Play Groups
RIE®-Inspired Infant and Toddler Play Groups
Ages ~2 months to ~28 months
8-week session – $220
These groups are 1-part parent support group, 1-part uninterrupted free play for your child, and 1-part guidance and education on early childhood development. You will have the opportunity to connect with other parents and witness all the incredible learning your child does through play.
The babies and toddlers are allowed to explore all materials at their own pace and according to their interests. Parents are invited to closely observe their child’s exploration and discovery. I will use our time to demonstrate how to respectfully set and hold boundaries, model how to encourage autonomy and self-regulation, and use the setting to discuss common areas of concern, including: developmental milestones, sleep, feeding, tantrums, social skills, play, attachment, and much more.
You will likely find these groups to be slow-moving, calming, almost meditative. This is intentional. As Magda Gerber said, “Do less. Observe more. Enjoy most.”
What other families are saying:
“Sarah’s playgroups are one of the best parts of my week, where I not only get to spend quality time with my son, but I enjoy watching him grow and interact with other kids, and I find community with other parents. Sarah’s guidance and counsel on the parenting journey is invaluable along the way, so I can best support my son’s development in ways that benefit him. I’d recommend these groups to any parent. “- Adam
“The play groups are so unique and special. It’s been such an invaluable resource with so many things including helping my child open up more and learn, helping me learn from not only Sarah but other parents as well, allowing me time to observe and get to know my child deeply, and giving me the ability to connect and chat with other parents in a small group setting. I love this group and Sarah so much!” – Molly
“I’m incredibly thankful for discovering Raised with Respect and Sarah. I initially came across this playgroup on Instagram but was hesitant to sign up. Looking back, I wish I had joined earlier when I had first learned about the program. Sarah is an exceptional leader who exudes kindness, gentleness, and a remarkable responsiveness to both the toddlers and parents in the group. I truly value her insightful guidance and appreciate the valuable perspectives shared by other parents when it comes to dealing with challenging toddler behaviors. Implementing strategies rooted in the RIE philosophy has made a positive impact on our home life. It’s one thing to read about these techniques in a book, but witnessing them being applied in real-time with your child is completely different. “- Lydia
The Details:
- Each group meets weekly from 60 – 90 minutes (varies by cohort). Parent(s)/caregiver(s) attend with their child.
- Children are grouped according to their stage of motor development and approximate age.
- Families join for an 8-week series (see dates below). Refunds are given if I have to cancel a session but not for absences. Each group is capped at 6 families.
- The cost is $220 for the 8-week session. If this is not feasible for you, please reach out to me.
Registration for the Winter 2025 Series:
Registration for the winter 2025 play group series will open to current families on Tuesday, December 17th and to wait-list families on Wednesday, December 18th, 2024.
Any remaining spots will be open to the public on Thursday, December 19th, 2024.
Play Group Schedule
| Cohort | Day | Time | Fall 2024 Play Group Series Dates | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Young Infants (~2 to 6 months) This group is for pre-mobile babies who spend most of their time on their backs. They might be starting to roll onto their side or their belly or “sundialing”. | Thursday | 3:00pm – 4:00pm | Jan 9 Jan 16 Jan 23 Jan 30 Feb 6 Feb 13 Feb 20 Feb 27 | Registration opens Dec 18 to wait-list families |
| Rollers and Crawlers (~6 to 12 months) This group is for mobile babies. They might be rolling to move, “inch-worming”, crawling, or other creative movement. (If your baby is pulling to stand and starting to cruise, the Cruisers and Walkers group will be a better fit). | Friday | 10:15am – 11:30am | Jan 10 Jan 17 Jan 24 Jan 31 Feb 7 Feb 14 Feb 21 Feb 28 | Registration opens Dec 18 to wait-list families |
| Cruisers and Walkers (~10 to 16 months) This group is for babies who are turning into toddlers. They might be cruising (walking while holding onto furniture), beginning walkers, or confident walkers, and are typically still on a 2 nap schedule. | Thursday | 10:30am – 12:00pm | Jan 9 Jan 16 Jan 23 Jan 30 Feb 6 Feb 13 Feb 20 Feb 27 | Registration opens Dec 18 to wait-list families |
| Toddlers (~16 to 22 months) This group is for toddlers who are walking most, if not all, of the time and have transitioned to a 1 nap schedule. | Thursday | 8:30am – 10:00am | Jan 9 Jan 16 Jan 23 Jan 30 Feb 6 Feb 13 Feb 20 Feb 27 | Registration opens Dec 18 to wait-list families |
| Older Toddlers (~22 to 28 months) This group is for full blown toddlers. | Friday | 8:15am – 9:45am | Jan 10 Jan 17 Jan 24 Jan 31 Feb 7 Feb 14 Feb 21 Feb 28 | Registration opens Dec 18 to wait-list families |
Please select the group that most closely matches your child’s current mobility skills (or age for the older groups). You might also want to consider temperament, social skills, and cognitive development if your child is borderline age wise.
There is always going to be a bit of an assortment of abilities in each group and that’s great!
If you’re not quite sure, please reach out, and I can help!
Cost
When registering, you are registering for a full 8-week series (see dates above). Refunds are given if I have to cancel a session but not for absences.
| Package | Cost |
|---|---|
| 8-Week Series | $220 |
If you have twins or triplets or for sliding scale payment options, please contact me.
Location
503 Remington St. Suite 04 | Fort Collins, CO
When you enter the main door, go straight and then down the stairs on the right. Suite 04 is in the middle of the hall on the left side. You are welcome to park in the parking spots on the side and behind the building. There is also ample street parking on Remington or Myrtle.
Play Group Illness Policy
If you or your child has had a fever, diarrhea, and/or vomiting in the 24 hours before your scheduled play group, you need to stay home.
For other lingering cold symptoms, I ask that you use your best judgement and be considerate of the other families. Colds happen, but let’s do our best to keep everyone has healthy as possible.
I am not able to provide refunds for missed classes. If I am sick or need to cancel a class, I will provide refunds for that class.
Thank you!
Ready to join a play group?
