| Playgroups are social gatherings with moms and their | | | | that her child has a cold, had the flu a few days |
| kids, that allow the kids to play with other children | | | | before, or any other illness. This means that your child |
| around their same age, and moms to socialize. They | | | | could be getting sick because someone else did not |
| are often held at the park, or at someone's home, and | | | | consider their child's germs. Because the whole point |
| can be a lot of fun. Despite the fun involved and the | | | | of a playgroup is to get moms out of the house, and |
| fact that playgroups are sort of a rite of passage for | | | | get kids interacting, it often leads to people coming no |
| mothers, there are some pitfalls. | | | | matter what, with sick kids, with ornery kids, etc. this is |
| One of the pitfalls many mothers recognize with | | | | not a good situation to put your child into. So, there is a |
| playgroups is that often it is more for the moms than it | | | | good chance your kid will be at risk. Obviously this is |
| is for the kids. This often results in the moms socializing | | | | not always the case, and you can find good |
| and the kids are not being watched as well. Many a | | | | playgroups where everyone is really respectful of how |
| parent has gone home from playgroup with a child | | | | their child's health could affect your child's. |
| who has a scratch, a bump, a diaper that has been | | | | One of the biggest pitfalls of a playgroup is that your |
| dirty for a long time, etc. When the moms start talking, | | | | child is either going to thrive or drown, there is not |
| they tend to neglect their children. Even if you go as a | | | | much in between. Kids tend to gang up when in larger |
| mom who watches your child well, if other moms are | | | | groups, and your child could be the one being picked |
| not watching theirs, it can mean your kid gets hit or | | | | on. The problem with playgroups is that generally some |
| scratched by someone's child, and they do not do | | | | kids will thrive, and others will wilt. This is especially true |
| anything about it. So, if you intend to go to a playgroup, | | | | of already shy children. So, if your child is not an |
| try to find one where the moms will socialize, which is | | | | aggressive personality, it could actually make them |
| important, but watching kids is the first priority. | | | | more introverted then they already are. Of course, in |
| Another of the common pitfalls of a playgroup is that it | | | | some instances a playgroup can help your child to |
| is a prime place for germs to spread. Basically, you | | | | blossom and open up because they are exposed to |
| can't control whether or not another mom brings their | | | | new things, but you will need to choose your playgroup |
| kid to playgroup sick. In some cases, a mom will crave | | | | carefully if you do not want to make your child even |
| the social interaction so much that she won't consider | | | | less social than they currently are. |