in the way of activities for ds (16 months). Useless. Why is everything scheduled for the morning?

Our local libraries hold a total of 14 'Rhymetime' sessions a week. Of these, only ONE starts after midday - and naturally that's the one which would entail a 20-minute drive each way. It's the same for Tumbletots - there is not a single session for ds's age group held in the afternoons.

Why is this? Am I alone in thinking this is ridiculous? What about those of us who work in the mornings?

I'm sure the reason is that most young toddlers have naps in the afternoon. Even though mine doesn't anymore, mornings are still the most convenient time for me, especially because her sister is at school then.

I'm not sure why you think it's ridiculous. It's just unfortunate that it doesn't work with your schedule, but it's not that common for people just to work mornings is it?

my dd always sleeps from 9.30 to 11 am - then the dog needs her walkies !!!

I have exactly the same problem !!
So annoying.

I know I am, SS!

Is it cos they assume people have older kids to collect from school at 3-ish?

It annoys me too as my son, also 16 months always has a long sleep in the am and none in the pm. I disrupt in sometime but I also like to have the tiem to myself too. Luckily my YMCA runs stuff in the pm and there are 2 toddler groups nearby in the afternoon (but on the same day!)

I wish they were always scheduled in the morning! Around here everything is in the afternoon, when my daughter is at nursery. We have had to give up Tumble Tots, because all of the local sessions for 3 - 5s are at the same time - in the afternoon.

I am dressed and up with the lark but that doesn't mean I don't want to entertain my ds in the afternoons too!

Kate - I think it is ridiculous because since a library's remit is to provide for all its users (as far as possible) it doesn't seem too much to ask that now and then things could be scheduled for a time other than 10.30 - 11.30am. And I think it's very common for mothers working part-time to work in the mornings (if for no other reason than that afternoons are often for school pick-ups.)

Thats really interesting. I figured like Kate that the reason was because most toddlers take their naps in the afternoon. Everything around here is for the morning, too, but it works out better for everyone. None of my group of friends toddlers (aged 14-18 mo) take much more than a 20 min nap in the morning. And when we've thought about planning activities in the afternoon, we realized that our children go down for a nap somewhere between 12:30 and 2, and if you figure that most of them take 2 hour naps, that leaves between 12:30 and 4 the time that they are asleep, which doesn't leave much time for afternoon activities.

moomin, try contacting your local CIS (Childrens Information Services) They will be able to send you info on all activities for toddlers in your area, not just at libraries, but play groups, drop ins, etc etc. HOpefully some will be in the afternoon fo ryou both!

Thanks everyone. I know that for many people mornings are the more obvious time. My point is that it's not that way for all of us (ds doesn't actually sleep during the afternoon, for a start!) and I couldn't believe I was the only one to feel the balance is a bit skewed.

Not that I am suggesting libraries etc work their plans around my ds's sleep habits, just that it would be nice to feel that I could take him somewhere (other than soft play) after 11.30am and there genuinely doesn't seem to be anywhere!

Sue W - I will mention it. Have a family friend who works in our local library so will see what her take is! Am just having a whinge really