What do you do in your Playgroup??

[k8sm0m]

Ok, I have recently run into some other moms who have children of similar ages and watching signing time. I was thinking of jumpstarting a small playgroup. I would really love some input on what kind of things you do in your playgroup.....

Do you watch signing time? do you meet weekly? what place do you like to meet at besides a home or zoo? If you meet in someones home what you do?

just curious and looking for ideas great and small....

thanks for all your advice ahead of time. I know I will get some great ideas from you guys.
Carrie

[k8sm0m]

ok so i totally just found older thread on this - which has great ideas.

I still would like any new ideas you have (post here or other thread)

Specifially looking for ideas for young toddlers and toddlers.

[5TAL55]

When my play group gets together we usually meet at one of our houses. There is no set time or routine to the playgroup yet, but we have been known to watch ST! together. (other people have different vols.)

We take the kids to the park and sign things along the way and while playing. Once the kids are playing, us adults try spending some time signing things on different topics. Like discribe your extended family (ie. your parents and their kids/grandkids), tell us about a trip you took or just tell us what happened at the store (this means doing a little prep. and finding some signs from a book for what you are talking about.) Once you learn the signs you can teach them to the kids. This activity also helps with you learning to read others peoples way of signing.

We have taken the kids to the library for story time, and signed the stories as they are read. Sometimes we take turns telling the kids a story in sign with a book as our aid.

We have stayed home and the kids played with "Little People" and we discribed the action of their playing or the roles they are pretending. We would ask the kids questions either in voice or sign and have the kids respond in sign if they could.

Even snack time can be interesting, because there are lots of foods, drinks and manners to sign.

You can do anything you do on any other playdate, just sign it as you go along.

[lletiecq]

We meet twice a month at the local library community room, once in the morning, and once in the afternoon, to try to accommodate the most schedules. I usually do the same theme for each meeting.

I pick a theme (usually based upon a selection from one of the videos.) I pick songs, stories, games, and a craft to go along with the theme. I try to have a handout with the main signs we learn in the group. I usually use either a short ST! selection or a song from ST! within the playgroup.

One easy idea is a fishing game. I print out clip art of the things we are learning the signs for, laminate them, and put a magnet on the back. For fishing poles, we use dowels with a string with a nut on the end to catch the "fish." Whenever someone catches a "fish," we all do the sign for it.

Our group is for approximately an hour, so I try to mix up the songs, stories, active activities to keep the attention of preschoolers and toddlers. I also try to have some toys related to the theme available for moms and kids who need a break from the structure to play with and practice the signs.

I am probably so structured because I used to be a teacher, lol.