I'm a SAHM, and I'm trying to see what other people do to make sure your children are interacting with other little ones enough. I go to the gym at least 3x a week and my son plays in the child-watch, so he gets interaction that way. It's easier when the weather is better (I'm in western NY) and we can go to the zoo/park all the time. If I didn't have the gym, I think I would look into a once a week preschool type thing. We are involved in a moms group, but the group isn't very active. We also have playdates once every week with friends.
What things do you do to make sure your children are interacting with other little ones?
Re: If you are a SAHM come in!
Mama Jan's Kitchen... a food blog
Nothing. DC sees kids at the park (when it's warm enough) and has siblings. :shrugs:
I joined Gymboree just for this. We signed up for two classes plus there is "free play" that is free with any class that you can bring your LO in to four days a week. Other than that, I have playdates with a couple of moms, but that alone just wasn't cutting it. Me and DH often take DS to the play areas at the mall and DS goes nuts with all those kids running around, he really loves it. I really try to get him out becaue he's so social and really loves being around people so i want to encourage that as much as I can.
9/24/2011 Plymouth Firefighters 5k: 47:13
11/12/2011 Diva Dash 5k: 45:45
5/5/2012 STEM school 5k TBD Coming up in 2012:
6/10/2012 Walk to Remember SIDS foundation 5k
(in memory of a sweet baby boy)
11/10/2012 Diva Dash 5k
i have two kids
truthfully, i don't try that hard...we try to do a playdate once a week and go to play gym 2-3x/month...that is more than enough for my kiddos, but as i said, they have each other.
At this age (under 2 1/2 or 3), I don't. I don't really think it is a priority right now - outside of the socialization she gets with the neighborhood kids, a few other moms/kids we get together with on occasion, and general interaction that occurs while shopping, at restaurants, and running errands.
I think the socialization of young toddlers is over rated. JMO
My DD has her younger brothers and I usually get together 1x a week with a friend who has 2 kids also.
All 3 of the kids are around other kids on an off through out the week. They do fine so I don't really worry about that so much.
But to be 100% honest that play date is normally for us. We talk and vent and complain about what is going on and let the kids play and such.
I am looking into sending my DD to pre-school, not for any other reason that I need some sort of a break. I also have twin boys. Right now we can afford about 2 days a week depending on how much it is. I am hoping to start that in September.
This is actually more for my own sanity than for DD's socialization, but
MDO for 3 hours once a week
Activities with Mom's group 4 times a week
Music together once a week
So we have something in the morning for DD 6 out of 7 days a week most weeks. Sometimes we have a one on one type playdate in the afternoons too. Every once in a week she goes to the daycare at the Y in the afternoon while I work out.
In all honesty, days when we don't have anything scheduled are kind of nice
As long as they are far and few between. For me, going more than two days without some interaction with other moms is rough.
Gymboree 1-3x a week
Play with the neighbors kids almost daily (14 months, 3 and 5 years old)
Play/watch other kids on the playground
That's about it! When we move back to the mainland, I'll look into a MDO type of program, but for now I think it's plenty.