Since her daughter Maya was born, UC Davis administrative assistant Monica Steinhart has been hoping to form a campus-based playgroup for the now 2-year-old to attend. Maya would surely benefit from the experience, a chance to interact and learn with other pre-schoolers, but so would her mother.
Steinhart, who works in the Office of Administration, imagines that Maya would participate in the group when her Jewish pre-school is closed for holidays, but mom has to work.
"It gives me the flexibility to come in and get some work done," Steinhart said.
Last week she began making connections with parents sharing the same interests. The city of Davis holds a quarterly playgroup meeting designed to help parents and their kids find a setting right for them. And for the first time in years, UC Davis Child Care and Family Services co-hosted a playgroup orientation meeting with the city.
"The city runs the program, but the campus certainly benefits," said Barbara Ashby, director of UC Davis' childcare program.
About 15 parents - UC Davis students, employees and their spouses - and children attended the session.
Matt Guilfoil, who also works in the Office of Administration, hoped to find a group for 5-year-old Amanda, who just started kindergarten, and 4-month old Steven.
"We don't get to see Amanda's activities at school," said Guilfoil, whose fiancée Tania Brady works at the UC Davis Medical Center. "With a playgroup we can see how (the children) interact and grow."
He also wanted to find a group that would begin to teach young Steven about the differences that exist among children.
"He'd understand that the world is all not one color," Guilfoil said.
During the noontime session, Davis child care supervisor Robbie Townsley offered some tips for parents interested in forming playgroups, which often meet in parks or family homes. While kids, being kids, generally are happily playing with whoever's available, parents need to be sure they share the same philosophy before forming a group, she said.
Questions parents might ask include:
- Why do you want to join a playgroup?
- What kinds of activities do you want to include?
- Where will it happen?
- When will it meet?
- What about costs?
- What will be the policies on emergencies?
Parents should also think about limiting the size of the group to six or eight youngsters, Townsley said.
"Think of six 1-year-olds in your living room," she said, looking down at five infants and toddlers scrambling around on the floor below her.
Steinhart, who heads the Chancellor's Childcare Advisory Committee, hopes that the meeting will set a good precedent for UC Davis.
"It shows that the campus is putting a great emphasis on the work-life issues they are trying to tackle," she said.
Parents who missed last week's orientation can call the city of Davis' Child Care Services Resource and Referral program at (530) 752-5695.
The department maintains lists of existing playgroups in Davis who are looking for new members and can help connect parents throughout Yolo County who are interested in forming new groups.