San Diego Mom - Carmel Valley

This site has a number of local playgroup listings, one in Carmel Valley even.  Note these playgroups for some reason are listed under culture/community as Hip Mama groups not under Parenting. 

http://www.meetup.com/cities/?dbCo=us&dbOutsideUsLink=&country=us&zip=92130&go.x=0&go.y=0&go=GO#Parenting 

There are some different categories of playgroups here including playgroups for kids with Autism, working mom groups and single parent groups.  I haven’t personally joined any of these groups so can’t speak to the experience.  But, if there’s a good match for you it seems worth looking into.

 

This is a playgroup where Moms and Kids speak primarily Hebrew.  (Disclosure: this is a program I manage) A great way to provide a Hebrew speaking environment for your little ones.  Ages of the children range from infant/new born to pre-school age.  Mom’s Nights Out each month and family activities keep this a fun, energetic and warm community.

More on the group at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/kishkushim/ and join the list there if you want to be on the reminder list for meeting times, events, etc.   

Meetings are held primarily in private homes and local parks in Carmel Valley, UTC and Encinitas 

The JCC sponsors some amazing playgroups and classes too for new moms.  Here’s the link: http://www.lfjcc.org/shalombaby/

Lauren Morris, (Disclosure: a dear friend) came up with this idea 7 or 8 years ago and the project instantly grew beyond management within the year.  She truly found a gap in our community and filled it.  We owe her a huge debt of grattitude. 

There are groups by age, often times they are not geographically organized though so you need to know you’ll need to travel for playgroup meetings which are usually held in homes, but also include trips with the kids, whatever the group decides they want to do.

Classes offered range from Music Together, to infant message and there is a darling baby book club I’m told as well.  Classes have a fee. Judy Nemzer the main contact now for Shalom Baby is one of the most amazing people you will meet.  The entire Shalom Baby program is first rate.  Don’t miss out on it.

 

 

This resource is a best kept secret.  After your baby is born, contact the Parent Connection Playgroup coordinator (it used to be called Las Madres, and is organized by Scripps Hospital) and ask if there is a playgroup yet for your age group in your area of the City.

I made some of my best friends in San Diego through my children’s play groups.  Of course, it doesn’t always work that way.  Like anything else, you need to attend, meet some people and see if you and your child click with the people.  However, Parent Connection often times has several playgroups in an area based on the same age group, they also offer language oriented groups and even interest/topic groups.

More information on the Parent Connection playgroups here: http://www.scrippshealth.org/Services.asp?ID=228&pID=226  

There is a minimal $20/year fee to become a member of Parent Connection and join a playgroup and they send a handbook each month with discounts and other information as well.  I always felt the $20 was money worth spent as I gained so much in my life and my children’s lives from this group.