Playtime at St. Margaret’s is a parents’ and toddlers’ group that meets every Friday morning during term time in the new parish hall. For the first hour the children play and the parents chat and drink coffee or tea. Then we clear away most of the toys and the children sit down in a circle to eat a biscuit, celebrate any birthdays and listen to the announcements. Afterwards we have a singing time and a puppet show followed by a story for those who want to listen.
Last Christmas we had a travelling crib during Advent and families took the figures and the stable home for one night to read the Christmas story, light a candle and sing a little song. We try to have a tableau and a few carols at the last meeting before Christmas. Our children are too young to take part in a play but it’s amazing how the principal characters seem to recognise how important their roles are. There are always variations, of course, and one year Joseph’s brother insisted on accompanying him and Mary to Bethlehem, resulting in a very full stable! For the last two years we have had a donkey (not a real one) for the children to sit on before Palm Sunday and we have managed to produce some paper palms to wave and shout Hosanna. You can see the full Easter trail elsewhere.
By the time children are three years old they have probably outgrown us and are ready to be more independent at playgroups where they leave their parents behind. Playtime is meant essentially for the parents of toddlers, a place where they can meet together and hopefully find friends. We charge £1 per family per session. Playtime started in 1998 in our old hall. For a short time last year, 2005, we used the church and we are now in the handsome new hall. Our numbers have increased but we have never had to turn anyone away.