I started going to a playgroup for the first time last term. I’ll admit, I was a bit nervous because I had no idea what to expect, but I was really keen to meet some other parents, enjoy a bit of adult conversation, and give Lily a chance to spend time with other children.
I found a local playgroup on the Playgroup SA website, and it turned out to be just around the corner from home. Even better, the coordinator’s number was listed, so I gave her a quick call to introduce myself. Jenny, the coordinator, was absolutely lovely. She instantly put me at ease by explaining all the little things—where to park the pram, what to bring, how signing in works, and what actually happens during a session. It really helped calm my overthinking!
Of course, on our very first morning we had the classic “leaving the house” drama—an exploding nappy right as we walked out the door. So yes, we arrived a bit after the start time, but it didn’t matter at all. Parents arrived when they could. Jenny greeted us with a big smile, showed us around the space, and even introduced me to a couple of the other parents.
Lily and I had such a fun time. I pretty much followed her from one activity to the next as she explored everything… and I mean everything. Jenny reassured me that this was totally normal—Lily was just checking it all out. We especially loved the sensory play with rice and the playdough.
Toward the end of the session, Jenny sang a little song to let everyone know it was pack-up time and then invited us to join in for a story and some songs. Lily wasn’t keen and just wanted to keep playing—she wasn’t the only one! Jenny said that was absolutely fine. Lily kept glancing over and smiling, so maybe next time we’ll join the group for a bit. Once she saw the children were having a snack thought she was right over there ready to enjoy her fruit!
The whole session flew by. We had such a lovely morning, and Lily was so happily worn out that she fell asleep in the pram on the way home. We’re already looking forward to our next playgroup day!
