Do You Know The Other Childcare Mums/Dads And/Or Arrange Playdates?

We're reasonably new to the area and DD1 has been going to childcare two days a week for the last six months.

My mission for 2011 which I've chosen to accept, is to make friends with the locals not just for my sake but so that DD1 has other children to play with.

She seems to have two little friends at childcare who I'm thinking of inviting here for a playdate.

Has anyone else done this?

I'll join a playgroup too and obviously it's easier to get to know people there because the other mums are there too.

I also thought of organising a weekend barbie at our place and just invite all the kids and parents to see who we click with.

Whaddya reckon?

I think it sounds like a GREAT idea!

I think it sounds good too. DD often talks about a girl from CC and asks if she can play at our house. I don't know how to get in contact with her parents though! They drop her off earlier and pick her up later than we do Nat. How will you find the kids' parents? (Am interested to know for our future reference, LOL!)
I think the playgroup idea sits better with me though in terms of getting to know parents. At least at PG you can have a chat to someone and if they are offensive you can just walk away, LOL! If they are at your house and are horrible people you can't really kick them out :)

... I was thinking of putting a little note in their pigeonhole. Every child has a little pigeonhole thing for all the admin stuff from the centre (ie. invoices :)

I've done a very brief "hello" with one of the mums when DD1 very first started and she was there at the Xmas Concert but it took me a while to put two and two together otherwise I would have gone over and chatted. Anyhow my freakdar is pretty finely tuned and she seemed pretty nice.

Yeah I do. There's 4 of us mums who catch up regularly without the kids. Where abouts are you?

Definitely do it as young as you can...we moved interstate at the start of primary school and I found there were already a lot of established playdate networks from the preschool/kinder years by then, which they weren't very interested in expanding :(. Or maybe my whole family has BO ..?? :p

Good point Marydean.

MG - we're in Woodend which is out near Mount Macedon/Hanging Rock. And I never properly thanked you for your very kind offer of help when I was torturing myself about how I would manage in the hospital post-caesar. It all turned out fantastically but your offer was very much appreciated :)

That's right, I forgot it was Woodend, sorry! DH and I were actually contemplating moving there ourselves!

I had a friend who lived there (about 6 or so years ago now) and she made friends with the lady in the bank (Bendigo Bank) by going in there with bubs all the time. She also made friend through Church out there. From the stories she told me, the community was pretty friendly and she just struck up conversations with random people! But definately try and break into the crech/kinder network. I plan to send DD to a completely different school to where her friends are likely to go and dread what setting up a network for her will be like at that point. We're enrolling her in dance soon which should hopefully help.

And you are most certainly welcome for the offer. I work right next door and it was not a problem at all! I would have gladly done it! It's something I fear when (if) I have another bubba. With my back, I could struggle big time! So it is something so very close to my heart!

MG

Off topic- fionas we moved to Sunbury recently and I am trying to make some friends up here- would love to get some of the local girls together if you're interested!

On topic- I too would love to meet other daycare mums, but have no idea how!

you know, I met DD's besties mum because we always picked up around the same time. We got chatting. After a few months I suggested a play date. Things went from there.

With Miss G, I ALWAYS heard about her from DD. She was invited to DD's party last year and has been a constant on our play date schedule since.

With Miss J, similar to Miss G. Except I sometimes babysit her and her brother too.

With Master L, I left a note in his pigeon hole for his parents asking about a catch up. DD and Master L get along famously... but his Mum puts HER social life ahead of his... so no more play dates.

I leave notes in pigeon holes, grab parents when I'm there... whatever works. You could also ask the carers for some tips - they know the parents and should be able to tell you how to approach different people. But remember, not everyone is into the playdate thing - especially if they have multiple children and so may not take you up on your offer. Don't take that personally, just keep trying!

Fi - if I lived closer, I'd be with you in a heart beat!

Amber, where abouts are you?

Fiona I hear what you are saying we moved to Trentham late last year which is even more remote than Woodend and I made a promise to myself to make the effort to meet new mums however our playgroup is so unruly and like most new mums to the town you go the 1st time and don't return :o so I regularly travel to Woodend for activities and find the new mini maestro classes are a great meeting place or the kindagym at the Buffallo stadium on a Friday are also great:) I think with a little effort living in the country can work for us it's just hard to put yourself out there when you already have a circle of friends back in Melbourne and you have to start all over again..

Jets gymnastics in gisborne has free play on a Fri morn. $5 and so

worth it. I have met a few mums out here that way. It is 10 to 1 on Fridays. A great winter activity also! There is heaps of equipment and the kids can have a great run around.

I think it's a great idea.

I'd probably do up some simple invites for the kids, and include "plus parents :)" and I'd probably do it as a BBQ, because it's easy for people to bring meat and drink, and for you as host to just provide some bread and salad and juice.

let us know how it goes?