Hello There!!!

[sharon.daniel]

Hello my name is Sharon and I am from Pannawonica Western Australia. I am a proud mother of my 18 month old daughter and 3 1/2 year old son.

I would like to say thankyou for having me and I really need some help!!!

I have just taken over President of our Playgroup in our town. We are a small mining town with about 1000 people and lots of mums with one if not multiples of kids. Our playgroup seems to work a bit differently here - the parents come with the kids. My problem is how do I get the mums down to the playgroup in the first place!!!! A couple of them have had bad experiences with either other mums or other children. :(

I am trying my hardest to 're-vamp' the playgroup ie. repainted the place, doing up the garden, trying to organise new swings, grants, organising activities etc. It is almost taking over my life!!!!

We have a bunch of new mums and they are a great group of people but how do I convince others to come down and get the kids out of the house and make them realise there is a different group of mothers to when they last came down, I don't understand what they do all day!!! It would drive me bonkers being inside allday.

Please any suggestions would help, I have to keep reminding myself I am doing this for my kids but it makes me a bit deflated when not many people make it down to our sessions.

Sorry to go on, thankyou for having me.
Sharon

[Sandra]

hi Sharon really glad you could join us. Sounds like your playgroups are similar to our Parent and Toddlers ie.parents stay with the child. At our playgroups children are left with us and the parents leave the premises.
Anyway to your problem.....it must be hard for you if you are not really getting any positive response by the other Mums. Aren't you Aussies famous for your barbeques (lol) maybe you could have a family open day...lots of free food and drinks, maybe some sort of disco or children's entertainer. Could you have a piece written for your local paper, invite a journalist, or a local VIP to bring their children or grandchildren to play for the day, maybe they would write about how they enjoyed themselves.
I'll have a think on this.

BTW how did you find us Sharon??

[Sandra]

Just another quick thought......how about having a mascot for your group that you can use so people, especially the children can spot. We use Rainy and Sunny (they are the 2 pigs at the top of the page, we designed them ourselves) we put them on posters etc and have a soft toy version of each character. The children love them.

[mouse boy]

hello welcome to our site Sharon. Daniel:)

[Jen]

Hi Sharon welcome to Rainbowsunbeams.

Ask the Mum’s you already have to tell friends, word of mouth is always the best way to advertise your group, do lots of activities with the children, painting, sand play; singing etc. parents always talk and pass on their comments.

Put some posters up in the local schools, doctors, libraries even the shops. Do you have specific baby/child clinics where you are, these sort of places are always a good place to recruit new members. hope we have been of some help.

Good luck Sharon and please keep us updated with your progress.

[Steve]

Hi Shazza, welcome along.

[dawn breaks]

Hi Sharon and hello again 2 everyone else,Haven't posted 4 a long while as its been a busy summer. How is everyone? well I hope. Hope all the kids r settling in 4 the new term.

[mamma mia]

Hi Sharon, I haven't posted for a while either. It's always fun to see what these children get up to.

[Jen]

Nice to see you back Mamma.:chores_ga
How is the playgroup coming along Sharon?