How to Start a Neighborhood Play Group

Bringing neighborhood preschool children together in a safe and nurturing environment teaches them valuable socialization skills and prepares them for school. For parents, it provides time to themselves and an opportunity to get to know other moms and dads in the community. Play groups also give parents a forum for exchanging parenting tips, child-friendly recipes. Plus, rotating play group duties among different households during the week saves money on babysitters.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Indoor play space
• Secure backyard
• Homeowners insurance
• Toys
• Mats, pillows and blankets
• Snacks

1. Decide an age range for your play group. You may, for instance, want to invite children who are exactly the same age as your own child so that she will have playmates with similar interests and energies.

2. Decide the goal of your play group. Your play group could be a drop-off option for working parents or a time when stay-at-home moms or dads host activities at their homes. Another option is to plan a parent/child activity such as exercise or storytime.

3. Find out who's interested. Talk to neighborhood parents--or post a notice on your church or grocery store bulletin board to get the word out. Then discuss the kinds of activities they'd like to include and how much time parents can commit to the endeavor.

4. Determine the minimum and maximum number of children you want to include in the play group. Factors to consider: your--and other parents'--comfort level with various age groups, and the amount of indoor and outdoor space.

5. Set a schedule. Decide the days and hours for the play group. If responsibilities are rotated with other parents, the schedule may be more flexible, but must take into account everyone who is participating.

6. Take a first aid course. All parents involved should enroll in a first aid class and stock up on basic first aid supplies. Also, post emergency numbers as well as information on the closest hospital in case of an accident.

7. Create a contact list of all parents' phone numbers.

8. Make sure your homeowners insurance is up to date and will protect you if a child has an accident in your home.

9. Child-proof your home before the first session. Lock up any hazardous chemicals, move fragile items to high shelves or to a different room, put up gates to block the way to staircases, secure access to pools, ponds and fountains, and close pets into a separate room.

10. Plan snacks. The hosting parent can either provide snacks or request that parents send kids with their own snacks.

11. Factor nap time--and what you'll need for it--into the midday structure of your play group. For toddlers, you'll need mats, blankets and pillows. For children who are slightly older, you can rename this period "quiet time" and have children settle down with soft music or maybe a story.

Tips & Warnings

• Keep play groups small so that every child can receive enough attention.
• Inflatable air mattresses are a good investment for toddler nap times and can be easily stored at the end of the day.
• If a child in the play group is sick, play group should be canceled for the day.
• Find out if any of the children have food allergies before you start planning snacks.
• Inappropriate behavior should not be tolerated. If a child is disruptive or engaging in acts that threaten or intimidate other children, talk to the parent.
• If you plan on taking the children to a park, zoo, playground, museum, or even just around the corner for an ice cream, you will need to have signed permission slips from parents.

Resources

• Christian Mommies
• Planning play date and play group activities
• Play Groups USA