‘There is a little group of mums and toddlers meeting together every week who needed organising. Would you like to do it?”
I saw this invitation from the Under 8’s Officer as an endorsement of my work with children adn families so far, and accepted. The invitation very quickly became a challenge. I had been to the Mother and Toddler group with my own children. We were not welcomed at all. in actual fact we sat down the other end of the hall while every one else had tea and biscuits and watched a video or something. I did not know any one, and no-one made an attempt to get to know me. After letting my children have a short play we left, I felt very embarrassed and cross.
So, when the Under 8’s Officer said she thought I was the right person for the task, I already had some experience – of how not to run a Mother and Toddler group.
Oooh! The hassle people can give you when they have been there for ever in their little cliques. Sure Start have the same problems today. That is why a freshional (friendly and professional) Early Years consultant is such a useful person to have on side.
The Mother and Toddler group, merely by its title, excluded dads. I changed its name to Parent and Toddler Group, negotiated a rent free school classroom, sorted out a committee and we were under way in no time at all. The community supported with donations, the Parish Council with grants, we had plenty of clean toys and happy families.
Step 3 was complete.
Filed under: Parent and Todder Group | Tagged: community, families, freshional, Mother and Toddler group, Parent and Toddler Group, Sure Start, Under 8's Officer | Leave a comment »