Talk to me About 'Stay-and-Play' Groups

[RJsMum]

I've never been and was looking into it in an effort to try to get to know some people and get out of the house a bit more...plus, DS could use some social interaction as well.

If you have attended any, what are your thoughts and what do they generally do? Also, if you're not a fan of them, why is that?

 

[RJsMum]

No one??

 

[Lu28]

They tend to vary to be honest. At our children centre, there's a room with lots of baby toys and with the younger babies, people tend to sit in a circle and just play with the babies and chat. The older the babies, the more abruptly ended conversations as you run after them!

I think they're great for the babies to get out and have a change of scenery as well as interact with other babies. I found it took a long time to get to know other mums as I started them quite late but got there eventually and I now have a small group of mummy friends which really is lovely and it was worth the initial times I went and no-one spoke to me! I think alot of the time people come in once or twice and don't bother again so the regulars might not take the time to get to know them well so if you would like to build a network it's worth persisting even if you think they're all rude and cliquey to start with!

 

[RJsMum]

^^ Thanks for that.

I've been in the UK for just over 2 years now and haven't made friends of my own really who aren't far away or already just wives of my husband's friends. I just wasn't sure what to expect at these groups, although I'm curious to find out.

Any tips from anyone else would be much appreciated. x

 

[eldar]

I have popped into the stay and play area when I got to see HV (they coincide the sessions at my sure start centre).

I think it is great for Wyn to see other children/babies and to play in a different environment which I why I try to stop for a while. It's drop in so you can stay as little or as long as you want. What I find difficult is the same reason that I stopped going to the mums group - when I talk to other mums it's always about the babies. This may sound silly but I would like to know the mums name or be asked mine! I actually don't just want to have a chat about weaning or otherwise I would like a chat about un-baby related things, so I guess the sure start centre isn't the place for me to make friends.