Monkey Chatter

I remember when I had my first baby and she started to look around for things to do around 4 months, I thought to myself, right - it might be time to leave the house! Where should we go? I put some vague terms into Google and a hundred options sprung up. When you're a new mother or father, none of it makes much sense at first. Anyway, I'm a professional mother of three now so I'm finally confident enough to describe the difference between the different entertainment options on offer for your baby or toddler.

- Playgroups

Playgroups are a lovely way to spend time with your baby or toddler. They are often held in churches or community centres or library and they are free or cost £2 or £3. The groups are mixed age and typically there is a spread of toys and activities in different areas of the room and the babies and toddlers can chose their preferred activity. Parents can socialise and relax a bit whilst the children play. there is usually an entertainer who will lead the group through the well-known nursery rhymes.

- Classes

There are hundreds of classes on offer but for 0-3 they broadly break down into music & movement and most classes combine both of these elements. The classes are typically more expensive and the the times are specific and take place every week at the same time, usually with the same teacher who gget to know you and your child. Groups will typically be smaller than with a playgroup (around 10-15 people in a group) and a professionally trained teacher will be leading the group through a structured lesson plan. The classes should build on the children's skills from week to week and most activities will have an age-appropriate devlepmental aim which should be explicit. Again parents have the opportunity to socialise and make new friends.

- Soft Play Centres

Soft play centres are soft! They are typically not in Central London - there is one at Brent Cross and one near Latimer Road and they are large spaces with specially designed play areas such as ball pits and mini trampolines. They are fixed in place so the play the play equipment ismore sophisticated that what you would find at a playgroup. They are not particularly social for paretns though as people tend to come from all over London and visits are irregular. They usually have a cafe or restaurant which serves kids food.