Playdates & Classes

Resi · #1 April 26th, 2011, 05:37 PM

For those with children do you do playgroups, meet up with other mommy friends, or have you done classes like Gymboree etc.?

For those without kids do you plan to?

ShannonMVT · #2 April 26th, 2011, 06:18 PM

I am part of a mom's group. We are on facebook and people will schedule playdates at the park, zoo, etc, or at their homes. It's kind of feast or famine though, sometimes there is a lot going on and sometimes not. But I have made friends from it and it's great! If I could ever be a good housekeeper I'd invite more people over for one on one playdates because sometimes it gets overwhelming when you invite the whole group to your house and tons of people show up.

We haven't done any classes other than a few that we had scheduled through my mom's group as a one time thing. It's hard for me to justify the money that they cost.

SandKmommy · #3 April 26th, 2011, 06:41 PM

We don't have gymboree here. Theres the store in the mall but they don't do classes like I've herd others talk about.

We go to playgroup for 5 weeks at a time, then 3 week break. Its at our Early Headstart.

**Jenn** · #4 April 26th, 2011, 06:44 PM

No we don't do anything like that. We don't have the money to do classes or anything.

LadyGamer · #5 April 26th, 2011, 08:31 PM

I would love to do a moms group thing, and since I live in a big city I'm sure there will be plenty to choose from. I also know that the library hosts things for children as young as 1+ for play dates and being read to, which is something I'd love to take my children too

Frozendesire · #6 April 26th, 2011, 09:25 PM

I have set up a drop in play date here. Every once in a while I have a slotted time of day that people can come and go. They come whenever, and leave whenever. It's LOTS of fun! Totally laid back. I set it up on Facebook and request that they try to keep their RSVPs up todate so moms can get an idea of who is coming and how many, then they can go when they are more comfy. One time we had 11 kids 4 and under running around!! It was CRAZY fun

I have quite a few one on one play dates as well. But we don't do any classes or activities due to money and my anxiety of driving.

Spero · #7 April 27th, 2011, 06:54 AM

I am really hoping to! I have two pretty close friends in the area that are due in Sept and Oct so hopefully my child will be close in age to play with their kids. There is also a group that meets at a church in the area, but they meet during the day, so I would probably have to find a way to take my lunch later in the day once a month to participate. DH and I also have a running list of fun stuff that we want to do with our kids, so we don't forget an idea.

Oriyan · #8 April 27th, 2011, 09:01 AM

Since J.J is in daycare all week, he gets plenty of play time there with other kids.

We dont have the money to do any activities like gymboree or swimming.

Resi · #9 April 27th, 2011, 09:27 AM

We did Gymboree for 4 months last winter and I've done story time at the library. I've found places to take him to play for 1 hour for like $5. We have a membership to the Children's Musuem here and we go at least 2 times per month. I signed him up for a tea party at a local children's bookstore for this Saturday. It's $4 . He will decorate a cookie, have tea, and then a story.

We've never found a moms group that worked with our schedule. I have a mom friend that we get together with maybe once per month. I have another mom friend but we only get together every couple months or so.

Since I watch 3 other toddlers in my home he is around other children weekly. Oliver is a home body and would rather stay home. He is so shy that he doesn't like playdates. It takes him a long time to get comfortable.

ShannonMVT · #10 April 27th, 2011, 06:39 PM

I forgot I do take Matthew on occassion to open play at Gymboree. We went today. If you aren't a member it is $5, which is not bad. He played for 1.5 hours and had a blast climbing and sliding and jumping! I think we will also do that some this summer when it gets so hot outside, the time is kind of cruddy for us traffic wise, but still worth going once every few weeks.

We have also done the free library time and just got a membership to the children's museum. The museum is kind of far away, but it's awesome. Another great thing for this summer because of how hot it gets.

I have thought about swim lessons but haven't followed through on it yet.

freesiangel · #11 April 28th, 2011, 12:02 PM

I take Xander to a playgroup every week, which has anywhere from 10-30 other kids there (depending on the week). We did a swim class at the Y once, too, but it gets SO cold in the winter and he cried a lot. We have a pool here, so no point doing swim class in the summer...

thepinkleprechaun · #12 April 28th, 2011, 01:11 PM

My kids go to MMO, Aden goes 3x/week and Phinny 2x/week. Next year Aden will go every day but he will still be in 2x/week because he'll be in the 2 year old class.

they are also in swimming lessons right now, Aden was in dance this year but it was too much for her, and gymnastics which she loves but she had a problem with her neck (not from gymnastics) and we couldn't go for a while. I will probably have both of them do it next fall.

2Corinthians10:4 · #13 April 28th, 2011, 01:18 PM

Addi does gymnastics on Wednesdays and then Thursday's I have a Army wives Bible study and they have childcare provided so she gets to play there.

~Caroline~ · #14 April 28th, 2011, 03:54 PM

We're not doing anything right now. Most of the groups I found so far are BF relating so I don't think I'd be welcomed there. But I'm hoping to sign up for a swimming class in the Fall.

Mars · #15 April 28th, 2011, 06:23 PM

Amara goes to playschool. She really enjoys the interaction with the other children. It's great socially but she's losing all the manners I've thought her. I have to constantly remind her to say "Please for or may i have...", to say "Yes please or yes mummy, daddy, etc." and not just "yes", and almost every week she comes home with another bad habit that i have to break. They pick up so much from the other children and they are several super spoiled, have no manners children at the playschool so I have to work very hard to keep her manners and behaviour in check.

She will begin swim classes in May. She's very excited about it as she loves the water. She keeps saying she's going to swim with the fish. I have to remind her that there are no fish in the pool.

soImarriedAnerd · #16 April 29th, 2011, 04:46 PM

When we are stationed somewhere for a few months I find things... in New Orleans I had a WONDERFUL mommy group that did a ton of stuff and yoga FOR babies plus a Music Together Class. I'm now looking for my tribe and classes in this area. But I did just get a family pass membership at the local zoo...went today and WOW they have tons of kid stuf and I got a one month groupon for gymboree but I'm saving it till july when I'm 9 months preggo and its hot out so I can sit inside and he can still play! LOL

ScottishBrit · #17 April 30th, 2011, 09:18 AM

We were doing a Gymboree thing for a month. We got a 1 month pass through one of those deal sites and we were going to 1 class per week and 3 open plays. She LOVED it!! There's no way we could afford it when it's regular price though. Im hoping they will have that special again.

MissusF · #18 April 30th, 2011, 11:54 AM

I would love to find some sort of play group/mommy group once I have a baby. I think it will be more for me than for baby because I plan on staying home and I can see myself going stir crazy and needing to get out and interact with other adults. My church has a MOPS group so we'll do that for sure. I live in a smaller area and I'm not sure what other groups are offered out here.