Toddler Group back in full swing
The new year of the Kilcullen Toddler Group has got under way and current leader Niamh Byrne wants to make sure that everyone who has need of it knows about it, writes Brian Byrne. Anyone looking after a toddler can come to the Wednesday morning sessions.
In addition to offering the youngsters an hour and a half in a different environment from home, meeting and playing with other children, the mornings are very social for the grownups who look after them. "They can be parents, grandparents, child-minders, all are welcome. The children can play and the adults can chat and have a cup of tea or coffee."
The original group was founded by local librarian Julie O'Donoghue and Susan McGuirk in the 1990s, and today it caters for up to 30 little ones. A grant from the Kildare County Childcare Committee covers acquiring new toys, rent, and insurance. Voluntary donations from those attending keep the tea and biscuits flowing.
A key part of keeping the group going is the availability of volunteers, and over the decades this has sometimes caused difficulties. "While all the children brought here will have a parent or guardian with them, we also need people to help us run the morning," says Niamh, who manages the current operation with fellow mums Aine and Rachel. "If we don't have at least two helpers, we can't hold the session." The work includes keeping the toddlers amused and safe, organising distribution of toys, and helping with tea and biscuits for the adults through the morning.
This year, for the first time, Transition Year students from CPC are helping out, under the TY Community Initiative module. Groups of three will rotate duties ... and it seems there was no shortage of volunteers when the call was made by CPC TY Coordinator Glenda Groome.
Even after their first session of the new term, they are described as being 'a big help'. For Roisin Munnelly on last Wednesday's cohort, the gig called to her intrinsic love of volunteering in any area. "And I just love going around the room with the children anyway." Luke Duffy was the young man in the initial trio, and he was pre-primed into the initiative because "my aunt has two little ones, and they're so cute." For Nita Murape it appealed to her 'love of kids anyway'. "I've had experience of looking after little ones and I just love it, and also I'm doing it for the community."
From Niamh Byrne's perspective, she was impressed how the three students 'just got stuck in' when they arrived. "It was really nice, I even had time to have a cup of coffee and not be running around like a lunatic."
