Does your toddler go to playgroups etc?

Hi, I take our 13 month old daughter to swimming classes. We have been to one music class but I thought it was too dear for what it was. We have been to a couple of sessions of Toddler Time at our local library. We also have a playdate one afternoon a week with a friend who has a daughter 6 weeks younger than mine. I coach two dance teams at our local primary school so my daughter goes 'to school' 3-4 lunchtimes a week and sees older children (6-11years) which she seems to enjoy. I definitely notice when she starts to need a full day at home for once!

Edited by Kylie30

We are a pretty busy lot too, coffee group monday, tuesday either kiddy gym or park depending on what I can be bothered doing and weather, swimming wednesday, errand and shopping day thursday and mainly music friday! Will have to change swimming day when this next one arrives though.

I take my girl to the library wriggle and rhyme on Monday and SPACE of Friday, we have a regular coffee group on Tuesday we do the park and walks when the weather is good.

I tried couple of playgroups but found them cliquey. Tried Mainly Music but dd was only interested for a short while. Mostly we meet friends who have kids of all diferent ages or we go to the zoo or just stay at home. We have a park over the road from ho e that we go to all the time too.
Both of mine get unsettled if we are out too much.   

We have 'Bells & Whistles' playgroup on a Wednesday and we're just about to start Jumping Beans on a Friday.
We also meet our awesome Auckland March Mums (2010) group once a week and I also try to take him swimming.
If I'm stuck for something, I'll go to what ever's on at the Library.

Basically we're out EVERY morning and spend afternoons at home

We run a mainly music on monday, go to a porse playgroup on tuesday, story time on wednesday (2 1/2yr old sits and listens, 1yr old goes for adventures here there and everywhere!), a different mainly music on thursday and a 'whatever' day on friday. Saturday is usually 'what does dad want to do' day and sunday is filled with church and people. Quite a busy week! our 1yr old is such an outdoor kid and loves to go go gooooo so its nice to get out and about!

We don't really do anything to be honest. I work 4 days a week (9am-3pm Mon, Tues, Friday and 8.30-12.30 Sat). My Mum and Dad mind her at their place on the weekdays I work and she stays home with DF on Sat mornings. I just find a lot of the baby/toddler activities a bit cringeworthy. Took DD to a mainly music session a few weeks back and it was dreadful. I just couldn't get into it at all, all the OTT Mum's just did my head in lol. DD hated it as well, she couldn't get away from there fast enough. I often feel bad that we don't do any of the 'activities' but we play heaps at home and go for a 30mins walk with our dog everyday. Once a week DD and I will go to the cafe for a coffee and a fluffy and she loves that. My friend with a DD 2 months older often comes along (antenatal friend, don't really see the other ladies anymore, we are just all so different).
I don't think my DD 'suffers' due to lack of activities. Infact she is actually very intelligent and more independant than most kids her age, which is why I don't think she is into doing things for kids her age. She has far more fun helping out around the house, reading, doing puzzles (3yrs+) and helping feed/clean all our animals! lol
Sorry - that was a bit of a ramble

Lisajo, I'm with you on the cringe factor, lol. I applaud mums who give it a go, thats great, but its just not me and had to laugh at your mainly music experience, I can only imagine it would be the same for me DD and I prefer to chill out at home and listen to music on the radio, she loves to dance to that, me too as long as no-ones looking lol, we are just not a wiggles type of family! I do however do playgroup with her which is a lot more chilled out affair and enjoy getting out of the house, especially winter, and after giving it a go for a while have got to know some of the other mums. Otherwise we keep active at home, she helps me bake and garden etc so all is good and no way is the right way.

We try to do an activity most days of the week, we've got 3 days definitely set down. A church run playgroup Tues, School based playgroup weds, & a church (different one) run on a thursday. I also need down time on either a monday or friday so we tend to muck around at home.

I'm one of those OTT mums now, that gets up & dances & joins in with the kids. I find that is the best way to get them to interact & they love it, otherwise my boy tends to think everyone is a little bit weird. I never used to do it but I also decided that instead of sitting on my butt I'd see it as some form of exercise & at the moment a way to warm up!!

At the moment we only do mainly music. I hate it and DS seems less then interested but I felt bad for not doing anything. We usually just meet up with friends etc. I do want to start taking him to playgroup tho

When we're home we just do whatever, paint, draw, play outside. He is quite an independent lil guy and likes playing on his own sometimes.