Why Every Stay-at-Home Mum Should Join a Baby & Toddler Group, and How to Find One
- Date: 2007-03-13 - Word Count: 551
Share This!
A great way for parents to make the most of spending time with their new child is by attending local baby & toddler groups. This article explains why you should join a toddler group and how to find the best groups near you.
The Benefits of Baby & Toddler Groups
Being a new parent means managing all of your time differently, and prioritising. There's less time for housework but even more to do, so it's important to make time for yourself and your baby too. Getting out once a day to a toddler group makes an ideal, low-cost break.
Benefits for You:
- Cheap and Welcoming
Most towns have several groups running on any one weekday. Some are free and others cost around £1. You can attend on a drop-in basis and with a newborn through to a toddler.
- Structure and Routine
Attending a selection of baby groups can provide an essential structure to your days. This can be really helpful in getting used to life with a baby.
- Exercise and Fresh Air
Most groups are a just short walk away, giving you enough daily exercise to make for a healthy habit without overdoing it.
- Social Interactions
It's a good feeling to have a coffee made for you, and a place to sit and chat while your baby can play. You can choose to make friends with other parents, or to purely have fun with your baby instead.
Benefits for your Baby or Toddler:
- A Happier Alert Baby
A frustrated or crying baby will usually cheer up when they reach a baby group and see the other children, no matter how young they are. There is so much to see and hear at a group that even if your baby only watches, they will go home more contented, and often ready for a nap.
- Confidence and New Skills
Spending time with other children can help a shy baby gain confidence or a toddler share and play with others. It also gives you a safe environment to play and bond with your child, surrounded by lots of different toys.
How to Find Baby & Toddler Groups
There are many ways to find out about your local baby groups, but online message boards are not one of them. Forums online are often full of parents searching for groups but very rarely are answers shared. Also, unless you know where to look online, it is sometimes quicker to ask around.
Finding Toddler Groups Quickly Online
- BabyToddler.org is the first and only UK site exclusively for finding local baby or toddler groups. (launching April 07)
- Using a search engine, type in your local churches name and ‘baby group'. Most groups are held in church halls
- Visit your local council's website and search their site
Best Offline Ways of Finding a Baby Group
- Check local church signs where service times are listed. They usually list any toddler groups and their details on this sign.
- Find out if your local council has a family newsletter containing baby group details
- Word of Mouth: Ask any parents you come across if they can recommend any baby groups
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Michelle Crofts is a young mother and university student who works online creating useful websites. She knows that baby and toddler groups can be lifesavers for lonely new parents, yet good ones are often hard to find. She runs a simple search site for baby & toddler groups in the UK at http://www.BabyToddler.org, which is due to launch in April 2007
Related Tags: parents, babies, toddler, toddlers, baby, newborn, sahm, baby activities, mum, babys, stay at home mum, baby group, baby and toddler group, toddler group, playgroup, baby playgroups, parent and baby group, postnatal depression, playing with baby, playing with toddler, mother and baby, mother and baby groups, nct group
Your Article Search Directory : Find in Articles
Recent articles in this category:
- Baby Walker - Myths And Facts
First of all baby walkers was introduced in as early as 1851 which was a patented version previously - Choose Best Baby Walker For Your Baby
Baby walker is a device, used by infants who cannot walk on their own.Although it is designed for ch - Philips Avent Baby Monitor Can Put Your Mind At Ease!
The Philips Avent Baby Monitor is a very high rated audio baby monitor that you can use to monitor y - Week By Week Pregnancy Guide
First Trimester These are the first 12 weeks of the pregnancy. During this time, the mother's body g - Stroller Safety - 5 Things To Check Ahead Of Time!
So you're in the market for a brand spanking new stroller for your baby. You want your child to not - A Sit And Stand Stroller Is Great For Your Toddler And Baby!
A sit and stand stroller can be a great choice for parents that have both a toddler and a baby. Manu - Beautifully Designed Toddler Accessories To Add A Finish Touch To The Nursery
Every parent aims to create a beautiful, cozy, and comfortable space for their babies whether it's a - Baby Potty Chairs
Kids accessories and gifts for babies have changed a lot in recent years, and potties haven't been l - Baby Nursery Wall Décor
Custom painted baby nursery wall décor adds a lot of character and style to a room so that your baby - Baby Bibs And Other Baby Feeding Accessories
Feeding time can be a very stressful or a really enjoyable time to spend with your baby and it will
Most viewed articles in this category:
- Personalized Baby Blankets - 5 Quick Ideas for an Original and Cherished Gift
A baby is the pride and joy of any new parents. For the parents, life changes, and their focus shift - Playing And Childrens Educational Toys
What does play do for a child? Contrary to what some people think, play is not just a waste of time - The Da Vinci Kalani Crib Is Not Only Elegant - It Provides A Full Solution For Your Child's Sleeping
The Kalani crib by Da Vinci is stylish, elegant, yet very functional, this crib truly is a solid, st - The Wiggles Party Fun for the Toddler
Music is an essential part of a child's development so enjoy the music of Wiggles at your child's bi - Attending A Baby Shower? Top 5 Baby Shower Gifts For New Parents
Finding out that you are expecting for the first time can be one of the most exciting times in a c - Feng Shui Baby Names
There are various ways to pick a baby name. The ways vary from different Feng Shui schools. Feng mea - What NOT To Feed Your Baby
In this world we live in, we are so busy that buying food and microwaving it, is much easier than s - Baby Proofing
When that innocent baby comes into your life the main thing that stays in your mind is keeping him o - Baby Shower Fun Activities
There are many baby shower fun activities. It is the activities that really make a baby shower a gr - Preschooler's Educational Toys
The demand for educational toys is fast growing, as more and more parents see the value behind these