Spotlight on Community Groups with Pip
Hi everyone, I’m Pip, Community Group Co-ordinator at Spoons, and I run a fair few of the group sessions.
I want to delve a bit deeper into our groups, to let you know what they’re all about and what you can expect if you join…
All of the groups are free of charge, very informal and are about providing a safe space where families can spend time together, and hopefully develop relationships with other parents and babies. We have lots on offer, to find the latest dates and times for sessions, head to our events page on the website.
Here’s a spotlight on a few of the groups…
Baby massage is a great way to spend time bonding with your baby, and helps with (the baby’s) digestion. It gives everyone a chance to relax. We start with introducing ourselves, a quick breathing exercise, we then move on to having a good stretch and finally we do the baby massage. There is always plenty of time after the massage to have a good chin wag and catch up.
“Myself and the twins have been attending baby massage for a number of weeks. It’s a great introduction to baby class life regardless of what age you are starting your journey outside of NICU. I’ve found it relaxed and welcoming. The class is led at your baby’s pace and it’s nice to be with people who have had similar experiences. Pip is supportive and welcoming.” – Heather
Little Cruisers takes place most Fridays over the summer at Heaton Park, North Manchester. It’s a chance to get out and blow those cobwebs away (I know the fresh air definitely helps my mental health). We usually end up walking around a mile, but stop along the way for a chat, drink, play and look at the animals. Quite often the little ones will have their lunch, and the grown ups will grab a bite too (the sausage rolls are heavenly). Little Cruisers is slightly different from the other groups in the respect that there is a chance to chat side by side rather than face to face. This is often easier for people (especially when sharing personal experiences).
“Little Cruisers is fantastic for both Mum and baby. It’s the best of both worlds. We love getting out and about, exercising, and talking with other parents who understand the struggles and how different each journey is. The walks are fantastic for physical and mental health, not to mention seeing the babies enjoy the environment, along with giving them the chance to interact and play. We have been a part of Little Cruisers since it began and I can honestly say it’s been amazing support and fantastic to watch my son grow and develop. He loves getting to play with his friends, see the animals, and have a change of scenery. Thank you Spoons.” – Amanda
Stay and Play always has a theme (I’ll try to reign in my animal obsessions… after July)! It is an unstructured session which has a variety of toys in the middle. It gives children a chance to play and parents a chance to play and chat. There are biscuits and hot and cold drinks on offer too!
Sing and Shake is all about the fun! It is organised chaos! We have a multitude of instruments and props involved, and it can get rather loud! It is non-stop, but I love it! Yet again, we have free drinks and snacks available for everyone.
“We love sing and shake, Pip is amazing and has Suri hooked from beginning to end! We are so grateful to have a weekend session that all three of us can attend together as a family, and love seeing Suri come out of her shell with all the dancing.” – Stacie
I’m looking forward to seeing you all at the groups. Please do get in touch if you’d like to have a chat or find out more: [email protected].
