Recently I’ve been thinking about how to keep the girls busy through the autumn.  There is a little part of me that is sad about the wet and cold weather coming, and getting them out to the park becomes not being quite so easy.

One thing I haven’t been doing with the both of them over the summer is going to play group.  I took Princess when she was at home with me, and I’ve been to plenty of Mother and Baby groups with Little Pudding but I’ve not took them both together.  We’ve relied a lot on going out and about and soft play to fill our time until now.

going to play group

Monday’s are all about Princess, and she has swimming lessons and gymnastics so poor Little Pudding just has to come along for the ride.  There is a distinct lack of afternoon play groups, so we often end up at soft play afterwards.

We also spend Thursdays together, and these last few weeks we’ve been going to a local church playgroup.  I used to take Princess when she was smaller, but I’ve not been back with the both of them.  While Little Pudding was crawling, it seemed like it would be too much of a mission to mange the both of them in a busy environment.  Now Little Pudding is walking, and she’s not quite such a liability on the floor, it seemed like a good time to check it out again.

play group kitchenWe were off to a great start when we realised it was only £1 per family.  The girls get a drink and biscuit and Mums, Dads, Grandma’s and Granddad’s also get a cup of tea, biscuit optional.  That’s what I call a bargain!

It start’s at 10am, and if I’m honest I’d be super happy if they started earlier.  I find we are just killing time until we can leave the house.  I find myself thinking, how early can I get there before it’s considered too early!  Camping out at 9am, probably isn’t going to go down too well is it?

It’s a really well structured play group, with half an hour free play before juice and story time to begin with. There’s always a craft activity for the kids which Princess loves, and there’s singing at the end along with any birthday’s that need a mention.

craft at play group

It’s been a really big hit with both the girls.  Princess likes to acquire a baby and a pushchair and push it around outside.  She thinks she can take it everywhere with her and I hadn’t realised she’s pushed it under the craft table this week so that no one else could claim it.  Little Pudding is equally fond of charging around outside.  We’ve been lucky with the weather, as play group has been on dry, sunny days.  When it’s now so dry, I think they will miss being able to get outside.

The indoor space is quite small, but they manage to cram a lot into it.  They have a baby area, a play kitchen, somewhere you can read stories and a place to play bricks and trains.  Lets not forget the cars and garages either.

It’s been lovely to watch them enjoy play group together.  They are both children that need constant stimulation and activities to do.  I think it’s something they are used to from going to nursery.  Little Pudding is quite happy wondering off going from the kitchen, to the cars, and then outside to push something.  Princess loves the dolls, and looks forward to the craft.  By the time 11.45 comes, they are both pretty tired and haven’t even got enough energy left for the hokey cokey!

I’m so pleased we have found a play group near by that they can both enjoy.  It’s now a part of our week that we look forward to spending together.  I think this will definitely be a feature in our routine over the next year before Princess goes to school so that we can make some lovely memories together.

Do you enjoy taking your children to play group?

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23 COMMENTS

  1. Looks like it’s a nice little group to go to.

    N never went to play group (post 1 year old) because he was at nursery full time. So he’s only been to the occasional one – usually the NCT drop in which similarly is £1 a family.

  2. I’ve never tried my girls at playgroup. My eldest goes to the childminder which she enjoys. The Baby will be joining her when I go back to work. I wonder how they’ll be together?

  3. I miss my children being young enough for toddler group! I use to love taking them and chatting with other parents.
    Your toddler group looks lovely 🙂 Gymnastics are a fantastic idea!!

  4. It looks like a great group. I have been lacking since the summer holidays in taking my little boy to playgroups. Before the schools broke up we went to three different ones a week. We are slowly adapting to a new routine with nursery though so I am hoping to get back to a few because he loves them. looks like the girls had fun.

  5. I’ve taken by 2 to some playgroups, we’re lucky that there is one on pretty much every day. DJ is great at playing independently so I can concentrate on wherever Baby L gets now he’s on the move!

  6. My two never really went to playgroup, not with me anyway although eldest did go to a little 2 hour fun group once a week. It sounds like a great way for kids to have fun whilst taking a bit of pressure of mum/dad. It can be hard to fill the days sometimes when kids are small!

  7. We never did playgroup as I work three days a week and my childminder as kids the same age, but I can’t believe the price of it, just €1 and they get drink and biscuit and mommy gets tea, that’s great

  8. Its really great when you find a play group or club that you all like … Personally I found I had to go to about 5 really bad ones before I found a good one … I must be a tough crowd!

  9. I used to bring both my kids to playgroup before my son started pre-school and he loved it, however during that time, my daughter was still around 6 months so she have no clue whats going. Now it’s their childminder who brings them both to play group, I would have loved to bring them myself but I have work so unfortunately I cant. Thanks for sharing! #MyFavouritePost

  10. I love going to playgroup with Harry. When he was 6 months old we started going to the ones that his childminder would eventually be taking him to. It worked well as it transitioned him in easier with her and her routine (because we were in the routine anyhow). Even if I take a day off I will take him to the one I know his childminder would be taking him too. I love to see the way he interacts with the other children. They are so important for their development. And ours is 50p for a drink and biscuit for him and a cup of tea and a good natter for me. Bargain! #MyFavouritePost

  11. I’m on the hunt for play groups I can take both of mine to and I’m trying one out tomorrow! Wish me luck!! X

  12. I’m ashamed to say I’ve never taken Little B to anything like this. The only day I don’t work is Mondays which always seems to get taken up with housework – I really should make the effort to find something like this for us to do together on our own… #MyFavouritePost

  13. We used to enjoy going to playgroups when the kids were younger, its a great way to meet people. £1 is a bargain! Thanks for having us on #MyFavouritePost

  14. It sounds like they both really enjoy their playgroup together. Though I don’t know how I would cope with two as looking after Boo at a playgroup is exhausting!

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