In print for more than sixteen years, The Playgroup Handbook has helped thousands of parents organize and run playgroups for their preschool children. This thoroughly revised and updated edition is even more useful to any parent considering playgroups as a child care option.Playgroups give you a direct role in planning your child's activities as you meet and work with other parents. And children enjoy the personal attention and the friendships they build as they play and learn in a playgroup. The Playgroup Handbook helps you to form a playgroup that's right for you and your preschooler. It includes:Step-by-step guidelines for organizing a group: planning sessions, materials, safety, scheduling, what to expect from the children, and moreDozens of seasonal and non-seasonal activities--art, cooking, games, music, exercise, science, trips, woodworking, storytelling--to perform with inexpensive materials and a minimum of preparationAn appendix on how to start a playgroup for profit, with a list of organizations to contact for more information on family day care.