Practical ideas for creating a warm welcome

Unlike 'instant whip' there's no step-by-step recipe for creating a friendly, welcoming toddler group. People are individuals and different things will make them feel at home. The best welcome is always one that is real, prayerful and rooted in love. However, here are a few thoughts on some practical ways that you may be able improve yours:

1. Focus on the newcomers

First impressions really do count because if people don't feel welcomed (or worse still, feel excluded by cliques) during their first session, then they are unlikely to come back. It's worth thinking about how you can make that first experience as friendly and helpful as possible.

The easiest time to identify newcomers is when they come to register. Many groups make it the responsibility of the person taking the register to check if someone has been before. If they identify a newcomer then they can take their contact details and provide them with a 'welcome pack'. If your toddler group does not already have one of these then it is a great idea to put one together. Not only should it provide them with everything they need to know about your group but it gives them something to look at if they should find themselves alone for a while. Include some information on the group, what you do during the session and any rules that you have. It's a great idea to add a copy of 'Smalltalk' Issue 5 'Are you new here?'. You can download back-copies of the 'Smalltalk' newsletters from the archive on the Playtime website.

The person taking the register should then introduce them to someone who has the time to show them around (where the toilets are), tell them what to expect (any special arrangements for song time or craft) and introduce them to some of the other people in the group. This could be another leader or one of the friendlier parents and ideally will be someone that they have something in common with so that they can sit and chat for a while. Once you create a culture of being a 'friendly' group then hopefully the 'regulars' will value this and welcoming newcomers will become a natural part of the way that the group functions.

2. Focus on the regulars

If one of your team is particularly gifted at remembering names and faces then try to relieve them of other duties and nominate them to be your 'welcomer'. They can identify newcomers, greet people by name and spot any mums who are looking lonely or in need of a little tlc. If you stand the welcomer outside and the person taking the register inside, then people will have been greeted by at least two people before they even sit down!

With larger groups it's impossible to build deep friendships with everybody so pray for just a few of the families. If each leader 'adopts' different families then hopefully everyone will be befriended. Real friends share their joys and sorrows. Make time to listen, remember birthdays (adults as well as children) and celebrate special occasions, such as the birth of a baby, together.

3. Focus on the children

This might seem obvious but it is easy to greet the adults and overlook the children. Mums love it when someone takes the time to greet their children and help them into the dressing-up clothes. Also, since you are expecting people to bring babies and toddlers to the group then make sure that you are equipped for them! How about somewhere to park the pushchairs, a breastfeeding area, a bottle-warmer, changing facilities, a potty and a small step by the sink (or even a children's height toilet and wash basin)? I am sure that you can think of other ideas too... or why not ask the mums what else they need.

4. Focus on the toilets

Carers with nappies to change and children to potty train spend a lot of time in the toilets. It goes without saying that they need to be clean but could you combat the smell of dirty nappies with a nappy disposal unit and an industrial air-freshner? Or add a few special touches to make them really welcoming. Nice soap, handcream and some tissues. And keep a few nappies and wipes in, as well as some spare pants and trousers so that no-one needs to go home simply because they have been caught out.

5. Focus on the refreshments

Whilst we do not necessarily need to compete with Starbucks and other high-class coffee houses I think that they have raised the bar as far as making people feel welcome is concerned. I know that most mums are grateful for a cup of hot coffee and a rich tea biscuit but some groups make them feel really loved with a filter coffee and a slice of homemade cake. Similarly I know of groups where they have listened to parental concerns about squash and now offer diluted fruit juice, milk or water as alternatives. And lots of groups are showing that they care for the children by offering healthy snacks instead of biscuits.

6. Be friendly

It helps if people know your name. If you are embarrassed to approach someone without knowing their name then they probably are too! I hate wearing a name badge but it does make you far more approachable. Some toddler groups have even had T-shirts printed so that the leaders can be picked out easily. This also helps with safeguarding issues.

A smile is understood by all nationalities! Who wouldn't want to be known as the 'smiley lady' from the toddler group?

7. Visit another group

My final suggestion for making your group more welcoming is to see how other groups do it. Why not go along to another one? If you don't have any pre-schoolers yourself then you may need to 'borrow' one to help with the disguise! It will help you to understand the hurdles that have to be overcome for someone to come to your group for the first time, get you thinking of ways that you can eliminate or reduce the size of the obstacles and possibly even give you some great ideas that you can 'steal' for your own group.

If you choose a local group to visit then you can introduce yourself at the end and possibly set up links between the two groups. You may find that if you meet on different days that you actually 'share' several of the families as many children will attend more than one toddler group. Why not meet together regularly to share ideas and pray?

Last Updated 06 December 2010