How do you all find decent clubs or classes for your kids? I keep ending up scrolling Facebook groups for hours…

[Chris111]

I’m trying to figure out how other parents discover good activities for their kids (sports, music, tutoring, baby groups, whatever).
For me, it’s mostly word of mouth and random WhatsApp threads... I always feel like I’m missing great stuff nearby.
How do you find yours?
And do you actually use any apps or sites for it?

I used this site - https://www.happity.co.uk/

Cubs/scouts similar - ask other parents
music - music shops often have a list of teachers or the local county music service (sometimes have to really hunt on a website for that one)
most schools run a range of after school clubs
many clubs will send leaflets or similar out to their local primary schools on a fairly regular basis

Brownies, Cubs etc are popular and in almost all areas.

Otherwise word of mouth or seeing posters at venues or on social media. You quite often get a free trial class to see if it suits.

As children get older they talk about clubs their friends do that they're interested in trying.

Thanks so much. Does anyone else use Happity?

Thanks...very useful!

Agree it's very tricky. It amazes me how many places like dance schools and gymnastics academies don't have class timetables online and make it quite tricky to gather this information. If your child is in swimming lessons and wrap around care a couple of times a week, choosing new activities is very much dependent on what days they run!

@DejaBump Thanks...haven't come across Happity before. My kids are primary and secondary...I don't think anything like this exists for that age group?

@plum ....I'm so with you!! It's so time-consuming just looking into what's available, speaking to other parents, and then don't get me started on paying for them...it's so cumbersome!!

@Octavia64 thank you! So time-consuming because there are so many different sources for these activities ....including speaking to other parents to get their views and recommendations!!

Reflecting on this, for us was a bit of spotting adverts and word of mouth. In a couple of instances we tried out clubs for which the owners did a free session at school and left a leaflet for every child.
One activity I researched all clubs in the area on the internet, driven by my child interest in that particular topic.
Another was more accidental: a school friend organized a small party for which you needed to have a very specific skill (but you could have fun even if you were a total beginner) so that prompted us to find a way to gain that skill, which lead to a weekly class.
Generally speaking I keep an eye on what's out there.

This is something where @mumsnetreally could be doing a useful service and making money by gathering info on local activities.

I mostly ask other parents. Which ends up being luck.

I have a mum friend who is like a Basset hound for this kind of thing and I piggy back off her...

Other than that I have looked up the community centres local to me and their "what's on" listings - I am in London and all the good clubs don't have to advertise.

@Criteria16 That’s a great mix.. I love when schools do those free tasters, it makes it so much easier to try something new. I feel like we only hear about good clubs by accident though! Do you tend to find out through school or from other parents?

@Ashington Haha I love that… every parent group has one of those “Basset hound” friends! You’re right though, the best clubs seem to stay hidden unless someone tips you off. Do you usually spot things yourself or wait for her to sniff them out first?

@parietal Yes, exactly! It’s mad that there isn’t already something that brings all of this together properly….. parents still rely on word of mouth and luck. I’ve been wondering if there’s a way to make it easier to find and book classes in one place, without losing that local feel.

For older primary and secondary clubs only advertise if they are short of members. Good clubs rely on word of mouth. CLubs with no waiting list aren't necessarily not good. It could just be that kids are doing something else at the same time. It's like Brownies and Cubs. If one girl in a class signs up they often do the same group. Might switch the next year. Both groups are often good.

Do you work for Happity?

@LostMySocks That’s such a good point …..so much of it depends on timing and who else is signing up, rather than how good the club actually is. It really shows how word of mouth drives everything. Makes me think there should be an easier way for parents to see what’s out there without waiting for someone in the class to mention it!

@atamlin ha…I hadn’t even heard of this company until today 😁

It usually just comes up in conversation, her child is slightly older than mine so was already signed up for Beavers and gave me the leader's email address because apparently he "can't work" the central system - she just seems to know things. A proper grown up.
She is just kind and generous, a lot of parents gate keep this kind of thing.

Happenstance, sometimes. DS2 is really into D&D, and has been having trouble recruiting enough people to play with him. We were walking down the road in our local town the other day when we saw a new board game cafe had opened. It's a CIC (and unofficial sanctuary for the neurodiverse and geeky 😆)and it offers after school D&D sessions!

Otherwise yup, word of mouth.

2/3 of the clubs my DS did aged 4-11 were ones run at/by school, so either external businesses using their hall or clubs run by staff.
A couple others were run by our local community organization, who do lots of events for children including holiday clubs and regular weekly youth clubs. I’d seen a post on the local Facebook group.
Cub Scouts was because I knew very vaguely about it, thought it sounded good for my DS so went on the website to find a group nearby to try out.
Another club is run by a very nice business we visit whenever we are in town, I read when they announced it in an e-newsletter.

@crackofdoom That’s brilliant….total serendipity! Love the sound of that café, and how it’s created a space for kids like your DS2 to find their tribe. It’s such a good example of how these things often come down to luck or being in the right place at the right time…

@evtheria That all makes a lot of sense. School based clubs seem to be such a big part of it at that age, then everything else comes down to whatever you happen to spot online or hear about

We did a Saturday music group from school age and swimming. Employer had newsletter for parents and found out about them there. Didn't bother with baby/toddler groups after starting nursery as we have local family and time with them and friends from nursery was a better use of time