https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Mon, 13 Apr 2026 03:10:39 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/running-a-playgroup#post-2582486 Thu, 07 Jul 2016 13:30:07 +0000 daniellemybelle 2582486@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My local mom's group is very large and pretty organized. There are about 6,000 people in the main group and then there are "regions." There are playdates on the same day every week in each region. There are leaders for each region that set them up. They rotate through playdates at homes and at local places like the park or indoor play places. The events tend to cater to toddlers.</p> <p>Each region has a few hundred to 1,000 members and I would say a good turnout at a weekday playdate is maybe 20 moms with their kiddos. But there are working moms in the group too that can't come during the week.</p> <p>@Mrs. Lemon-Lime: Our group is run like the one you said you like better. There are frequent reminders to RSVP and the leaders do a great job involving new members. It was really easy &amp; natural to jump in and make friends for me and I don't think all playgroups are like that!</p> <p>@mrs.shinerbock: Anything that requires tickets or paying anything is always handled individually with our group. That would be a headache to coordinate! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/running-a-playgroup#post-2582282 Thu, 07 Jul 2016 09:46:44 +0000 lamariniere 2582282@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I used to run a playgroup that had 40+ members. We had a google group and then someone offered to start a facebook page. In the beginning, I would post 2 months worth of dates (one date per week) and ask people to volunteer to "host" and then the hostess of the week would send out info to everyone about the playdate. Whoever could make it would show up. Some of the things we did: local park, indoor playroom, splash pad, lunch dates, picnic dates, zoo, children's museum and some in-home play dates. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/running-a-playgroup#post-2582086 Thu, 07 Jul 2016 03:37:23 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 2582086@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Kemma: that's definitely a nice size group. I wish I had something like that here. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/running-a-playgroup#post-2582085 Thu, 07 Jul 2016 03:30:13 +0000 Kemma 2582085@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Lemon-Lime: somewhere around 12-15 families which gives us regular attendance of between 15-20 kids at each session! I should mention that we have to be organised to keep receiving our government funding and we have an advisor who visits our playgroup 2-3 times a year. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/running-a-playgroup#post-2582084 Thu, 07 Jul 2016 03:26:08 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 2582084@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Kemma: your group sounds dreamy &amp; so organized! How many families participate? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/running-a-playgroup#post-2582082 Thu, 07 Jul 2016 03:19:38 +0000 Kemma 2582082@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm the treasurer of our local airforce playgroup and I would be lost without our weekly catch ups! Our playgroup is reasonably formal because we are certified and receive government funding but we're also pretty relaxed and free range. We have the use of an airforce community centre so we have a secure place to store all our toys and resources and we also have a secure and safe outdoor play space for the kids, plus a kitchen and bathrooms.</p> <p>Something you might want to think about is how you'll deal with food and resources, our families pay $5 a term and the playgroup then provides the morning tea and each family provides a piece of fruit. We also use the fees to buy craft supplies and other bits and pieces.</p> <p>Another plan we're looking at implementing is having each parent run a session / activity once a term, it doesn't have to be anything fancy or complicated but it gives the kids a chance to experience different activities and learn new things.</p> <p>If you're not looking to be that "organised", as such, you could look at having a roster and each family takes a turn hosting or choosing the meeting place on the same day each week or fortnight. My coffee group back home does this and it works out really well. They meet on a Tuesday afternoon each fortnight and whoever's hosting provides the food and runs the activity. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/running-a-playgroup#post-2582079 Thu, 07 Jul 2016 02:55:04 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 2582079@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I am a part of two playdate groups and wish one was run like the other. The more successful one where I used to live announced play date meet ups all the time- at least a weekly get together. The venues and activities varied, but it showed the diversity in LO age ranges. Each invite always reminded people if your RSVP yes and can't show to let the host know. I liked that because it makes it seems someone is truly looking forward to seeing you and your LO. The activities were lots of parks, playgrounds, nature trails, cheap movies, open-air market style shopping. </p> <p>It seems like a good way for moms to stay in the know about local events too. Does your comnunity center or town have an events calendar of all the (cheesy) fun &amp; free or nearly free happenings?</p> <p>The other one says it's for group playdates, but it's more like a HB board forum. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/running-a-playgroup#post-2582054 Wed, 06 Jul 2016 22:26:46 +0000 mrs.shinerbock 2582054@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I run the neighborhood moms group, but we are not very active. One of the things that I've learned is not to plan any events that take a lot of planning or effort or purchasing tickets/supplies on my part, because people drop out or decide to come last minute a lot depending on nap schedules/sick kids/last minute plan changes. I tend to plan things like park outings or pool play dates because they are things that I would do with my kids on our own anyway.</p> <p>Things we've done:<br /> Park and/or splash pad<br /> Pool<br /> Meet in our community clubhouse and everyone bring a toy<br /> One of the families has a bouncy house, so we will meet up in their driveway<br /> Lunch @ a fast food place with a play area<br /> Meet at an indoor play place for open play<br /> Meet at the mall play area<br /> Meet at the local zoo or children's museum </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/running-a-playgroup#post-2582036 Wed, 06 Jul 2016 21:45:39 +0000 ocean81 2582036@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Most of the meet ups are at the playground for us. For the moms I click with we will play at someone's house... Nothing structured though. My daughter is only 15 months so they really just play in the same room while the moms talk :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/running-a-playgroup#post-2582034 Wed, 06 Jul 2016 21:41:32 +0000 Tanjowen 2582034@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Our local mom's group is very informal and people drop in and out each week. The administrator posts on our Facebook page the weekly meet up spot and time. We do:</p> <p>Breakfast outings<br /> Park play date<br /> Splash pad (local park)<br /> Stroller walks<br /> Berry picking<br /> Bounce house time (Monkey Joe's )</p> <p>And if someone feels up to it in the winter months we do a coffee and snack time at their home . </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/running-a-playgroup#post-2582029 Wed, 06 Jul 2016 21:27:47 +0000 Iced Tea 2582029@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Someone I know started one. 160 people joined it on facebook, but in real life very few people ever showed up for playdates. Hopefully you will have better luck. </p> <p>Some play date ideas:<br /> park<br /> picnic<br /> splash pad<br /> hike<br /> children's museum </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/running-a-playgroup#post-2582016 Wed, 06 Jul 2016 21:10:57 +0000 macintosh 2582016@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I connected with some other moms on a local parent Facebook page today. Several of them expressed interest in starting a play group, so I created a FB Group and invited them. I didn't think this through, because I think this means I need to organize something!</p> <p>Has anyone been in an informal playgroup? What were some activities you did? How often did you meet? Any suggestions are appreciated. </p>