Thank goodness for baby and toddler groups! A lot of the
time, it’s the only adult contact I have during the day! Of course, it’s nice
for my little girl, Maria, to get out of the house for a change of scenery too!
As she doesn’t go to nursery, I’ve been keen for her to go to a couple of
groups a week to meet and play with other children. We haven’t been to as many
as we’d like as most groups meet in the mornings and, until recently,
Maria was having a morning nap – very inconvenient! But now she’s cut that nap
out, a whole new world has opened up to us!
At the moment, we mainly go to the groups in Stretham, where
we live. But I’m hoping to venture a bit further and try some others. The only
problem is – there are so many to choose from!
As you can see on our ‘Local Baby and Toddler Activities and
Groups’ page, there are lots of groups on everyday in and around the Ely area.
So, what are they like?
I’ve written a short review of the groups in Stretham below.
And it would be great if you could help us add to this. Which groups have you
been to? Have you enjoyed them and would you recommend them to others? Let us
know by emailing hannahlazarus at hotmail dot co dot uk and we’ll add your
review here!
Little Bears
Day: Every Monday during term-time
Time: 9.30-11am
Location: St James’ Church, Stretham
Age: 0-4 years old, accompanied by parent/carer
Charge: Suggested donation of £2
We’ve only just started going to this group as Maria has
recently cut out her morning nap. She has a great time here! There are lots of
toys set up for the children and some craft activities for the older ones. Refreshments
are supplied for adults and children – hot and cold drinks and snacks. Baby
changing facilities are available. At the end, the vicar leads a story and
singalong session. A great way to beat the Monday morning blues!
Monday Fun Days
Day: First and third Mondays of each month
Time: 1.30-2.45pm
Location: Stretham Parish Rooms
Age: 0-4 years old, accompanied by parent/carer
Charge: Free
This group is run by Sutton Children’s Centre. This was the
perfect group when my daughter was around 6-14 months old. At this time,
she was having a morning and mid-afternoon nap, so this slotted in quite
nicely. Most other groups were in the morning. But now she’s having one nap
after lunch, so we’re unlikely to make it over the next few months, which is a
shame because we really enjoyed it!
This group has lots of different ‘stations’
set up for children with a playmat and toys for babies, and toys, books and activities
for toddlers – it’s very informal and up to you and your children what you do!
There are always some craft activities for the older ones. During the last 15
minutes, everyone gets together for a sing-song! The only downside
to this group is the lack of baby changing facilities in the parish rooms. The Children’s
Centre staff are very interactive and make the effort to talk to everybody – a
great chance to discuss any issues you have, learn more about what the
Children’s Centre are doing, or just have a chat with an adult!
Tiddlywinks Tots
Day: Every Wednesday during term-time
Time: 1.15-3.00pm
Location: Tiddlywinks Pre-School (within Stretham Primary
School)
Age: 0-4 years old, accompanied by parent/carer
Charge: £1-£2
This is a lovely informal environment for children to play.
As a pre-school, it’s perfectly set up for small children. There are plenty of
toys, books and equipment and there is always some messy play and/or craft
activity each week. Refreshments are provided for adults and children. In the
last 30 minutes, the table is set out for snack time and each child gets a
snack and a drink. If you live in Stretham, I think this is a great group for
small children as it means pre-school and primary school will be a familiar
place.
