JOYFUL BEGINNINGS
PARENT CHILD PLAYGROUPS

We know that living with young infants and toddlers can be joyful and filled with delight as we watch them grow and change before our eyes – and it can also be lonely, isolating, challenging, and tiring. Our facilitated weekly play groups create a community of parents and children together for a morning or afternoon of play, children's games, verses, and songs; and lively conversation. Toddlers share a simple snack.

Joyful Beginnings Parent Child Playgroups meet in a nurturing setting where support and friendship grow out of weekly conversations with other parents and our facilitating teacher, while the babies and toddlers explore their world.  Each week,  time is created to give our loving focused attention to observing our children, learning about each child’s unique development and gifts. Special attention is given to support the unfolding of children’s interests, motor abilities, social interactions, and problem solving skills.

 Children come and

• Explore a child friendly environment that is safe, challenging and emotionally nurturing, with simple play materials.
• Try out new physical skills - rolling, crawling, climbing. 
• Experience social interaction in play that stimulates their speech and language development. 
• Explore new social capacities with other children in their stage of development. 

 Parents come and

• Meet other parents and find a community of sharing and support.
• Experience an environment which encourages the valuable exchange of ideas and information.
• Explore the value of observation to see and understand what their babies are doing and how they are learning as they play.
• Learn songs and games to share with their children at home to support their speech and language development.
• Discover new tips for care giving - diapering, dressing, feeding.

Read one parent's perspective on The Gifts of Playgroups.

Fall Session to begin the week of September 6   Call to registrer     Visit with us at our Open Houses Every Thursday Afternoon From 1:30 - 3 PM   New Infant Group    Call to register or for more information

Playgroups are facilitated by Sophia’s Hearth director, Susan Weber and by  Nancy Macalaster. All groups meet in our center at 700 Court Street in Keene.

Tuition for each eight-week session is $120 for babies less than 8 months and $150 for children older than 8 months. Tuition assistance is available thanks to a generous grant from the Ella Anderson Trust of the Mellon Trust of Boston and St. James Episcopal Church Thrift Store, Keene and Kiwanis Club of Keene.

For more information about specific days and times for your child, and to register, please call 603-357-3755, or email us at info@sophiashearth.org.