INFORMATION FOR PARENT & TODDLER GROUPS

Training Sessions for Parent & Toddler Groups
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 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.

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.

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.comorfrances@offalychildcare.com

List of Parent & Toddler Groups In Offaly

Walsh Island Primary School

Name of Parent & Toddler Group	Meeting Times
Ballinagar Parent & Toddler Group	Thursday 10.30am - 12.00pm Ballinagar Community Centre
Ballycumber Parent & Toddler Group	Thursday 10.00am - 12.00pm The Barracks Community Centre, Ballycumber
Banagher Parent & Toddler Group	Tuesday10.30am - 12.30pm Banagher Community Centre
Babóg Birr Parent & Toddler Group	Tuesday 10.15am - 12.30pm Family Resource Centre Glebe St Birr
Carrig & Riverstown Parent & Toddler Group	Wednesday 10.00am - 12.00pm Carrig Hall Birr
Clara TIPS Parent & Toddler Group	Monday & Wednesday 10.00am - 12.00pm Family Resource Centre, Clara
Clara Respond Parent & Toddler Group	Tuesday 10.30am - 12.30pm Respond Community Centre, Clara
Cloghan Parent & Toddler Group	Tuesday 11.00am - 1.00pm Cloghan Hall
Croghan Parent & Toddler Group	Wednesday 11.00am - 12.30pm St. Brigid's School, Croghan
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	Wednesday 10.30am - 12.00pm St Joseph's Hall Edenderry
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 10.30am -12.00pm St Joseph's Community Centre Kilcormac
Kinnitty Parent & Toddler Group	Thursday 9.30am -11.30am Kinnitty Community Centre
Mucklagh Parent & Toddler Group	Tuesday 10.00am -12.00pm GAA Centre Mucklagh
Portarlington Parent & Toddler Group	Wednesday 10.00am - 12.00pm Community Centre Portarlington
Rahan Twinkle Tots Parent & Toddler Group	Wednesday 10.00am - 12.00pm Rahan Community Hall
Shinrone Parent & Toddler Group	Thursday 10.00am - 12.00pm Community Centre Shinrone
Shannonbridge Parent & Toddler Group	Thursday 10.00am -12.00pm Parish hall Shannonbridge
Tullamore Arden View Parent & Toddler Group	Wednesday10.00am - 1.00pm Family Resource Community Centre Tullamore Group meets once per month
Tullamore Busy Bees Parent & Toddler Group	Tuesday 10.30am - 12.30pm The Presbyterian Church, High Street, Tullamore
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
Edenderry Flower Tots Parent & Toddler Group	Friday 10.00am - 12.00pm Parish Centre Edenderry
Killeigh Cheeky Monkey's Parent & Toddler Group	Wednesday 10.30am - 12.30pm Parish Hall Killeigh
Edenderry Community Cabin Parent & Toddler Group	Thursday 10.30am - 12.30pm Community Cabin Greenwood Park
Rhode Parent & Toddler Group	Thursday 10.30am - 12.30pm Community Centre Rhode

Funding for Parent & Toddler Groups

Parent & Toddler Group Initiative Grants
In 2009, the Parent & Toddler Group Initiative Grants replaced the KHF grants for Parent & Toddler Groups. This Parent & Toddler Initiative builds on the collaborative work between the KHF and the Office of the Minster for Children. The grants will be administered by Offaly County Childcare Committee and will range from €100 to €600. 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 2009 there will initially be two rounds of Parent & Toddler Initiative Funding. The first closing date will be February 26th, while the second will be September 24th.

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