Playgroups in Prague

While infants and toddlers don’t really play together in an organized way, an Italian mother of 4 points out that playgroups can provide children with regular contact with other children, their first interactions, and even their first friendships. An American mother of 3 notes that for toddlers approaching preschool age, a structured group can support school readiness. Playgroups are also a valuable opportunity to find other English-speaking children for small members who speak another language (or languages!) at home.

For parents, there is the joy of knowing that at least once a week someone else will make you a strong cup of coffee. Seriously, though: as an English mother of 2 noted, the support of a group of new mothers was “priceless,” and her playgroup got people out of their houses. Several of the mothers interviewed mentioned that the groups were valuable for meeting other mothers, finding out about children’s activities and supplies in Prague, and picking up ideas about toys, food, and songs and games.

Mom’s Club (www.momsclub.org), an international organization that runs literally thousands of playgroups through its chapters, is not currently active in Prague. However, a previous member started a website for Prague, and their headquarters welcomes volunteers interested in starting a Prague chapter. Finally, if you are interested in finding a Czech-speaking playgroup and meeting some of your neighbors and their kids, take a look at the Mothers Centers (www.materskacentra.cz) website to find a club near you–there are centers in every Prague district and all over the country. If you have twins or multiples, the Twins and Multiples Club (www.dvojcata.cz) has a Czech playgroup along with the other resources it offers.

First, you can find potential members by posting on Expats.cz, local listserves, or putting up a notice at schools. As the Italian mother of 4 notes, going through a pre-existing institution can help you to reach a big group of parents quickly. Word-of-mouth is also helpful. The English mother of 2 started her group with mothers she met in her prenatal class. I started a group with someone I met at a prenatal swimming class and someone I met at the maternity hospital; we found other mothers through IWAP and word-of-mouth. When you have a core group of 3-5 parents, you can get together and agree on a format for your group.

Out-of-home options include rented rooms in a community center or gym. This is a good all-weather option, particularly when you have a horde of hyper toddlers. However, one parent then has to collect fees from the other members, which is possibly the only job in Prague worse than being the washroom attendant at Hlavní nádraží. Groups meeting in a public play area don’t have to worry about fees, but it can be hard to focus on the group when there are lots of other children around, groups seem to have lower turn-out, and the coffee is rarely as good.

When to Meet: “Regularly,” says the English mother of 2. Absolutely — having a fixed day and time really does seem to help attendance, as members get used to scheduling the group as they would any other activity for their family. Weekday mornings work well for many parents, particularly because older siblings are in school. Weekday afternoons can also work if your youngest participants have the same napping habits. Weekends are challenging: you’ll find yourself competing with a formidable line-up of family commitments, cottages, travel, and out-of-town visitors. Some groups meet year-round, while others take a break in the summer.

Group Size: You don’t need a big group to be successful. In fact, the English mother of 2 suggests, “Keep it small.” A small group can meet comfortably in members’ homes, and you will thank yourself when the kids start toddling and the noise level skyrockets. That said, almost half of your group is likely to be out sick during the cold/flu season, and it’s a rare day when every single member shows up. Your official head count probably won’t be the same as the number of toddlers who appear each week.