What To Expect When You Join a Playgroup for Your Child

If you are a sahm or even a wahm you have heard of playgroups and you probably wonder will I fit in? I can tell you this, there is a playgroup out there for everyone regardless of how old your children are, if you work or stay home, are a military spouse, grandmother, single parent, mom or dad. I currently organize a playgroup of 65 plus moms who range from work outside the home moms, wahms and sahms with children from newborns to teens. I can't say it's always easy but I have made a ton of friends as have my children.

First things first, decide what you want out of a playgroup. Are you looking for kids the same age as yours, a mix of ages, home school group, or one of the many other types of playgroups out there? Do you want to meet them once, twice a week or maybe only once a month? Are you looking for a moms group only or possibly a parenting group that allows dads as well?

When you decide on that you can start your search on the Internet using Google or perhaps check out my favorite place Meetup.com the later you can search by zip code, city and/or interest. Many playgroups have rules attached to them and they are done for the safety of the members and their children. Some may require active participation at play dates, posting on their message board and some may even have membership dues. All of this should be taken into consideration when checking out playgroups because if you join them you are agreeing to follow their rules.

Once you have some playgroups that interest you, I recommend contacting them and asking for more information about what type of events they plan, how often they meet etc. Many of them will have websites with information regarding the playgroup, about dues, attendance and any other pertinent information. Some groups may require you to come and meet with them prior to joining the group, do not feel offended. It's simply a safety issue and it also gives you the chance to see them in action before committing to being a member. This is also a time to ask questions that you may have forgotten about or that just popped into your head.