What are ‘Parent Toddler Groups’?

Parent Toddler groups are usually weekly gathering sessions for parents, babies and toddlers. They are not just run for mums, but welcome dads, carers, childminders and grandparents bringing their pre-schoolers. They aim to be inclusive and many have been running for many years with long serving volunteers.

They also welcome those who are expecting a baby who want to join before the birth of their first baby.

They are run midweek with either morning or afternoon sessions lasting about two hours. Most don't have waiting lists so parents and carers can just turn up.

Take one town on any weekday and you are certain to find a number of groups offering a warm welcome! In fact they are such a popular aspect of life for young families that young parents will often be linked with more than one group each week!

Parents or carers accompany their under fives at these sessions so they are not within Ofsted requirements.

There is usually a small admission fee, generally 50p to £1. There are toys for the children, squash (sometime biscuits or fruit snacks) for the children and tea, coffee and biscuits for the adults and often a together time for songs and stories.

Different activities for play and social interaction are offered as part of a session. Some are noisy and busy with lots of ride on toys, others are quieter. Some have different rooms for different ages of children. Some have a separate first baby session or room and others are all together with a seated carpeted area for the babies while toddler explore the activities – reading, puzzles, construction toys, crafts, play dough, home corner etc.

Many Church groups are run by Christians who are called to serve through these weekly sessions which form part of the church outreach and ministry with Children and Young Families.

Many of these church groups are going forward with a prayerful foundation, praying for the sessions, the warmth and welcome, the needs of families and for opportunities to bring them closer to Jesus and loving them where they are. So many families enter the church buildings each week and see the notices and posters within that proclaim the Gospel message!

What a wonderful opportunity to know that these groups are part of the common experience for so many families across the UK.

Thousands of families across the Church threshold each week.

How amazing that churches welcome thousands of families with pre-schoolers at this critical foundation stage.

What an opportunity for churches to reach and show God’s love and to sow seeds for God’s kingdom!

Organisations such as ‘Netmums’ and Care for the Family recognise and celebrate the value of these groups. They can be a life line for young parents, an opportunity to meet and make friends and to support each other and be cherished by others prepared to listen and care.

They are not all run by churches, but also informally by groups of parents getting together and using a venue on a regular basis, by community agencies and organisations such as ‘Home Start’ or by specific support networks such as TAMBA (The Twins and Multiple Births Association) or the NCT or the National Association of Childminders. Other cultural links may lead to the setting up of a group that is different from a coffee morning arrangement and which is open to all, rather than a discreet group.

Some schools see the need for parent toddlers in their community and encourage volunteers to set up a parent toddler group within its buildings.

However 75% are run by Churches in Church buildings with volunteers called to serve God in this way.

The Pre-School Learning Alliance has much to say about Parent Toddler Groups and their role in supporting community. See links page)

Parent Toddler Groups are a key component in pre-school provision in the voluntary sector and offer an opportunity to build firm foundations for family life through practical caring, concern and fun together!.

They offer social interaction opportunities for young children and a place to feel safe and to belong. They offer opportunities for people to share experiences, to communicate across cultural boundaries and to find a common experience through little children and parenting or child care.

Some Church groups that don’t have an overtly Christian message in their weekly sessions may run a separate worship service once a month or at the end of term for Church festivals – Christmas and Easter. Its an opportunity to invite the families into the Church (if they don’t normally go in) and to run a little service with a bible message, songs, story and prayer, perhaps with playtime and refreshments afterwards.

(See separate webpage on Worshipping with the Under Fives)