Parents/caregivers meet young children for play and socialising in informal, neighborhood-based groups.
Important points:
Usually low-cost and run under volunteer direction.
Excellent for early socialisation and parental support.
Governor’s Island Parent and Toddler Groups
gov.i
Parent, young child, and toddler groups
hyse.ie
Groups of Parent and Toddler Development
www.childcareonline.ie
In Ireland, parent and toddler groups are unofficial community events where parents, guardians, and carers might mingle while their young children participate in developmental activities and play. For adults as well as children, these organisations provide great chances for networking building, connection, and sharing of experiences.
Parent and Toddler Groups: Searching Ireland
Government Directory: Organised by county, the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration, and Youth offers a thorough list of current parent and toddler groups all throughout Ireland. For every group, this tool contains meeting schedules and contact information.
The HSE, or health service executive, provides information about parent, baby, and toddler groups stressing their advantages and how to find them. They advise looking online for groups in your region, calling your local City or County Childcare Committee, or your public health nurse.
City and County Committees on Childcare: Local childcare committees sometimes keep directories containing parent and toddler groups:
The Dublin City Childcare Committee lists groups running in the Dublin City region together with contact details and meeting information. Children’s Online Education
Emphasising the advantages of involvement, the Cork City Childcare Committee provides information and assistance for local parent and toddler groups. citychildcare.ie
Early Childhood Ireland offers advice on running parent and toddler groups as well as details on current groups. They underline how important these groups are in providing parents with social contacts and quality play opportunities for their children.
Focussing on child-centered play experiences and advancing good parent-child connections, Barnardos provides weekly parent and toddler groups for children ranging in age from birth to five years old. For further information, call your neighbourhood Barnardos project.
Establishing a Parent and Toddler Group
If you would want to start a new group in your neighbourhood, various websites can help you:
Advice on planning and starting up a parent, baby, and toddler club with ideas for governance and venue choice comes from Tusla. www2.hse.ie+2tusla.ie+2early Childhood Ireland.ie+2
Dublin City Childcare Committee offers a comprehensive manual on launching a parent and toddler club covering issues including venue choice, finance, and group management. Childhood Online
By means of a parent and toddler club, one can greatly enhance the social experiences of parents as well as children, therefore strengthening community ties and promoting early childhood development.