That sounds like alot to me, especially the paying $4 per session AFTER already paying all the other money???

We have a playgroup & luckily for me its held in the school hall of my daughters school so on the weeks I choose to go I drop DD off & just walk to the hall LOL. They have use of the hall + the playground. We also have tea, coffee & biscuits supplied. Ours is $12 per family per school term. This isnt just for parents at my daughters school, its open to everyone.

When DD was a baby & I went to Mothers group we mainly went to each others houses, bringing snacks for the kids or sometimes (like Melbourne Cup day, Christmas get together etc) we'd each bring a plate of food for everyone to share.

When they were real little we mainly met at cafes. When they got older alot of the times we went to the indoor play centres.... they're usually free for under 12 months old & the one we usually went to cost us $5 each child until they were about 3 yrs old. We'd usually bring snacks from home but would buy a yummy coffee & sometimes a bowl of hot chips for the kiddies to share.

If I were you I'd be looking around at the cost of other places, the kids arent playing at that age... I cant even remember how old they are when they actually notice the other babies are there to play with LOL

Good Luck