Playgroup location

What type of playgroup have you got in mind??
I am looking for a playgroup in Tung Chung...
What do you think?Can I have some more info please?
Thanks
 
Hi Janicka,
thanks for your info, I am trying to setup a playgroup for moms who is looking for playgroup, that's why I am trying to get a lot of info and find out which area most of the moms wants.
 
Oh, you are also running another thread on here at the same time--I think you posted a new thread instead of replying to the old thread that you have going. You are setting up the playgroup for Tai Po, right?
 
as a playgroup owner, i can tell you, it is an AWFUL lot of work, but totally worth it. the kids are amazing and you can't help falling in love with them! at least, i can't!

however, i spend at least 60 hours per week working...not always at work but planning etc. it isn't as easy as some would think.

good luck!
ps> as to location... every mother would say...

1) easily accessible
2) easily accessible
3) easily accessible

so this means...
1) close to MTR
2) have cheap parking available
3) lots of bus stops VERY near by
 
Thanks for the reply. MLBW, yes, I have another thread for taipo playgroup/coffee meeting. I hope to meet you someday! I am also doing some little research on where is the best location to have playgroup (like a centre).
Thank you Carang, for your information. What you say here is soo true. I wonder where is your playgroup located? I would love to visit with my baby if you have an opening sometimes!

Thanks!
 
also, keep in mind that it will take you a while to build up your students to the point that you are making any money at all.

you will need good-quality toys, such as can be found at Bumps-to-babes, not the crap quality stuff at toys'r'us.

it is VERY expensive to get a good playgroup going. (I'm not trying to discourage you, merely pointing out what you may not realise.)

I have spent in the past 8 months about $60,000 on toys/furniture, $10,000 on books, $30,000 on arts & craft materials.

I run a modest playgroup centre. currently we have less than one hundred children per week.
 
Hi Blackxima

I would definitely be interested in a play group in the Tai Po area. Everything always seems to be on the island which is always a drag to get to, so something local would be perfect. Hope to meet you sometime perhaps at the Tai Po playgroup/coffee meeting :0)
 
Thank you for the insights. Yes, I do realize that getting the good playgroup going will be very expensive and tough work. I was a supervisor at a playgroup centre in Canada (which is free to people as those centres are gov. funded and regulated - that makes it a bit different from here) and have a good experience on it. I also have extensive training and background on those areas as well. It was just unfortunate that I had to leave the job to move to HK. I was hoping to get something going on here and thought to start some research on it. Your comments are very helpful and i would definitely consider what moms in Hk has to say, so keep on posting please!!

Thanks a lot :)
 
I guess I didn't realize that you were actually trying to form a for-profit, formal playgroup. Where I am from very rarely do people pay for their children to be part of a playgroup. Every church and civic center worth their salt offers quality playgroup programs. In my small city (less than 200,000 people) I literally had a playgroup or free-of-charge activity lined up for my son every day of the week and there were still groups we couldn't fit in. And then most SAHM have their own sets of informal playgroups that meet in their homes. Is there anything like this going on in HK?
 
MLBW said:
I guess I didn't realize that you were actually trying to form a for-profit, formal playgroup. Where I am from very rarely do people pay for their children to be part of a playgroup. Every church and civic center worth their salt offers quality playgroup programs. In my small city (less than 200,000 people) I literally had a playgroup or free-of-charge activity lined up for my son every day of the week and there were still groups we couldn't fit in. And then most SAHM have their own sets of informal playgroups that meet in their homes. Is there anything like this going on in HK?
Click to expand...

there are some mums that get together of course, however in hk, where space is at a premium, it is unlikely that you will find such things as "free" playgroups. it is impossible for someone to start one and not charge, as i mentioned the costs can be staggering even before rent is paid. you need to find someplace where you feel comfortable and where you believe the best interests of you and your child are actually cared about.

good luck!
 
carang said:
there are some mums that get together of course, however in hk, where space is at a premium, it is unlikely that you will find such things as "free" playgroups. it is impossible for someone to start one and not charge, as i mentioned the costs can be staggering even before rent is paid. you need to find someplace where you feel comfortable and where you believe the best interests of you and your child are actually cared about.

good luck!
Click to expand...

I do know of at least one large international church here that has a weekly playgroup but haven't heard of too many others. Well, for me personally, it feels sad that there aren't more free playgroups available if indeed that is the case. Who ever thought that child's play would develop into an expensive luxury...well, maybe in HK. Thanks for your info.
 
mlbw...

although, mine is a "for-profit" as you stated, i don't make much profit, i funnel what is left over after paying staff, rent, etc. back into supplies/toys/books etc.

there are some out there that do pack as many kids into a class as they can possibly fit and rarely add new toys/books etc.

there are some of us out there that do it for the love of being around the kids and be able to earn a living doing it.
 
carang said:
mlbw...

although, mine is a "for-profit" as you stated, i don't make much profit, i funnel what is left over after paying staff, rent, etc. back into supplies/toys/books etc.

there are some out there that do pack as many kids into a class as they can possibly fit and rarely add new toys/books etc.

there are some of us out there that do it for the love of being around the kids and be able to earn a living doing it.
Click to expand...

Oh, I didn't mean that it was wrong for you to run a playgroup and make profit from it--if that's your livelihood and you like it, that is really great, I think. Like any other business--there are bound to be differences in quality between different places, right. At any rate, my personal internal reaction is that I just feel it's a sad state when the only places available for children to have friends and play cost money--to me that just sort of goes against my own upbringing and what I think is right. It's kind of the principle that I have a problem with--not the actual fact that people run for-profit playgroups. It's just another personal issue I have with the way things are. :0)
 
i agree with you... as a mother, myself, i think that it's really sad that there are so few places around hong kong for kids...

if i had the money, i'd set up a place that would be like a HUGE jungle-gym/climbing frame with slides etc.,similar to what the y have in jumping gym, but on a MUCH larger scale. a place where kids could go in the winter where it would be warm and in the summer where it would be cool...

the problem is that i'd need millions of dollars in order to get it going.....
 
again, thank you for the interesting feedbacks. It is indeed disappointing as a mom and an educator that there is no free educational services here in HK for little ones. There are a lot less tax to pay here compare to where I am from but I guess in return, the social services aren't as good. Having lived in a several different countries, I see this as just one of the characteristic of HK.
 
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