My Playgroup is a place where moms bond and share experiences about being both a mom and a woman. In March 2008, the last time I came back from visiting our families in Argentina, I started feeling that I really wanted to find activities for my 10-month old daughter. My daughter had just begun discovering her creative abilities and everything was new to her. It was difficult to rein in her energy and keep her occupied. I found that activities for kids in the area were expensive. I thought—“Why not do something myself?” A Playgroup seemed like a good idea! The advantages of a playgroup appeared undeniable. It would provide my daughter with a wide variety of learning experiences but it would also give me a chance to meet other moms.
While living in Manhattan, I had been a playgroup teacher in a bilingual pre-school. With this experience I immediately set about implementing the idea. I called six to eight friends with children aged between 6 months to 3 years and told them about my initiative. It worked! We meet once a week, every Friday for about 1 ½ to 2 hours and usually between 10 am and noon. We all take turns hosting the playgroup each week at our respective homes and it has worked out very well. We are even planning a get-together with husbands on a Sunday. One of our goals is that fathers become more knowledgeable of their kids’ activities and can also enjoy singing and playing with them, as moms do.
Our playgroup sessions are undemanding and simple. We aim at having an entertaining and enjoyable time with the kids. I lead the sessions with some core activity like singing songs or playing musical instruments, and I try to introduce a theme at every session. For each session, I plan songs and rhymes to complement the theme, so that they are all components of the central idea, be it animals or colors, etc. We use traditional instruments like maracas, drums, egg shakers, castanets, and bells. I try to incorporate color into every session by using scarves and parachutes as we play and sing. I also introduce something new at every session to enhance the playgroup experience. It is so much fun for both the kids and us.
Once the activity is done, we socialize and have some light snacks and beverages. The playgroup provides us with invaluable time to make friendships and is a helpful support system for moms. The moms in my playgroup are as varied as can be—They range in ages from 28 to 40. There are working moms and stay-at-home moms. The group has a pediatrician, a biologist, a lawyer, a mathematician and a student, to name a few. There are moms from Brazil, Costa Rica, Peru, Nicaragua, Argentina, Chile and Spain. Yet, all of us want the same thing, fun-time for our kids, and a break from routine. The next project I would like to work on is organizing Spanish after-school activities for kids on weekdays, and not on Saturdays like most of them are now.
Related to this latter point, one of the playgroup’s goals is to create an environment where children can develop Spanish skills. One of the fears that is shared by several moms I have talked to is that their children may increasingly lose their home language and eventually only understand it, but not be able to speak it or write it fluently. This playgroup then, attempts to take a first cut at deepening the children’s relationship with a language different from the one they will mostly hear while watching educational videos (e.g. Baby Einstein) or listening to baby lullabies.
The playgroup has been ongoing for 6 months now and it’s quite amazing to see how much the children have developed in many areas. They know the dynamics of the group, they are looking forward to the songs, and they have already memorized movements. In other words, they are learning through playing and singing.
I believe that a playgroup acts as an extended family for a new mom and creates a healthy and nurturing environment for both the moms and kids. My Playgroup is open to new members and anyone interested can call me, Phone: 301-770-3172 or Cell: 301-803-8869.
Gabriela Gonzalez
as narrated to Vidya)
