Intown letters

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I want to start a playgroup with anyone who would be horrified at the idea of a playgroup that sends acceptance letters. I'm not into martinis, but I make a mean margarita.

I'm in! I have 2 young kids and i have never had to 'apply' anywhere to find a group of moms and kids to hang out with. The whole thing is very strange.

On the rocks with salt, please!

Ladies, Mom of three here who did the Georgetown playgroup thing with the first two...lots of chaos, noise, at very early am hour...you may want to nurse your coffee...while checking for parking enforcement (if not walking). Ask any pediatrician,what your child needs in the early years is you. Get on the floor and read a book...play with blocks. Go to the park. These playgroups mostly Nannies,which is fine. They are crowded and too much stimulation... Your child will do better at the library story hour/park. If Mom needs the emotional support that is another story and that is fine too! Just know it is about you and not the child. These playgroups have no bearing on whether or not your child will be admitted to elite private school. Take it from a Mom who knows!

my pediatrician told me to get my dc in a playgroup

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I want to start a playgroup with anyone who would be horrified at the idea of a playgroup that sends acceptance letters. I'm not into martinis, but I make a mean margarita.

I'm in! I have 2 young kids and i have never had to 'apply' anywhere to find a group of moms and kids to hang out with. The whole thing is very strange.

On the rocks with salt, please!

And unless you have unlimited space and resources if more and more people want to join your playgroup at some point you'll have to figure out who can be a part of your group and who can't.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I want to start a playgroup with anyone who would be horrified at the idea of a playgroup that sends acceptance letters. I'm not into martinis, but I make a mean margarita.

I'm in! I have 2 young kids and i have never had to 'apply' anywhere to find a group of moms and kids to hang out with. The whole thing is very strange.

On the rocks with salt, please!

And unless you have unlimited space and resources if more and more people want to join your playgroup at some point you'll have to figure out who can be a part of your group and who can't.

TRUST ME--I will not be holding playgroups once my kids are out of that age group. Intown has been around a very long time---it's not like it's one mom having everyone over to her house.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Intown isn't mostly nannies, and it is far less crowded than the other playgroups. I think Blue Igloo has about 70 and Intown has about 50.

You have just said it all! If you like putting your 2-4 year old in birthday party setting every day...noise/chaos... then the georgetown playgroups are for you! If you want your child well socialized, able to handle and resolve small conflicts...toys being snatched etc... they do better in small groups. You may be talking 20 toddlers on any given day or more...let's not forget the 20 nannies/ moms in the room with them!!! That is a lot of noise any way you slice it. Not trying to trash the playgroups of Georgetown just saying it is for the mom not the child. For the girl who was suggested to join playgroup by pediatrician I would be surprised if he/she felt this the ideal. Pick up a book by Penelope Leach...common sense child rearing.

[Anonymous]

I'm glad my daughter was part of the playgroup because it helped prepare her for playdates when we were applying out to pre-school.

[Anonymous]

I have two children. One (child A) did not attend any type of formal playgroup, had small informal playdates/groups occaisionally and started preschool at 2.5. Other child (child B) went to InTown at 1, then went on to (same) preschool afterward. The one who went to InTown had a much easier time initially in socializing with peers and adjusting to the more structured atmosphere of preschool (albeit a play based one) and understanding "how" to join in, ask for toys, negotiate with peers, etc... I would chalk it up to nature or birth order or some such thing except that, although it took child A much, much longer to figure it out, now that both are older and in regular school, they are equally adept at joining groups, making friends and general social skills. I think a relatively larger, organized playgroup (that is only for a few hours in the morning mind you and one can go as many days of the week they like) for 1 and 2 year old is generally very beneficial.

I would also note that we were one of only 3 non-DC resident families during our time at InTown and all the grown-ups' parties were at parents' houses so I too have no idea what the one hyper negative neighbor PP is talking about. Frankly parking during the week is a b!+ch (which is one reason why there are so few non-DC and non-Gtown children).