You have been a mother for some time now and you have always had your child at home. You are considering taking your child to playgroup, but when is that actually possible? You do not yet know what the options are and what the advantages and disadvantages of a playgroup are. Why should you take your child to playgroup, from what age can you do it and why not? We will list a few things for you.
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According to Wikipedia, the playgroup is a school-like environment, where small children can spend a few hours a week. With the emphasis on 'ability', because bringing your child to playgroup is a voluntary fact. Intended as preparation for going to school, but not an obligation.
There are, however, guidelines within the playgroup when it comes to, for example, the leader-child ratio, just like in a daycare. The following applies to a playgroup:One teacher per 4 children present up to 1 year. One leader per 5 children aged 1 to 2 years present. One leader per 6 children aged 2 to 3 years present. One leader per 8 children from 3 to 4 years old.
The playgroup is usually 'chosen' by families of which one of the parents does not work, but it is nevertheless important to let their child get used to playing with other children, for example. Do both parents work? Then a playgroup is not really suitable because the hours for childcare there are arranged very differently than, for example, the hours that your child can go to childcare. In the playgroup it is really about half-days, for example during lunchtime the hall is closed.
Previously, playgroup and daycare were two different things, but since 2018 this has changed. People still talk about playgroup, but in fact everything falls under the term childcare. Nursery and toddler care are located together, as is clear, for example, at Kinderopvang The Hague. Here they offer childcare in all kinds of different types. That is a big advantage because your toddler will already be used to the place when he/she will also use the daycare center at a given moment.
From 2 to 2.5 years you can take your child to the playgroup for a few half days a week. He or she is welcome there until the 4th year, when most children start primary education.
The rates of playgroups can vary per municipality and per accommodation, but on average you have to count on approximately € 100.00 – € 150.00 per month for 2 half-days per week of childcare via a playgroup.
In the past, the costs of the playgroup were for your own account, these days things are arranged differently. If you are not entitled to childcare allowance, you can still qualify for a subsidized place that allows your child to go to playgroup. This is to ensure that every child can go to playgroup, even if the parents do not have enough money to pay for it themselves. Application for such a subsidized place goes through the Municipality and depends on your situation. It depends, among other things, on the following factors:
More information can be found on the website of the national government
Do you think that going to playgroup is mainly meant to let your child play with other toddlers? Then you are partly right, but did you know that in a playgroup they do indeed look at the development of your child and also try to process a learning process in the playtime in this playroom? The playgroup is not just about having fun, it is also about learning. And that is certainly useful during toddlerhood.
As a pedagogical employee of a playgroup you see and hear a lot. In 9 out of 10 intake interviews, parents are told that the playgroup is mainly fun for their child to play. Of course, that also comes first. A toddler should have a good time, be able to play and make friends. But that's not what it's all about. At the playgroup they are especially very concerned with rhythm and structure. And again rhythm and structure. Oh yes… and did I mention that they are working on rhythm and structure?
Toddlers explore, get to know the world better and make friends. They learn to know boundaries, feel valued and develop all kinds of skills. Almost every parent knows the saying “play together, share together” † They work with a fixed daily schedule, which is familiar and recognizable and so the toddlers know where they stand, which is not entirely unimportant.
In addition, they also look at each toddler separately. Because every toddler is unique. They want to discover and try out the world. As a pedagogical employee, you respond very effectively to this by learning through play with the toddlers. They watch and listen carefully to a child so that they can estimate the needs, but they also pay attention to how the development is progressing and where a possible eight position can occur. This way, if necessary, they can ring the bell in time.
The toddlers learn while playing. They often do this on the basis of themes. For example, at the beginning of each theme, they create a word spider. Together with the toddlers, they look for pictures in magazines and cut and tear them out. (No worries, the teacher cuts and the toddler tears 😉 ).
As an example there is the ever popular theme The farm. The word The Farm . is printed on a large sheet written. They get to work with the magazines and immediately ask the questions, which animals live on the farm, where do the animals live and what do they eat? There come those little creatures with the sheep, goats and cows. The vocabulary is therefore excellently practiced.
The building corner is also part of the theme. For example, they build stables and in each stable they put 3 goats, whoops, counting is also practiced immediately. So you can see that everything they are doing in the playgroup is actually playful. As a parent you see that your child is playing very nice and cozy and the pedagogical staff see that your toddler is busy counting, increasing the vocabulary and also having fun playing. Win-win situation, right?
We have already given the necessary reasons above to take your child to a playgroup, instead of just keeping it at home for the first 4 years, but we will briefly list them for you:
Most children are at home in a protected environment in which they play themselves, with mom or dad or a brother or sister. Bringing them to playgroup has the advantage that they also learn to interact with other children and learn what it is like to function in a group with others.
Of course, your child will learn more social skills in a group of other toddlers of about the same age as your child is at home. Another 'advantage' is that mom is not around for a while and he or she has to learn to solve things himself (or with the help of another adult).
You should not imagine too much of it, but at least you have some time for yourself. You will probably go shopping like crazy during that time, that's up to you. Of course you could also choose to do nothing for a while, or just quietly drink a cappuccino with a friend. This way you will have all the energy to guide your toddler further in his journey of discovery. And of course you can also go shopping with your toddler.
In any case, you have the parts of the day that your little one brings to the playgroup 'over' and your hands are free for a while.
You may think… this is not an advantage but a disadvantage, but we do not agree. It is good for your child to slowly build up more resistance. And he does that at his best by getting other kids' snot on his hands and collecting the bacteria that don't swirl around in your house. Now let him be a little sick a little more often… that will benefit you later! You are actually working on improving your child's immune system by increasing its resistance.
There are not many disadvantages, we were able to think of one:
The disadvantage may also be an advantage, it just depends on how you look at it. The playgroup is not intended as real childcare for working parents. If you also work as a mother, then the playgroup probably does not fit in with your schedule in terms of opening hours and it is better to switch to regular childcare or a nanny at home. A playgroup is closed during public holidays - but also during the holidays.
As another disadvantage, I have heard that there are mothers who find it annoying because they no longer have complete control over the upbringing themselves and that the child therefore has several educators. Bullshit if you ask me . How do you think your child is going to get it for the rest of his life? If you think that you can exist as the only educator in his or her life, you are wrong. Your child will be influenced from all sides and you will have to learn to deal with it. It is important to offer a scale in which you offer possibilities and 'discuss' problems. Even when it comes to situations that do not fit in with your upbringing. Your child will come into contact with it anyway.
Have you taken your child to playgroup and from when did you do that? Or have you chosen a different shelter, or decided to keep him or her at home? We are curious about your position on this!
