INFORMATION FOR PARENT & TODDLER GROUPS
Parent & Toddler Updates
Parent & Toddler Network Outing
Information On Parent & Toddler Groups
List Of Parent & Toddler Groups In Offaly
Funding For Parent & Toddler Groups
Insurance for Parent & Toddler Groups
Offaly County Childcare Committee will support the development of a Parent and Toddler group in your area. The Support & Development Workers will meet with your group and support you through the process of setting up, advertising the group, organising your committee, organising insurance, facilitating play sessions, developing a programme etc.
For further details contact Catherine or Frances on 057 9135878.
Parent & Toddler Updates
Each year Offaly County Childcare Committee carries out a mini census with Parent & Toddler Groups in the county. The purpose for this is to gather information on the number of groups in the county, their location, meeting times and venues and the number of children and adults attending each group.
The annual update is an easy way for Parent & Toddler Groups to keep Offaly County Childcare Committee informed of the contact for the group so that information can be sent to the appropriate person.
Information on meeting times, days and venues is included in the Directory of Services, which is distributed to parents looking for a group in their area.
If your group has not returned their annual update form please do so immediately or if you require a new form please contact Áine on 057 9135878.
Parent & Toddler Network Outing
Offaly County Childcare Committee held their annual Parent and Toddler Networking event over two days in Birr Castle this year. The theme of this year’s event was Pirates and Princesses. All the toddlers came in fancy dress and took part in a number of activities organised for the outing. Each group sang along to well known songs and nursery rhymes with Tracey while Catherine entertained the children with pirate stories and of course stories for all the princesses who were there. Each group also took part in a treasure hunt in the Millennium Gardens with Sheena and crew, having found the treasure each child brought home a pirate teddy bear. Everyone met under the Oak Tree for light refreshments. On May the 12th 84 adults attended with 116 babies and toddlers from Edenderry, Clara, Mucklagh, Ballycumber, Ballinagar, Walsh Island, Geashill, Daingean and three groups from Tullamore. The second event took place on May 26th with 83 adults and 123 toddlers from Rahan, Banagher, Kinnitty, Cloghan, Ferbane, Carrig/Riverstown, Birr and Shinrone. The Parent & Toddler Network Outing has grown in strength over the past number of years and Offaly CCC is always looking for ideas to improve the event. If you would like to share ideas on networking events please contact Frances or Catherine on 057 9135878.
What is a Parent & Toddler Group?
A Parent & Toddler group is usually a group of adults and children, who get together to provide activities for children under the age of 5. They are usually run by parents, for parents, grandparents, guardians, childminders and carers to attend together with their children for a small charge, which helps pay for the toys, insurance, craft activities and refreshments.
How old can my child be, before they can attend?
You can attend a Parent & Toddler Group with a new born baby, a baby who has just learnt to sit, a toddler and a pre-schooler, or a combination of the above.
The earlier you attend, the more likely you are to establish long term friendships with other parents, you are able to share the expertise of other parents - if you feel you are on your own, struggling with your baby's demands or feel isolated, or just want to make friends who are interested and enthusiastic about your baby too - then Parent & Toddler Group is perhaps the place to find them.
What does it offer my child?
This really depends on what the group actually offers within the sessions, but it is sure to cover a range of the activities for pre-school age children, and provide some of the firm foundations that under three's need.
Local groups can offer:
- Group activities when the children all sit together - great social skills!
- Opportunity for children to run around, use large motor skills and try out a variety of ride on toys.
- Crafts - painting, college, chalk, colouring, sticking and more, sometimes related to themes, so you may actually get a card on Mothers Day!
- Opportunity for messy play - playdough, sand, exploring soil or water.
- Opportunity to recreate roles, dressing up or playing in the home corner.
- Stories and singing as a group, or even music and movement sessions.
- New experiences with special visitors - firemen, librarian, postman, gardai etc.
- Table top activities - puzzles, simple games, books to share.
- A carpeted area for the babies with activity frames, cushions and baby toys.
- Friendship and support to carers, and parents.
Benefits to Children
- Children get to interact with other children, while their parents / carers are close by: this helps to build the child’s confidence and social skills.
- Parent & Toddler Groups are a great stepping stone in preparing children for playgroup / pre-school.
- They provide children with opportunities which may not be available at home such as messy play, creative play, songs and stories.[/listitem
Benefits to Parents
- Great way to meet other parents in the locality and to share experience and glean support form similar circumstances.
- Social contact with other adults as Parent & Toddler Groups may be the only social contact for some parents / carers. Helps prevent isolation.
- Parent & Toddler Groups can be a great social network and can be especially helpful to parents who do not have family support close by.
Guidelines for Setting up a Parent & Toddler Group
- Get support from wherever possible e.g. Offaly County Childcare Committee Ltd, HSE, IPPA etc.
- Form a committee and elect officers i.e. Chairperson, Treasurers, Secretary, Health & Safety Person and perhaps PRO.
- Decide on a Premises and ask the local Fore Officer to check the building to advice on fire drills and fire safety issues.
- Organise insurance (IPPA operates a group insurance scheme for Parent & Toddler Groups).
- Open a Bank Account in the name of the group with three signatories (usually the two Treasurers and the Chairperson).
- Decide on and set down the operating rules of the Group which may act as the Group constitution.
- Decide on a draft action plan for three months (This can be expanded to an Annual Plan when the group is well established).
- Apply for funding
How are Parent & Toddler Groups Run?
- Most Groups are run by a committee comprising of a Chairperson, Secretary, 2 Treasurers and PRO.
- All other members of the Group also form part of the Committee.
- Most groups will have a planning meting before starting the Group. At this meeting the group will decide on their aims and objectives
Activities for the near future
Daily routine for the Group - Many members of the group will have hidden talents, some will be great organisers, some will be ideas people, some will be arty, some will love reading aloud, some will be able to sing and play musical instruments. Harness the talent within the group to ensure a communal effort.
Toys & Equipment
General
- Suitable chairs and tables for adults
- Tea making equipment
- Cups and beakers
- Nappy changing facilities in a separate area from the children.
- A secure gate / barrier to prevent the children leaving the building or accessing areas which could present a danger e.g. kitchen, stairs etc
For Babies
- A safe area with soft flooring
- Soft toys
- Rattles
- Coloured bricks
- Ball pool
- Activity centres
For Crawlers
- If space permits cordon off a separate area with roll along toys, stacking toys, coloured bricks, cars, dolls, cloth books etc
For Toddlers
- Dolls, teddies, prams and push chairs
- Sit and ride toys
- Garage and cars
- Jigsaws
- Building blocks
- Dress up clothes
- A toy kitchen
- Coloured hard back books
- Play dough
- Paint
- Arts & Crafts materials
If space permits sand and water play provide good development opportunities for toddlers but need to be supervised closely
Day To Day Running
- Block book premises
- Organise key for unlocking & lock up at end of session
- Set up premises
- Welcome parents / carers and get them to sign in
- Register new parents and record them in the register and accounts book
- Organise drinks and snacks in a separate area
- Supervise play activities
- Welcome guest speakers
- Advertise service
- Keep records of all the Group Activities, especially the financial transactions
Tip:
A job bag – each job goes into a hat and as the adults register they pull out their task for the day – great for the task shirkers in a group!!!!!
For further information and support on setting up a Parent and Toddler Group in your area contact Catherine or Frances on 057 9135878 or email catherine@offalychildcare.com or frances@offalychildcare.com
List of Parent & Toddler Groups In Offaly
| Name of Parent & Toddler Group | Meeting Times |
| Arden View Parent & Toddler Group | Wednesday 10.00am - 12.00noon Community & Family Rescource Centre |
| Ballinagar Parent & Toddler Group | Thursday 10.30am - 12.00pm Ballinagar Community Centre |
| Babóg Birr Parent & Toddler Group | Tuesday 10.15am - 12.15pm Family Resource Centre Glebe St Birr |
| Banagher Parent & Toddler Group | Tuesday & Friday 10.30am - 12.00noon Banagher Community Centre |
| Busy Bees Parent & Toddler Group | Tuesday 10.00am - 12.00noon Presbyterian Church, High Street, Tullamore |
| Carrig & Riverstown Parent & Toddler Group | Wednesday 10.00am - 12.00pm Carrig Hall Birr |
| Cheeky Monkeys Parent & Toddler Group | Wednesday 10.30am - 12.30pm Killeigh Parish Hall |
| Clara TIPS Parent & Toddler Group |
Monday & Wednesday 10.00am - 12.00pm Family Resource Centre, Clara |
| Cloghan Parent & Toddler Group | Tuesday 11.00am - 11.00pm Cloghan Parish Hall |
| Croghan Parent & Toddler Group | Wednesday 10.30am - 12.00noon St. Bridgets School |
| Daingean Parent & Toddler Group | Monday 10.00am - 12.00pm Daingean Old National School |
| Edenderry Community Cabin Parent & Toddler Group | Thursday 10.30am - 12.00pm Community Cabin, Greenwood Pk, Edenderry |
| Edenderry Parent & Toddler Group Tons of Fun | Wednesday 10.00am - 12.00noon Tons of Fun, Dublin Road, Edenderry |
| Flower Tots Parent & Toddler Group | Friday 10.00am - 12.00noon Edenderry Parish Centre |
| Ferbane Parent & Toddler Group | Wednesday 10.30am - 12.30pm Bright Beginnings Childcare Centre Ferbane |
| Geashill Parent & Toddler Group | 1st & 3rd Tuesday of every month 10.30am -12.00pm St Mary's Hall, Geashill |
| Kilclonfert Parent & Toddler Group | Wednesday 9.30am - 12.00pm Kilclonfert Community Centre |
| Kilcormac Parent & Toddler Group | Every Thursday 11.00am -12.30pm St Joseph's Community Centre Kilcormac |
| Kinnitty Parent & Toddler Group | Thursday 10.00am - 12.00noon Kinnitty Community Centre |
| Mucklagh Parent & Toddler Group | Tuesday 10.30am - 12.30pm Shamrocks Gaa Clubhouse |
| Portarlington Parent & Toddler Group | Wednesday 10.00am - 12.00pm Community Centre Portarlington |
| Shannonbridge Parent & Toddler Group | Thursday 10.00am -12.00pm Parish hall Shannonbridge |
| Shinrone Parent & Toddler Group | Thursday 10.00am - 12.00noon Shinrone Community Centre |
| Tiny Tots Parent & Toddler Group | Thursday 10.30am - 1.00pm The Rectory, Edenderry |
| Twinkle Tots Parent & Toddler Group | Wednesday 10.00am - 12.00pm Rahan Community Hall |
| Tullamore Parent's First Parent & Toddler Group | Thursday 10.00am - 12.00pm St Mary's Youth & Community Centre Tullamore |
| Walsh Island Parent & Toddler Group | Thursday 10.30am - 12.00pm Walsh Island Primary School Hall |
Funding for Parent & Toddler Groups
Parent & Toddler Group Initiative Grants
The Parent & Toddler Group Initiative Grants are administered by Offaly County Childcare Committee and range from €100 to €400. Grants can be used towards purchase of capital equipment such as toys, tables and chairs, childcare equipment etc. A portion of the grants may also be used for payment of insurance and rent.
In 2010 there will be two rounds of Parent & Toddler Initiative Funding. The first closing date was April 23rd 2010, while the second will be October 1st 2010.
Information regarding the grants will be sent from Offaly County Childcare Committee to each Parent and Toddler Group in the county, therefore it is very important to keep the CCC informed of your contact person.
For further details on the Parent & Toddler Initiative call Áine on 057 9135878.
Health Service Executive – Section 39 Grants
Section 39 Grants are payable to groups who provide a service of support for people. Parent and Toddler groups may qualify for start up grants which provides assistance towards running costs of the group such as rent, insurance, heat, equipment, etc. The grant can be applied for annually.
Insurance for Parent & Toddler Groups
The IPPA run a Group Insurance Scheme for Parent and Toddler groups. For details contact the IPPA on 01 4630010 or log onto www.ippa.ie
