Posting Your Playgroup
1. Name your playgroup. This will help make your group unique and will help others identify your playgroup.
2. Add a brief description of your playgroup under your playgroup posting. Make it fun and offer some detail. Members will be able to get more detailed information once they view your playgroup calendar.
3. Select a day and time that you can commit to. Successful playgroups stick to the original day/time posted so try not to switch it. If you post Monday as playgroup, you shouldn't assume that members joining are available on different days of the week.
4. Do NOT post any personal information such as your email address, address, or phone numbers under your posting description. We have reserved a separate "Additional Playgroup Description" box under your "About this Playgroup" page we assign you once your group has been successfully posted called your "Playgroup Portal".
5. If you have a website you would like your members to check out you may add the link within the Playgroup Portal pages. You MUST direct your members to "Join" and, from your playgroup description page, they can proceed on to your website.
What are the Playgroup Portal Pages
The Playgroup Portal pages are the pages Playgroups USA assigns you once your playgroup has successfully posted. You can find these pages on your account page. Each playgroup has a portal box under the "My Playgroups" tab towards the bottom of the page.
Using the Interactive Playgroup Portal Pages
Once you have posted your playgroup, make sure to go in and add information to your group calendar. Every Playgroups USA playgroup has its own, unique calendar that only you and your members have access to! If you leave this area blank, members may think it is an inactive playgroup and join a different one. Also, you may want to get familiar with these pages so you can help your members if they have questions or need assistance.
About This Playgroup Page
This page contains some information from your playgroup posting. It also allows you to add additional playgroup information such as what you expect to accomplish establishing the playgroup, playgroup guidelines, your personal playgroup website, where you meet, etc.
See Guideline Examples
Edit Playgroup
Only Group Leaders can edit the playgroup.
1. Group Leaders can update the playgroup posting and information.
2. Most importantly, this Edit Playgroup' page is where you can change your playgroup status to full or reopen it to accept new members after it automatically closes after 120 days of the date you originally posted it. Your playgroup will continue to close every 120 days thereafter so make sure to check the status of your playgroup regularly.
3. The 'Playgroup Signature Photo or Logo' allows you to personalize your playgroup. This photo will appear to your members on the 'My Account' page within the playgroup information box once they join. This will be your emblem/logo.
4. The 'Members Contact Information' box is where you will find additional contact information about your members. Phone numbers provided can be used as secondary contact information if needed. You can also 'Delete' a member here should they notify you that they are leaving the group or become inactive or unreachable for a length of time.
Delete Group
If you click to 'delete your playgroup', your playgroup will be removed from Playgroups USA entirely and any members that were in your group will no longer be in the group. So, but sure that all members are notified prior to doing this. if you just want to remove yourself or reassign someone else as the Group Leader, please contact us at customerservice@playgroupsusa.com.
Calendar
Post Events:
1. The Group Leader should post the first three to five events once the playgroup has been activated.
2. Once you have at least 5 members, pick the official playgroup start date within a few weeks and direct members to the playgroup calendar for event information.
3. Chose a central location for everyone to meet at. This can be either one of your child's favorite places or a local library, park, play area, etc. (see our city resource pages for places to hold playgroup).
4. Plan for weather by choosing an alternate location. Always post this alternate location with the event so members know where to meet.
Group Messages
1. Be ready to make introductions or to introduce yourself.
2. Communicate playgroup expectations.
3. Discuss the playgroup structure and guidelines.
4. Share playgroup ideas.
5. Get to know one another by giving everyone a chance to speak.
6. Plan Activities.
7. Get support by asking the group question.
8. Just chat.
Photos
1. Add a personal or playgroup photos.
Members Page
Member Profiles:
1. Add information you want to share with the playgroup. This will make introduction much easier and will help you to get to know the members some before you meet. Encourage your members to also complete their profiles.
2. Add a personal photo (optional).
3. 'Email All Members' or individually email a member by clicking on the envelop by the members name.
4. The stars represent how active each member has been with participating in playgroup. Everytime a member RSVP's that they 'will be there' to an event they will receive a star. This is a fun way to encourage participation.
Group Leader Tips: Page 1 | Page 2 | Page 3
