Playgroups July 31
What are playgroups and why are they good for you and your kids? Well, although there are many different kinds of playgroups (from the formal which includes themes and scheduled activities to the information that just gathers together), they are all basically the same thing: a group of children and their parents who get together on a regular basis. That’s it. It doesn’t have to be anything fancier than that, just an agreement between a group that you’re all going to get together regularly so your kids can enjoy playtime together.
And why are playgroups considered a great thing by many parents and even professionals? Well, there are numerous benefits to playgroups, starting with the fact that they give everyone in the group a little bit of a break from the busy activity of life. Sure, you have to get yourself and the kids there but once you do, you really just get to relax. Playgroups are a time designated for being social, catching up with other parents and watching your kids have a good time. You don’t have to be an expert to see the benefits of that! |
But, experts in child development do tend to agree that playgroups have numerous other benefits for kids. At the core, they assist children in developing the social skills that they will need throughout the rest of their lives. Kids who are in playgroups that meet consistently become familiar with the group and therefore comfortable there. In this comfortable environment, they can stretch their wings, learning different ways of interacting with others in the group. And this consistent group can also give them a sense of community which helps children to better develop in areas like self-esteem.
The playgroup is good for parents, too. Not only does it give you a break from your busy day in which you get to just relax and chat with other adults, but it also acts as a great resource. Parents who spend time with other parents have access to information about current health trends, local schools and the best area babysitters. They also have a support network when things go wrong and a group to celebrate with when life is good. These people differ from your friends who may come from all walks of life in that they are specifically committed to you as a parent and to the well being of your children.
Having a playgroup also serves a purpose that benefits both the parent and the child, and that is that the parent knows the other people in the playgroup. Obviously, it’s important to know who your kids friends are and who they spend time with. The playgroup facilitates this. As your kids get older and move on to making their own friends in school, they may be able to make better choices because of the groundwork that was laid for them in the playgroup. And the parent will know what’s going on in the lives of their children during these important young years.
So, playgroups serve all kinds of different purposes. They can be structured in different ways and may be made up of a variety of different families. But ultimately, what they do is create a small sense of community in which you and your child can both thrive. In this busy age, when communication is often limited to emails and voice messages, it’s a relief to have a place like a playgroup where you and your child can go to get that old-fashioned sense of community.
Technorati Tags:playgroups, children, kids, parents, social skills
