Hi,

We will be moving to the Zug area in August with our 2 year old daughter and baby son. I will be at home with the kids while my husband works and hope to join (or establish if we can't find one) an informal play group where the children can play and the parents can talk, share information. I am happy to host at our home (once we are settled) or meet at someone else's home or at the park.

We currently belong to a similar informal group in Australia where we made several friends that we will sorely miss. The kids gained much from the social interaction, and so did the parents (both mums and dads).

Also, after reading about the difficulties and expense of obtaining child care in Switzerland, maybe we could take turns looking after each other's children once or a few times a month? Give us a chance to do hassle free shopping, a romantic evening with the husband, or maybe just some 'me' time...

I'd love to hear of any such informal play group or families wishing to join one. Hope to meet some other families in 2,5 - 3 months.

You might wanna look at this playgroup in Zug/Baar www.imkc.ch I haven't been to it yet.

Valerie

Hello we too are moving to Zug in Mid July and I have a two year old boy. The older two will be at school and I would be on for meeting and swapping children occasionally. We have a similar group here in France and it would be great to organise something similar in Zug. I too will be happy to host at my home... again once we have unpacked!
Good luck with the move
best wishes
Rachel X

Thanks Valerie (MrsClean), the International Mums and Kids Club (www.imkc.ch) looks fantastic, I will definitely check it out once we get settled.

Hi Rachel (Frizzyfinn), good luck with the move - it's such a huge, daunting (but also exciting) task! Hope we can stay in touch and meet once we're both settled.

Cheers,
Jade

Hi Newbie
I too am in the same boat as you. My family will be moving to Zug from Sydney in November, with a 2 year old son and a newborn. We have a great mother's group here and so I would love to find out if you managed to form an informal playgroup or find an existing one in Zug.

Hi Everyone, I will be moving to Zug in September and staying home with our two year old son while husband works. Would LOVE to form/find a playgroup. Sounds like we have the makings of one right here on this thread. I would also be willing to host in my home once we unpack. Perhaps we can get one started with the folks that have replied here and seek other moms/toddlers? Ideas?

There are lots of drop-off playgroups that you sign up for and attend weekly that run for 2.5-3 hours in the mornings or afternoons - just enough time to get a few things done. The IMKC also has weekly age specific play groups (with parent) and have many members.

Leaving your kids at other people's places isn't done here. It is too much work for someone to take care of more kids and especially while trying to keep the noise down. Keeping track of who owes who a night out / afternoon off could also be a nightmare between friends and from people who have tried this before i've heard that some people take advantage. Most areas have a local teenage babysitter. They need to do a Red Cross babysitting course and their rates are CHF 9-15 an hour depending on age. No need to pay AHV for under 18s as well.

I think there may be a slightly different meaning to the word "playgroup" in Switzerland than in the US. The playgroups I have been involved in were basically moms and toddlers hanging out at the host's home or a park... mom's chat over pumpkin bread and coffee (or whatever), kids have an easy snack (fruit and crackers or something) and play together at host's home or the park with host's toys (always more fun to play with some other kid's toys). Usually about 2 hours long in morning... moms take tired kids home for naps. I would definitely NOT be interested in a bunch of moms dropping their kids off at my house for an afternoon of shopping and going to the post office sans kids while I pull my hair out, so that I can expect the same from them on another day. I agree with the previous post... insanity. Is the "hanging out" version along the lines of what others are thinking? In Switzerland, is the word "playgroup" sort of synonymous with "creche" (sp?) or daycare?

Of course... once friendships are established and comfort levels gained... I see absolutely no reason why trading kids for an afternoon would be unwelcomed. I would gladly watch a couple kids for my friend while she shopped and I would hope she would do the same for me. It takes a village! Just wouldn't want to take the whole groups' kids at one time! Yikes!

Hello,
Me and my family have just moved to Zug and we would love to meet up with other mothers and children. My son is 6 month and he really misses his cousins back in Sweden. I will also try to join the IMKC baby group.

My husband and I just moved to the area also and are expecting our first child in September. I would love to get together with new moms and share experiences. From this thread it seems there are plenty of people in this region interested in the same. We should get something started. Oberägeri might be too far a distance for some to get to for informal play groups, but I am more than willing to host as well once we get situated in our new place and with our new baby.

We have also tried to contact the IMKC but unfortunately the replies were not overly welcoming, or we didn't receive a reply at all, even though we tried several times, various people. Kind of weird...

Hi everyone! I am new in Zug as well and I have a 10 month old son that would love to make some new friends. Let’s go to action and start up this playgroup so the kids can have some fun and the mums someone to talk to. Just to get this started a.s.a.p. (and you rest can join when you arrive to Zug) let’s meet at the big metal (brass) thing (small building) that is an ice-cream shop by the ferry place in Zug centre (I am sure that was not totally well explained, but you can’t miss this thing, it’s between the old town and the marina by the lake in the centre of Zug). There the kids can feed the ducks and eat ice-cream and mums can have a coffee. This is just so we can meet up to start this playgroup and plan it further. I suggest Wednesday 15th of August at 11am. Please let me know if this is a good idea or not...

I meant of course WEDNESDAY 12th of AUGUST at 11AM (sorry)

Hi Zugmum,

That's ok for us...we'll be there. I know that little ice cream place by the lake.... I also have a 10 months old son. We've been living in Zug for almost 5 years.
See you there.

Hi Orshi and ZugMom,

I would love to meet up with you next Wednesday as well. I am not expecting until September but would love to meet up with some new moms prior to then. See you next Wednesday!

-Kasp

Hi Kasp!

That is super!!!! Hope you are well and everything is ok with both of you!See you on Wednesday.
Take care!!
Have a great week!
Orshi and Peter

[FONT='Verdana','sans-serif']Hi Orshi and Kasp![/FONT]
[FONT='Verdana','sans-serif']The ducks will be very pleased that we are coming to feed them on Wednesday. Really looking forward to meeting you both. If anyone else wants to meet up at a later stage please just send me a PM so we can let you know what we are up to.[/FONT]

It might also be worth checking out the Zug International womens Club as there is quite a large mum's and kids group. There are also lots of other events that go on that are family orientated too.

www.ziwc.ch

Hi Zugmum and Kasp,

maybe we need a backup plan/place. Just in case if the rain shows up too.
Hope not, but you never know in Switzerland. Or we could meet there and go somewhere together.... depends on the weather...

I am looking forward meeting both of you....
Have a great week.
See you on Wednesday.
Orshi and Peter