Anybody NOT join any paying playgroups and doing great?

fly said:
There's no one-size-fits all answer, but our son has been in playgroup since 5 months (1-2 days a week, 2 hrs/day), and he wasn't the youngest one there either! Now he's 18 month, and I like to think that he's picked up some level of socialization skills, appreciation of a routine (playtime, storytime, etc.), and dealing with new faces, adults and kid variety. If you search around, you will find there are some very reasonable groups out there where the instructors aren't "in your face" or there is not a huge outlay financial commitment to begin with.
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Does this mean Fly, that the group your son attends is a huge financial commitment? If I misunderstood, perhaps you could recommend as 'searching' is hard to do :) THanks!
 
What I mean is the one my son attends is not a huge $ commitment. But like this whole topic, I realize that statement in itself is very subjective. It's not that hard to search, just try a few trial classes to see if you are comfortable with the class structure, instructor, and fees.
 
I've taken my son to a paid playgroup since 2 mths (when it was pretty much just infant massage) and he is still going at 8mths.
He enjoys it, and I enjoy it so for us it's worthwhile.
I certainly don't think it's going to make my child any smarter, but it's fun.

It's just an additional activity to our week, as well as meeting up with other mums at their homes, which can be hard to do everyday.

JoT, I asked the question to the woman who owns the centre that I go to, Why do we have to commit to a whole term?
She said if she doesn't have guaratnteed bookings she won't make rent for the month.
I guess thats why the Rumpus Rooms went broke.

I've never found going each week a chore, and if I can't make it for some reason, we just make it up another time.

All the groups let you do a trial class to see if you like it.
 
rumpus rooms didn't go broke. the owner relocatd and couldn't find a buyer for it.

i wish i had the $$$$, i'd love to start something like rumpus again...i think it's a great idea, especially in this heat!
 
Actually Carang, Yes she did relocate, but also the reason that she couldn't find a buyer was because Rumpus Rooms was losing money.

Perhaps, 'went broke' was the wrong way to say it, but basically the concept wasn't sustainable.
It is a great idea, but unfortunatley with the cost of running that type of business in HK, it just doesn't work.
 
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Hi,

I'm curious, is there a "playgroup" in Hong Kong run by parents that is free and casual? Here in Taipei, we have a cityplaygroup. We have over 100 people on the mailing list. We meet twice a week, and just email our members to let them know where we will be. Whoever is there is there. We also run three big events and two charity rummage sales a year, none of these cost anything, people just donate and we do potluck for the events. It's just so nice to have the option of getting together with other kids and adults, if you manage to get breakfast/lunch/naps etc coordinated on that particular day.
 
I appreciate that they need you to sign up for a whole term because they want to make sure that they are covering their costs... I guess I am just not used to it...

I was a stay at home Mum in the UK too - and there were loads of music groups/playgroups/gym groups etc, where you could just turn up and pay on the door. Maybe its just that rentals are so expensive here, that playgroups have to be stricter too...

I have only been here for 7 weeks, so still just getting used to how everything is done here!
 
i think you're right, it is difficult for a place like rumpus rooms because the local market is not "into" it. they like to think their kids are "learning" something and it can be difficult for some locals to understand that the kids ARE in fact learning and that a child's job should be "play"...
 
Hi can anyone give me more details about rumpus room? I know its closed now but i'm doing some research for an idea i have...How much did they charge for a dropin? thanks in advance!
 
Hi please disregard my above msg., i found the heated rumpus room board and have found most of the answers to my questions there.
 
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