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Playgroups Offer More than Child's Play

by Carren W. Joye    

Field Trips

Many parents’ groups and playgroups schedule field trips and other special events. In addition to the usual locales, such as a zoo or museum, field trips can be “behind the scenes” tours of such places as fire stations, police stations, and local businesses. Parents and children get a chance to see the local sites and learn more about the area in which they live.

Community Service

Some groups even become involved in the community through various service projects. By volunteering for a local agency or organizing a community service project, not only would you be serving your community, but also your children would benefit from participating in your efforts. Your actions will go a long way in teaching your children the importance of community service and the satisfaction of helping others.

Structured Activities

Many playgroups provide crafts or other structured activities for the children, where they learn how to cut, glue, paint, listen quietly to stories and follow directions. These activities develop their listening, language and motor skills. For families who don’t want to consider a preschool program, a playgroup is a viable option.

Socialization

However, even if a playgroup does not schedule field trips or offer structured activities, a playgroup will provide a valuable chance for socialization. Unlike a Moms Day Out program or babysitting service, playgroups keep parents and their children together. That means no worries with separation anxiety! The children can play and have fun without having to worry about mom leaving. It’s a very reassuring and confidence-building way to introduce children to socialization and to give them a little bit of independence at the same time.

Besides, children learn a lot just by playing. During play, children learn valuable social skills, such as how to share, take turns and role-play. In addition, they learn good manners, cooperation and consideration for others as they work together to pick up toys and clean up after playgroup. Best of all they get to make friends.

Friendship

Friendship may be the most important reason for joining a playgroup. Playgroups provide children with the opportunity to make new friends and to play with others besides their own siblings. In addition, many of the children in playgroup will likely be in their classes when school starts, especially if the group is composed of neighborhood residents. Children can make lifelong friends in playgroup!

Playgroups can be the beginning of your child's social life as well as a lifetime of learning. Nurture both by joining a playgroup today!


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Carren W. Joye is the author of A Stay-at-Home Mom's Complete Guide to Playgroups (ISBN 0-595-14684-8). A homeschooling mom of four children, she has founded five successful playgroups and helped start countless other playgroups around the world. Visit he http://www.onlineplaygroup.com/