intown, blue igloo, little graces? looking for candid opinions of all

[Anonymous]

i am looking into these playgroups and am curious to hear what experiences you've had with them? do any have more nannies attending than moms?

candid opinions appreciated!

(this was asked last year but received no responses, so this is a repost)

[Anonymous]

I would like to know, too

[Anonymous]

we are not doing a play group with our child but i have a good friend who is doing blue igloo with her child because her sister in law told her she had to do it to meet the "right kind of people" and "network for school admissions." but then her sister in law's daughter got rejected at the big 3 (after going to ncrc) and ended up at a lesser private school so i guess that networking did not pay off. i know my friend has not gone herself yet and just sends the nanny, but she says that her child likes it. personally i have never understood the point of paying for a playgroup at an age when kids do not interactively play and if it is socialization that the parents want then i would think a more organicly formed one would be more likely result in meeting new people that you like.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:we are not doing a play group with our child but i have a good friend who is doing blue igloo with her child because her sister in law told her she had to do it to meet the "right kind of people" and "network for school admissions." but then her sister in law's daughter got rejected at the big 3 (after going to ncrc) and ended up at a lesser private school so i guess that networking did not pay off. i know my friend has not gone herself yet and just sends the nanny, but she says that her child likes it. personally i have never understood the point of paying for a playgroup at an age when kids do not interactively play and if it is socialization that the parents want then i would think a more organicly formed one would be more likely result in meeting new people that you like.

Wow! Blue Igloo, NCRC and still no Big Three? That is interesting indeed. We've applied to Little Graces and Blue Igloo, not for the networking aspects but just to have someplace fun (i.e., full of toys and the hustle-n-bustle of other little people) to go during the months when the weather isn't so great.

[Anonymous]

i agree with the PPP that kids this age don't really interact with eachother so I would join a group like this if it was to meet other moms.....if it's all nannys, which I have a feeling Blue Igloo is, then why bother?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:we are not doing a play group with our child but i have a good friend who is doing blue igloo with her child because her sister in law told her she had to do it to meet the "right kind of people" and "network for school admissions." but then her sister in law's daughter got rejected at the big 3 (after going to ncrc) and ended up at a lesser private school so i guess that networking did not pay off. i know my friend has not gone herself yet and just sends the nanny, but she says that her child likes it. personally i have never understood the point of paying for a playgroup at an age when kids do not interactively play and if it is socialization that the parents want then i would think a more organicly formed one would be more likely result in meeting new people that you like.

I'm curious, how does your friend know if her children like it or not, considering she hasn't bothered to go herself - and the school year is 2/3 over? And how does she expect to network if she has never showed up?

Anyhow, you might be surprised at how much the children interact with each other, the teachers, and the other moms in these groups. They also learn how to follow simple directions, how to sit still for songs and circle time, how to share, how to play together, etc. etc. Even at this young age, certain children are drawn to each other and become friends. I think formal play groups are a wonderful place to introduce their children to the world in a social and informal setting. Also, you can come and go as you want and you don't have to go every day - so it's not like you're pushing your child or anything ridiculous like that.

One caution: you child will get sick. A lot. But supposedly when they start real school, they won't get sick as often as the children who were never around their peers before.

[Anonymous]

I agree with PP about all the great building blocks that are built at play groups. Plus it's fun and stimulating for young children.

I think that Intown was formed first many years ago (by my pediatrician's wife!); Blue Igloo opened to take the overflow. Blue Igloo is basically all nannies. I would guess that Intown is about half moms and half nannies/babysitters on any given day.

I don't think that one-year-olds necessarily need a playgroup - but two-year-olds definitely need something. I can't imagine not putting a two-year-old in some sort of program. They love it and they get SO much out of it.

[Anonymous]

I'd actually love to find a playgroup setting that would be good for my child and give my pretty shy nanny a chance to make some friends. She's early-30s and US born. Where would she most likely find people with whom she's got something in common? She takes our son to My Gym now, but it's mostly other moms who don't seem into making friends.

[Anonymous]

What?? There are playgroups for 1 & 2 yr olds that people actually pay money to join?! Please tell me you're joking. And one of the purposes is networking, and improving the odds of getting your lil' ones into "the Big 3". Ludicrous, in my opinion.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What?? There are playgroups for 1 & 2 yr olds that people actually pay money to join?! Please tell me you're joking. And one of the purposes is networking, and improving the odds of getting your lil' ones into "the Big 3". Ludicrous, in my opinion.

By the time you pay to take your child to a weekly gymboree class and/or music together class for a year, you probably could have paid for the playgroup (which offers gym/music/art/etc.) Yes, there are those who opt for "free" activities like going to the library story times or to the park. These are just as nice. But some want to have a social outlet for mom and child.

[Anonymous]

I've never been part of a "commercial" playgroup. We organized our own almost four years ago. But it was a LOT of work to get it started and keep it going. And we don't have organized activities like music, although sometimes the hosting parent will offer a craft. So I can see why some people may opt for formal playgroups. I certainly would have been interested in something like this for my nanny, who did not have that many neighborhood friends.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I've never been part of a "commercial" playgroup. We organized our own almost four years ago. But it was a LOT of work to get it started and keep it going. And we don't have organized activities like music, although sometimes the hosting parent will offer a craft. So I can see why some people may opt for formal playgroups. I certainly would have been interested in something like this for my nanny, who did not have that many neighborhood friends.

Just fyi, they're not very expensive at all - about $3k a year. That means you have a place to bring your child every single morning, from Sept. through May. They have music, art and playground time every day. When you think about it, it's a lot cheaper than a lot of other things, including daycare, early preschool programs, nannies, babysitters, and a lot of classes. It's like taking your child to a music class, an art class, and a playground every day.

Definitely not just for networking into the Big Three. My child is in one of these groups, and I don't even know exactly which schools are the big three (though I could guess).

We just like the socialization and all the fun activities. We don't go every day - most people don't. It's nice to have a place to go whenever you want. I've seen my child gain so many social skills from it - esp. sharing and getting along with other children.

[Anonymous]

Pardon my ignorance (I'm new to DC) but what is the "Big Three"? And after reading several threads today about preschools and private schools, and now commerical playgroups, I'm absolutely horrified by the elitism and competiveness of the non-public school system here. I'm planning to send my 2 year old son to daycare next year, followed by a preschool program at a local church, then to Key. The playgroup we're planning to get involved with has been organized with a few other moms on this message board - not commercial - totally casual. Am I missing something here, or are other moms pursuing similiar paths for their preschoolers?? What's all the fuss about?? Networking for a 2 year old??? Give me a break.

[Anonymous]

Two of the "big 3" are Sidwell & Georgetown Day School. Generally considered the best, most rigorous, most "exclusive" schools in the DC area. Certainly the hardest to get in to. For kindergarten, to give you an idea, Sidwell receives approx. 200 applications for 26 spots. Can't recall if the 3rd one is Beauvoir or Maret.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Blue Igloo opened to take the overflow. Blue Igloo is basically all nannies. I would guess that Intown is about half moms and half nannies/babysitters on any given day.

ANyone know the story and make-up for Little Graces?