I've been toying wtih this idea for a while and want some imput. I have a kindergartener and a first grader. I work part time and will be off most of the summer. I was considering sending a note home to all the first grade kids and all the kindg kids that basically said, Anyone interested can meet at such and such a playground at THis time everyweek.
i'm concerned for two reasons the first being how to pick a time that might actually work, Sunday afternoons? Tuesday evenings??
The second concern is that we have only been in the area for 2 years and I don't know if it is presumptuioius for me to be the one to try to set something up. Like maybe anyone that has lived here forever already had friends that they get to gether with all the time and wouldn't want to do the whole class? But that is also the reason i would thought of this as a way to get to know some other kids and their parents.
Anyone have any comments?
I was trying to accomodate the working moms. I am assuming that more than half of the first grade class goes to the YMCA summer program or some sort of daycare. should i just not worry about trying to include them?
thanks for the responses
Hi, V.M.
This sounds like a great idea.
Talk also to the kindergarten teachers and
1st grade teachers to get a comprehensive
view of what you are trying to accomplish.
Good luck.
D.
I would not do evenings. Too busy.
Sunday afternoons, usually families have plans. Or its nap time.
The whole point to me of this is: that this is summer, and during the WEEK days, is when a Mom/parent would want something to do/someplace to take the kids, to keep busy.
So to me, the week days, are the better idea.
Not evenings and not weekends.
And it should be before or after nap times.
For me and what we have done, is make things like this in the mornings. And before lunch.
That way, the kids get out their physicality and pent up yah-yah's, then they are 'tired' and then go home, eat lunch, and nap.
Again, and you are making this an open standing thing. So, If people can make it fine. If they can't fine. It is up to them, to meet up or not. It has to be flexible, not having to necessarily going according to everyone's schedules. So, the 'whole class' may or may not be there.
It is up to them.
That is the point. And to get runaround time.
And in your memo, state a being and end time, when you are not there.
we did this for K, but we never made it to even one. I wish I had forced myself to go. Two moms became good friends afterwards.
They picked Tuesday from 9-11 and it worked for those who wanted to go.
They brought snacks for their own kids and shared sometimes.
The mom sent a note that included the phrase "Please note that I am not offering to babysit your kids and an adult is required to stay." She saved herself so much trouble. Do not let moms "run quick errands" because they will take advantage and it will be stressful and unsafe.
I think this is a great idea. I have wanted to do something similar myself. I would keep in mind that if moms don't show up to the 1st or 2nd one they may lose the nerve to come again or just totaly forget about it. I would maybe see if you ask them in the note to give you their email address and send out a weekly evite or a reminder email. Just a thought, but I would say go for it. I would guess you'd be surprised that there are plenty of other mothers that do not have a slew of friends.
I did this for my son's class when he was in K. I put together an email with the dates, times and places and asked all the K room parents (3 separate classes) to email them to all the parents in their respective classes. I scheduled it for 4 times over the summer with a different park each time and either on Tues or Thurs. from 11-1 (some parents the worked FT took an extra long lunch that day to bring their child). The email stated to bring your own family's lunch/drinks, toys, etc. and there would be no extra adult supervision so you were responsible for your own child. I included on the note that it would be a good idea for all the kids and parents to get to know each other better since the kids may be with different classmates the following year (our school mixes up the classes each year). I made it to 3 of the 4 playdates and there were great turnouts at each one except the last which was fairly close to school starting and alot of people took vacations then. I also mentioned on the email that if there was inclement weather, we wouldn't have it and they could contact me to ask but I wouldn't be notifying each person individually. And I did put a disclaimer on the bottom that this was NOT a school sponsored activity. Hope this helps.
I think it's never a bad time to meet new people :) How old are your kids? I have an almost 5 year old and an almost 2 year old (and we live in Erie!!) and we love to go to parks & stuff. Message me if you want to meet up sometime (we live on the west side so usually we go to Frontier, Zuck or Scott parks or sometimes some of the local schools).
You should do it. Do it when its convenient for you and you'll have some people show up. Maybe some like you who don't know a lot of other people. It doesn't make sense to start a playgroup at a time that's not convenient for you. So then it's your idea, but you have a difficult time making it. I may steal your idea : ) My daughter starts kindergarten next year and we've only lived here a year and a half so we don't know that many people.
Go for it. I wouldn't worry about being presumptious. It's a great way for you to get to know others better, and as your kids get older, you're going to want to know the parents of their classmates even more than you want to now. :)
If others already have other plans, they just wouldn't come - so what? I'm sure some would come. My kids and I were part of a neighborhood playgroup for years when they were younger. We used to rotate houses (but I like your idea of a park better since it's summer and the kids are coming from places other than your neighborhood). We met Fridays 9-12. I don't think you're going to be able to find a schedule that fits everyone, so just pick what suits you and whoever comes, comes. My kids and I both enjoyed playgroup. It got us out of the house and let us socialize. :)
I've never been apart of something like this nor have been asked to do something like this. But I'd be willing to try to meet up...that is if it was at a time I could. I work full time, so it would have to work around that. I also wanted to say, I have a family we met in my daughters preschool class that I am really close with, but would definitely be open to meeting others.
I think you should go with your idea. I am not sure what to say about the time, because I know a lot of people consider Sunday's to be family time. But some people might not like a late evening either. So I guess you'd just have to pick something and go with it. But for me, personally, I would be more open to a weekday evening.
Good luck!
I think it's an awesome idea.
We do a school year end party at a park--bring your own lunch, drinks, balls, bats, etc and PLAY and hang out. It's a big hit.
