Our Playgroups are loosely structured and include free play, circle time & snack. The adults get to chat, relax a bit, see what toys their child may be interested in, learn some parenting tips and tricks from staff and each other and observe their child with other children.
Children gain the foundation of skills across all ECE domains as they play, especially the most important social-emotional.
Most importantly, they provide a unique opportunity for children and adults to play, learn, and socialize TOGETHER.

One Grandmother who had been coming to playgroup with her grandson who is 18 months old for only a few months shared, "The family was amazed that as soon as I started singing the 'clean up' song, Ryan started putting his toys away without a fuss!"

One Mother states, "As a work-from-home mom I love how rooted my sons and I now are within the neighborhood. We are developing lasting friendships and our big city life often feels like a smaller tight-knit community. We love Ms. Teri!"

One stay-at-home Father said, "Teri is the 'grandma' of 'Grandma's Garden,' the 'My' of 'By My Side,' the 'hippie grandma' Fishtown didn't even know it needed but so did. She's the matriarch of all of the child-serving activities buzzing up from By My Side Neighborhood Parenting program and its fruitful relationship with Atonement Lutheran Church."

 We ask folks to help defray some of our costs by contributing a suggested donation of $5 per Playgroup.  
No one is ever turned away for lack of money!!