Life Cycle of Las Madres Playgroups

Las Madres was formed in 1953 by a group of women in a Palo Alto childbirth class.

The main purpose of Las Madres is to provide a network of neighborhood playgroups for those with children born in the same year.

Although the Playgroups remain the heart of Las Madres, today we have evolved into much more.

Year 0 – Forming Playgroup: How does a Playgroup start?

• Each Playgroup is started by and mentored by the Big Sisters, who are volunteer moms from other Playgroup years.

• The Big Sisters initially hold park days and other playdates for new members.

• By mid to late summer, most of the fledgling playgroups are ready to start running the group on their own.
  

• By early fall, each new Playgroup, with the help of its Big Sisters, should have had a mom’s night out, a planning meeting with some playgroup new officers in place, and most likely is meeting for playdates more than once a month.

• The Big Sisters also guide the new groups on how to set up other Playgroup specific support programs like babysitting co-ops, sit-n-play groups, sunshine support, and so forth.

• Every playgroup operates independently of one another, so how active they are is entirely up to its membership. Every member is encouraged to contribute ideas and energy to make it a worthwhile adventure for everyone.

• Once a majority of the playgroups have setup their playgroup officers, the Big Sisters will bring the new Playgroups together and form a Club.
  
  
• The Big Sisters host an all-playgroup family event and will facilitate the first board meeting for the Club.
  
  
• The Club provides communication and support for building strong playgroups. The Club meetings are open to any interested playgroup member, but the attendance of the Playgroup Directors is critical.

Year 1 – Growing Stronger

• The Playgroups usually find the membership doubling this year.
  
  
• The playgroups tend to increase activities and activity diversity.
  
  
• Each playgroup will find its own personality and will need to tailor its functions and volunteer roles to fit its needs.
  
  
• The playgroup must maintain a balance, and support its own members with education, emotional support, and fun.

• This year it is important to educate the members about all the benefits of being a Las Madres member so they understand that they are a part of a much larger organization.
  
  

Year 2 – Continuing to Grow and Paying it Forward

• As the playgroup children begin to turn two, more families join the playgroups that have older children in other Las Madres playgroups.
  
  
• Children will drop to one nap and some will start attending preschool so playgroups may find they need to shift activity days and times.
  
  
• Home and park playdates may still be a central focus of the group, with other activities occurring such as family events and Mom's Night Out. Local trips to places such as Happy Hollow and Children’s Discovery Museum are often popular.
  

• This year is the year that your Playgroup and Club are the majority of the volunteers for the Big Sisters to help start another new year of playgroups.
  
  
• This is also the year that may bring a change in volunteers or a change in leadership, so the playgroup needs to continue recruiting volunteers and remaining flexible to meet the playgroups’ needs.
  

Year 3 – Sharing Changes

• In the third year, many children attend preschool.The playgroups may have to change how they plan group activities and manage themselves.
  
  
• Mom’s activities may become more popular. Playgroups may plan some local outings and field trips as a group.
  
  
• New families will continue to hear about Las Madres and join the playgroups and although friendships in the group are quite strong at this point, the groups must maintain a warm welcome to new members from our communities.
  
  
• Many volunteers change roles to stay refreshed or move on to serve at a Club or Executive Board level.

Year 4 & 5: Giving Back and Growing up!

• For the fourth and fifth year, more of the children attend preschool.
  
  
• In the fifth year, sharing and preparing for the next life milestone of starting kindergarten occurs.
  
  
• Many playgroups focus on the friendships and bonds that the moms have fostered.
  
  
• New moms to Las Madres and the area may continue to join the playgroup so it is important that playgroups stay active as a community resource to welcome these families.

Beyond Year 5:

• Clubs remain active until the end of the year in which most children turn five and start Kindergarten.
  
  
• Clubs remain active as long as there are the basic required officers in place and there is at least one playgroup interested in remaining active.
  
  
• If all groups feel it is time to "go alum", then certain steps are taken to close the playgroups and clubs’ activities down.
  
  
• Many Playgroups remain in contact with each other and continue to plan activities together for many years after their children start school.
  
  
• Alumni playgroup members can still participate in the broader Executive Level activities of Las Madres by continuing with an Alumni membership.