How to Prepare Your Home for a Play Group

When hosting a preschool play group in your home, decide beforehand what you and other parents want your children to gain. Preparing your house for a play group before the children arrive will ensure a successful and fun-filled play date for all.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• Baby Monitors
• Safety Gates
• Cabinet Safety Locks
• Crayons
• Construction Paper
• Outlet Covers
• Chidren's Toys
• Infant/toddler Toys

1. Decide why you want to provide a play group for your child and the children you have invited.
2. Talk with the parents you have invited and determine the purpose of the play group. Do you want your child to learn to cooperate and be secure with other adults? Do you want your child to learn basic preschool skills? Do want social interaction for yourself and your child?
3. Make a list of the reasons for having a play group. Keep the list simple. Preschool play groups work best if children are allowed to explore freely in a semistructured environment.
4. Decide what time the play group will start, how long the play group will last, and how often it will occur. Take into account the lunch and nap times of your child and the children who will attend. Make sure all parents who attend are aware of the start and stop times.
5. Choose a room in your house where the children will play. Close doors or gate off rooms that you do not want the children to enter. Setting obvious boundaries will prevent any unnecessary accidents from occurring.
6. Provide a sitting area for parents. Choose a room that will allow parents to sit comfortably and talk and still be able to supervise play.
7. Designate a diaper-changing area and bathroom to be used by children and parents. Tell the children and parents where the facilities are when they arrive at your house.
8. Prepare the room for play. Cover all outlets, remove unnecessary electrical cords, tie up curtain or window blind cords, and remove any items that might be damaged by small hands.
9. Gather the play equipment and toys the children will use and arrange them in the playroom prior to the children's arrival. Being prepared ahead of time will eliminate any down time, and the children can begin to play as soon as they walk through the door.

Tips & Warnings

• Remind parents to bring a light snack and drink for their children.
• Take turns providing a refreshment for play-group day.
• Have the parents rotate hosting the play group at their houses.
• Holding a play group once a week allows children and parents to really get to know each other.
• Plan an outing to the zoo, park, or museum at least once a month.
• Research the types of games and activities that are appropriate for the age of your play group. Toys and activities that are too easy or difficult for the children you invite will make play frustrating and unpleasant.
• Remind parents not to attend play group if they or their children are sick.
• Cancel play group at your house if anyone in your family is sick.