I used to host a weekly playgroup at my local church when my kids were much smaller. Right from the start, the 'founding' moms and I agreed on a set of basic rules so that everyone would be on the same page. It helped a lot as the group got bigger and we added moms that were very different from us! I think the oldest child we had was 4 so these are definitely preschool type rules! Also, please take into consideration that we lived in an area where fire ants were very bad and kids often developed impetigo on their feet or legs from scratching the bites. References to open sores usually meant those infected, localized sores that inevitably happened in the summer. These were the rules, please cut and paste or edit to fit your own needs!

Attendance- Do NOT come to playgroup if you or your child has: fever, green or yellow goo oozing from anywhere, wet, raspy, or otherwise 'productive' cough, open sores or pox, (call the other moms if you're having a pox party!) Any other ailment that your Dr. said is contagious.

Please come anyway if you or your child has: clear runny nose or dry cough due to allergies, scabbed over pox, bandaged sores that are not otherwise contagious, any virus or ailment that your Dr. says is no longer contagious, has been fever free for at least 24 hours.

Behavior- If you bring a toy, your child must be willing to share it. Please leave special non-shared loveys and blankets at home or in the car or stashed in the diaper bag. Understand that kids this age don't understand why they can see something but not play with it! If hosting a playgroup at your house, please put away, and out of sight any toy your child doesn't want to share and expect that anything left out is fair game for playing. Kids are encouraged to share toys, within reason. If there are squabbles about toys we will resort to parent enforced 3-5 minute turns. If turns aren't working, the offending toy will be removed from the play area.

Snacks- If you bring a snack, please bring enough to dole out a little bit to all the kids. Kids are moochers and while we'd all like our kids to be tactful and polite, once they see your stash of cheerios, they will ask for some! If your child is allergic to a food PLEASE let the other moms know so we don't unwittingly hand your peanut allergic child a peanut butter cracker! Snacking in our playgroup often resembles feeding the pigeons! If you don't want your child to have a snack please speak up so we can keep the snacks under wraps.