Hi, I am trying to find an English playgroup or kindergarden in Affoltern am Albis area (including Zwillikon, Hedingen, etc.). I know there are not too many expats in this area, but a neighbour told me that there is an English speaking playgroup in Zwillikon, unfortunately I can not find any details.
My daughter is almost 2,5 y. and I would love to expose her to more English.
Many thanks in advance for your feedback, Inga

Inga, I am also looking for an English speaking playgroup in the Hedingen area...but I am having no luck so far. My daughter is 2 yrs old. Think we may have to look further a field... perhaps Zug.
Not much help that was it ! Sorry! Rachael

Have you guys tried asking at the Müzi in Affoltern am Albis? It's near the roundabout at Krönenplatz. They are the ones who know what is going on regarding playgroups etc.

Thanks Lou, will give them a call. Best wishes
Rachael

Rachael/Iingam,
We moved to Obfelden about a year ago and my wife is a qualified pre-school teacher and prior to that worked as a nanny, you might want to meet up and talk about a solution to your problem, she has been working as a tagesmutter for the last few months once a week and would like to take on more kids. she is back in the UK at the moment but you could all meet up at the Muzi once she is back on the 27 june.
Rgds FBS

oh i forgot to mention that we have a 16mt old son..
and Lou this could be intresting for your babysiting issue.
Rgds FBS

Thanks for the information, I am definitely very interested in the English speaking Tagesmutter, I will contact you at the end of June, we just got a baby a week ago, Kind regards, Inga

Hi, hey that's really interesting. I called the Muzi today and they said there were no English speaking playgroups in the area..and would I like to set one up myself! I'm not quite ready for that and not qualified either! But maybe your wife? They told me there is a recognised course to be a Spielgruppe Leiterin- costs around 1'700.- and you have to attend 13 days on the course. Anyway that aside, I would appreciate to meet up with your wife when she is back. We could, as you say meet at the Muzi for a coffee. I'll drop you a line after the 27th. Many thanks! Rachael

Rachael/Iingam,
Thats great I let my wife sort out a time with you both when she gets back.
Rgds FBS

Hi,
I will be in the hospital next week, hope to able to join your meeting in July. We are looking for the good child doctor in the area, may be you could recommend us someone? Many thanks in advance, Inga

The local kids doctor in Affoltern a. A., Dr Vontobel, was excellent but unfortunately he was killed in a gliding accident a couple of months ago. Another paediatrician came out of retirement to cover the practice, he is called Dr Fontanella, he is really great with kids but I have no idea how long he will be there for. The practice is still under the name Vontobel & is located on Zurichstrasse in the town center.

Hi everyone, I have just rented a house in Affoltern Am Albis and will be moving from London, in 3 weeks. I have got 2 children, 4 and 2 years old. I am also very keen on getting a Taggesmutter and Kindergarten for them asap. I also very interested in whatever plans and arrangements being made. Please let me know what next to do as I have never lived in CH before and only visited for the first time last weekend to rent a place.

Thanks, J.

Also, this link could be helpful - http://www.doctor.ch/

The choice of paediatricians is limited to the one practice in Affoltern a.A. The next nearest one is in Wetswil. If you are looking for local Doctors then a good website is Albisdocs.

I am also moving to Switzerland for the first time next week - a big leap into the unknown. We will be renting a house in Hombrechtikon - no idea how to get around the city yet. I have a 5 year old son (6 in September) who is really into spiderman, power-rangers and all the boys stuff, and a three year old daughter. We are hoping to enrol both of them into local kindergarten and playgroups to pick up some of the language.

Any tips or advice warmly received!

Hi Rachael
I wonder if you found an English speaking playgroup in the area? We have almost 3 years old daughter who desperately needs a playgroup / Tagesmutter. We live in Jonen (near Ottenbach, Obfelden), apparently Jonen got an English playgroup but for older kids. Michelle goes once a week into a Swiss kindergarden but we would like her to spend more time with English kids.
Thanks you very much in advance for sharing information / experiences
Inga
mom to 2 y.9m. Michelle and 3,5 m. Thomas

Hello everybody,

my name is Silvia and I moved in august in Aesch near Birmensdorf from London. I was so used to playgroups there with my 2 years old son that now I'm really missing that, even though in London is not as complicated as here: you just needed to pop up to almost any church with a pound!
Anyway, so far I focused my attention on Birmensdorf but now I'm realizing there's much more expat in Affoltern. I already know an american lady with a 3 and 6 years old sons from there but the youngest had an accident and is in the hospital now.
I noticed your chats were in july, so I'm wondering if you made anything out of it... My son goes to the nursery weds, thus and frids so we are available mondays and tuesdays and weekends of course (with dads..).
I'm looking forward to hearing from any of you.

ciao

Hi there,
When you reply to posts which interest you, it is an excellent idea to check the date of the post, and the date when the writer was last on-line.
The posts you are answering were written in 2007. If the writer has been on-line recently, it might be worth sending them a PM. Otherwise, you are perhaps talking about a playgroup to a Mum whose child is already at school or even to someone who has since left the country.
Good luck with your search though. There must be others out there...