While I try to maintain a friendly disposition the majority of the time, meeting new people can sometimes feel intimidating to me. It takes a lot of effort on my part to strike up conversations with fear of that awkward silence always looming in my subconscious, but nothing can replace that feeling of camaraderie amongst people going through phases of life similar to yours. Here are some ways I’ve managed to create a sense of community when working with children…
Spring / Summer / Fall
I go to an indoor or outdoor class and mingle, mingle, mingle.
Outdoors:
Many of the parks in the NY area are filled during these times of year and the crowds draw in children’s music artists from all over. It’s always fun to join these impromptu ‘classes’ that are usually free or no more than $5/$10. I’ve had the pleasure of meeting a few of these artists like Rock ’n’ Lolo who now perform in set locations throughout the city.
Have you ever been on the High Line in Chelsea? During the warmer months they host a ton of events for children of all ages. I’ve successfully segued fun on the Line to lunch and a playdate in the park numerous times.
Playgrounds with sand pits and sprinklers are perfect for finding families or caregivers to bond with. My personal favorite is Pier 6 in Brooklyn where food (pack a picnic or grab some Fornino’s pizza) and fun, two of the greatest ways to bond, exist. The city has created a beautiful escape there with beautiful views to bicycle past, grassy lawns to spread out a blanket and picnic on, and lots of classic park favs to enjoy like the hidden swing area, the mini water park, sandpits with huge jungle gyms and trains, and a volleyball court. Feel free to invite other families to hang out with you and share a snack.
Indoors:
The NY Public Library has a number of Baby Story Times, Toddler Story Times / Playtimes, Baby Tummy Times, Arts/Crafts, and Lego Block sessions for older kiddos. I can’t begin to tell you how many lovely people I’ve met through these classes, exchanged numbers, and hosted playgroups with. Check with your local library for upcoming classes.
Playgroups run by nearby businesses are also great ways to meet new people from here and abroad. Wild Was Mama, a maternity shop in Greenpoint, Brooklyn dedicated to providing a wide variety of items for new parents, hosts two weekly playgroup sessions ($5/child) on Mondays and Fridays starting at 12:30pm. I love that families and caregivers from varied backgrounds come together in this sizable space to kick back, laugh, play, and talk about their most recent adventures with their little ones or about life in general.
Winter
Winter-time can sometimes feel like the universe’s way of saying I hate you when winds are whipping, ice-rain is falling, and your home feels like a prison after days stuck inside. When the outdoors seems anything but welcoming and I’m feeling stir-crazy …
All of the relationships I’ve built during the warmer months come in handy during the winter. Apartments are small in the city so I usually get in contact with all of the nannies and parents I know and create playgroups based on location. We typically meet in groups of 5 adults plus their children once or twice a week. If anyone lives in a building with an enclosed lounge/play area that is accessible to tenants we usually use that space once a week for a bigger playgroup and alternate playdate locals the other day chosen. Lately, we’ve made a concerted effort to make these playgroup sessions more balanced by incorporating a story-time, and sing a few songs in addition to free playtime. When I host in apartments, I love to add light snacks to make everyone feel at home. For example, hot cocoa/tea, fresh fruit, fresh bread with butter, pretzels/cocoa wafers, or mini bottles of water are great ways to bring everyone together.
What are your favorite things to do to make the most of each season? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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