How did you find the Playgroup? way back when i had first dd in 1998 - we started one up from our first mums group.

How many mums/children go to your playgroup? From memory as it was held at a centre, the council had rules i think maximum of 12 walking children

How long are the sessions? 2hrs per week

Why did you choose to go to playgroup? We were all first time mums and got along extremely well and it was great to go to the one place as the littlies got older rather than meet at each others house.

Do you have a free play session or pay a leader (art/craft/teacher)? Basically free play session, but we did try to have a little bit of structure, ie get the kiddies to do a craft activity, then fruit and water time then play outside.

What are the benefits you have found going to playgroup for child? Lifelong friendships - socialising and learning slowly to respect and share

What are the benefits you have found going to playgroup for you? Life long friendship - as i said started playgroup in 1998 until end 2003. these girls are my best friends, we are always there for each other, we go away one weekend a year (girls only) and we meet one night each week - even just for coffee and cake and also we meet once per week with the littles (the original's children are now at school) the second ones are at kinder and well there are a few of us with our 3rd child lol

What would you say to mums thinking about going to playgroup? Definately - it is a great way to get to know others, and by the time you start kinder and school your child and you would have formed many friendships and know alot of people in the area - i think it makes it easier for the children to develop special friendships which they will hopefully have for a long long time.

Other comments? As i said i stopped playgroup end 2003, but will definately probably rejoin next year for lani as jay will be at school - it will be different for me again as i will be going in meeting a whole new bunch of people but it will be good for both of us as lani needs to meet others her own age not just the bigger kids.

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