How to Set Up a Playgroup
Learning how to handle social situations is just as important as reading and writing to young children's development. They must know how to work and play well with others, and those skills only come through experience. If you want to set up a playgroup to get the children in your neighborhood together, read on to find out the things that you must know first.
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Instructions
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Find a few interested families. You need at least four or five families involved to have a successful playgroup. That way if someone comes down with a cold, you aren't stuck at home waiting for someone to get better. You can look for families at your local church, park or other neighborhood organization.
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Decide on the rules. It's important that you decide what you want out of the playgroup before you begin. Some things to consider are how many times you want to meet each week, what happens if a child is sick, whether to limit the number of children who can attend a playgroup and whether to serve lunch or refreshments. Once you have these guidelines in place, the rest of the playgroup will go much more smoothly.
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Figure out the monetary issues. Some playgroups plan a big party at the end of the year, or may collect dues to pay for supplies and snacks for the children. Decide up front how much you plan to charge, and then make sure that everyone pays their share.
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Pick a time and a location. Depending on the ages of the children involved, you should plan playgroups around their nap and eating schedules. Most playgroups last for about an hour and a half to two hours. You can choose to meet at someone's house or in a public venue like a park or playscape.
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Entertain the children. Anyone can set up a playgroup, but if you want the kids to really have a blast, consider creating themes or activities for each playgroup. Crafts and show-and-tell time will keep everyone excited about attending.
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Tips & Warnings
Supervision is very important when young children play together. Make sure that someone is being attentive to the children's needs at all times during a playgroup.
