The changing face of toddler groups

Care for the Family’s Playtime Co-ordinator, Fiona Burt, examines how changing attitudes to work affect church toddler groups…

As the government encourages mothers to return to the workplace, the demographics of church toddler groups are changing rapidly.

There was a time when these groups were referred to as ‘Mother and toddler groups’. But this is rapidly becoming a thing of the past. Fewer young children are actually accompanied by their mum. Most groups have become ‘Parent and toddler groups’, ‘Carer and toddler groups’, or simply ‘toddler groups.’

In 2007, the Childcare and Early Years Survey (PDF) showed that 390,000 families were using childminders and 47% of families had used grandparents for informal childcare in the last year. A growing proportion of the adults attending toddler groups are therefore childminders and grandparents, who need different support from young mums.

In addition, the average age of children attending toddler groups is falling, requiring an adjustment to the activities provided by the groups. More and more children are being sent to day-care nurseries from a younger age and the government has pledged to extend childcare provision to more 2-year-olds. 

One of the most effective ways of showing God’s love

Generally, toddler groups are either peer-led or run by retired women. Another result of the ‘return to work’ trend is that groups are seeing a higher turnover of leaders, as leaders who are mums go back to work. This means there is an increase in demand for recruitment and training.

However, despite the challenges these changes bring, church toddler groups remain one of the most effective means that the church has of showing God’s love to non-church families. But every church leader probably does need to bear in mind the following challenges and opportunities:

• The need for more leaders and a rapid turnover of leaders
• The challenge of retaining contact with young mums and dads
• A shorter time-frame to have an impact in the lives of parents as they come to toddler group for a few months rather than a few years
• The potential of offering young mums and dads material to enable them to achieve a good balance between work and home-life

‘Get Connected’ at the Playtime National Conference 2009

Fiona will be hosting ‘Get Connected’, the Playtime National Conference 2009, in Luton on Saturday 19 September.

Come with your toddler group leaders to discover how your church can reach out to families through your group, and overcome the challenges facing toddler groups in today’s changing world.

Visit www.engagetoday.org.uk/playtimeconference to find out more.

Last Updated 27 July 2009