It’s not hyperbole to say that, at times, raising a baby or toddler can be a battle. But when there’s little or no practical support available, the job can be doubly hard. This is why parent-baby groups are as popular now as they were before the digital age.
But the Internet has changed something in this regard: The ease at which activity organisers & parents can find community spaces for hire.
We’re joined by Conveenie, who are here to talk about the things to consider and where to start when looking for a community venue. If you’re thinking of starting a group to bring your fellow parents and their children together, there are plenty of essential tasks to think about. From finding a venue to finding attendees, you’ll need to be super organised if you’re going to create a successful event.
Tips For Finding A Great Venue For Your Baby & Toddler Classes
Choose A Community Venue
With so much to do, it’s a good idea to create a to-do list before you do anything. And right at the top of that list should be venue hire. Think about how you’re going to use the space to ensure you choose the right community space for your parent-baby group.
- Is there enough space for everyone – and the planned activities? If we know one thing about young children, they thrive when they have lots of space to explore.
- Does the venue come with the necessary amenities, such as WiFi, seating, AV equipment, accessible toilets, and kitchen facilities?
- Is there sufficient parking available? Or can people reach the venue by public transport?
- Does a booking provide sufficient set-up and clear-up time? Babies and toddlers create mess…lots of mess!
- Does the venue’s per-hour booking fee suit your budget?
If you were to search all the local venues in your area – using all of the criteria listed above – you’d spend more time on your search than ensuring the parents and their little ones have a great time. There’s now an easy-to-use alternative to searching Google. Conveenie is a one-stop-shop for community space venue hire, and it has the potential to save you time, effort, and money. Simply choose your area and filter results by space types, event types, amenities, ratings, parking availability, and more.
If you’re not sure exactly where the venue is, change to Map View for an accurate location. Once you find the ideal space, choose your date, time, and whether your booking is one-off or recurring. Conveenie calculates the booking fee and allows you to add extras like a kitchen or stage. After payment, you can deal directly with the venue’s admin staff. So, instead of spending valuable time manually searching Google for community spaces, focus on creating fun experiences for children and giving parents a well-deserved break. If arranging community hall hire takes just a few minutes, you can spend more time planning your group’s activities and growing your community.
Gather Essential Supplies
Once you have a room and a plan for activities, make a detailed list of all the amenities, equipment, and supplies you’re going to need for a successful parent-baby group. Yes, you’ll need chairs and tables, but it’s important to think of everything in advance. Equipment and supplies to source include:
- Furniture (often supplied by the venue)
- Toys
- Arts and crafts materials
- Mats
- Books
- Refreshments (every great parent-baby group has a plentiful supply of tea and coffee!)
- Music
Of course, this list isn’t exhaustive. Create a timeline of activities for your event, and your list of supplies should write itself!
Set A Schedule And Format
Decide how often your group will meet and structure sessions with a mix of free play, group activities, and social time for parents. Parents are busy! They have lots to do, so structure, certainty, and a fixed schedule are essential. Whether you meet once a week or once a month, creating a tight schedule and structure will maximise your attendance.
Spread The Word
Promote your new group through social media, local noticeboards, nurseries, and word-of-mouth to attract parents and build a supportive community. Don’t get disheartened if you don’t attract the numbers you’d hoped for. The best parent-baby groups grow organically over time. Just make sure you maintain high standards, and word of mouth will do the rest!
Establish Basic Guidelines
Set simple rules for safety, attendance, and shared responsibilities (e.g., tidying up, snack contributions) to keep the group organised and welcoming for all. Create a document to communicate your rules and guidelines, and distribute paper and digital copies. Compiling an email list from day one will help streamline your communications.
Have Fun Together
Remember: You’re all in this together – parents AND children! While staying on top of administrative tasks is essential, it’s important to never lose sight of what you’re trying to accomplish. Have fun, nurture connections, and build a community!
This post is part of a collaboration with Conveenie. This collaboration will go towards helping more parents find classes and support near them.
Are You A Member With Happity?
As a part of your Happity Memberships, you can gain access to our Venue Finder -a place where you can find all the venues that are already listed with Happity and are (or have previously) run baby and toddler classes at. Find out about more features with a Happity Membership here
Class provider? Let us help.
With 2.6m parents using Happity, we are the UK’s most-loved platform for finding baby and toddler classes.
Whether you want help reaching more families, need a booking system, or are just getting started, we’re here to support your journey.