Hello

I was wondering if there were any young, youngish mums around the Zürich area with small children who would like to meet up once in a while so the kids could play together and we, the mums, could enjoy a cup of tea together.

I am 29 half english and half swiss, and have been living here for approx 9 years. My husband is swiss and our son is 1 1/2.

Is there any one out there who would like to meet up with us?

The WAC in Uster is a good place to start http://www.wac.ch/

Hi Im a new Mum, my son is only just two months old so not really at the playing age yet. Wouldnt mind meeting up though if youre interested...

Hi Clay-zi

Congratulations on the birth of your son, hope you are feeling well and enjoying the first few weeks together.

Would love to meet up. Where are you from? etc etc would love a few more details.

looking forword to hearing from you.

Hi There
I'm youngish (33) and have a 20 month old son - we arrived in Zurich (from Berks UK) on 26-Jan-07 so are very much still finding our feet. My partner started his new job today so am feeling a bit lonely and am very keen to meet up with some other mums to natter to and to find some friends for my little boy to play with.

We are currently in a serviced apartment in Wiedikon until we find somewhere more permanent - can anyone recommend an area suitable with toddler in tow! We'd be fine with living a little way out of town and are ok with an apartment as long as we can walk out from the door to a few shops and public transport options.

Does anyone know of any English speaking toddler groups, music groups etc.. or any good activities we can get up to whilst daddy is at work? Has anyone tried the zoo? Are restaurants generally ok with children and do they usually have high chairs available? Anyone tackled the trams and buses with a pushchair? From looking at the trams, they appear to have a door with a pram sticker on it, but this seems to still have steep steps and there's no way I'd be able to get my pushchair up there by myself!!

Thanks for any general tips and advice you may have, and hope to catch up with some other mums soon. I don't speak any Swiss or German (although will try and learn some whilst here) but do speak some Italian and a bit of French.

All the best
JK

Hi there

Welcome I hope you are not feeling too homesick, I might be able to help with a few things. I am half swiss as you have already read and have been living here ages, speak perfect Swiss and so maybe able to help if you have any problems. I myself have found a toddler group which is on Fridays, every second friday and its for english mums and children. I am going for the first time on Friday. Maybe you want to come to? I would love a little english friend for my son to play with as all our friends are swiss and as my family dont speak swiss, apart from mum, little man here needs to be able to chat to Grandad and the rest.

I will try to find out how to send you a message with my tel number on it, or maybe you know how to send me yours and I will ring you.

hopefully hear you soon.

ps we have a years pass for the zoo and its great our little boy loves it and the tram to get to the zoo dosent have any steps so its easy to use.!

Hi, sorry to gatecrash but I am an English 31 year old mother (1 daughter, 11 months old) and I will be moving to Kilwangen in a few weeks (my partner is Swiss) so I am looking for the same things really ( a bit of company and for Sofia to have some other kids to play with). I worked before so this is the first time I will be a full time mum so some adult conversation would be nice now and again. Rachael

I'm a 30 year old mum and have a 21 month old little boy. It seems I have a similar story to JK as we have recently moved to Wiedikon in Zurich in Feb this year as my husband is working here.

I haven't started to look for any toddler groups yet as I am still busy unpacking boxes but would really appreciate any advice on any local groups that anyone is aware of. Also would love to meet meet up with other mums for a coffee/natter whilst the little ones could play. Its good to know there are other mums like me here trying to find their feet.

A toddler group that takes place on Fridays was mentioned by Sharky has anyone been to this yet? Look forward to hearing from you all


KC

There are some mums (all ages) that are part of a yahoo group (Families in Zuirch) who meet weekly at a Starbucks in Zurich. If you join that group, there's usually a posting once a week about the time/place.

Best of luck
MM
(who would I guess best be described as an "oldish" mom so don't meet your criteria )

http://www.xpatxchange.ch/
Should give you plenty of information on when/where/what and more.
http://newmoms.ch/2006/11/21/new-course-sing-and-sign/

Starbucks (bellevue & Parade Platz) are full of expat mum's.

There is plenty out there it's just finding out about it. Not easy if you don't speak German (as I found out myself).

If you are looking for baby goods (food, formula, nappies) at a good price I would recommend Toysrus in Dietlikon as they have a new babiesrus since Jan07.

And in case you start to feel a little homesick.
http://www.britshop.ch/

Let me know if there is anything more on this I can help you all with. I have been through it (the hard way) so if I can shed light on anything to make things easier for you just shout. I am from UK & have a 21 month old little boy if that counts as a reference

thanks music mole and bails for the update. I was shocked to find so many Starbucks here and will def go for coffee and to catch up with other mums. Are there any particular days/times that people meet up?

I have also found a couple of playgroups for my little one but they are a little distance away and was wondering if you were aware of any playgroups that are held in or near Wiedikon?

Thanks again! KKC

Hi KKC and other posters,

I am also relatively new mum to Zurich and have 2 smalls in tow. The older (just turned 3) is in now thankfully in kindergarten afternoons but my 9 month old and I are often found wandering around town looking for people to hang out with.

I would love the chance to meet some new folk who share similar schedules for coffee (and maybe a chocolate donut) and some adult conversation...

Look forward to hearing from someone...anyone....

Hi Maxhd

how long have you been in zurich and whereabouts are you based? I hope you and the little ones are enjoying it. have you been to any mother and toddler groups that you would reccomend?

KKC - this is the link to the group. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Families-in-Zurich/

They usually post an announcement on Wednesdays as to the time/place they are meeting.

Best of luck.

Hi there,

I have been here about 7 months but because #2 was only 8 weeks when we arrived I didn't really get out and about for quite a while. #1 took a while to settle as he is very (VERY) verbal in English and did not like having to start again in Swiss German ,but our local kinderkrippe have been fantastic with him and he now shames us!

I have recently found the St Andrews Playgroup on a Wednesday afternoon from 14:30 -16:30.

It is an English language group which uses the church hall to host (not a religious playgroup) a get together that includes general play for kids from 0 - about 5 plus an arts and crafts table for the bigger kids. They end with some nice songs and dancing and have healthy snacks and refreshments plus tea for the mums (and dads!).

We have only made it a few times so far courtesy of colds and bugs brough home from kinderkrippe, but each time there have been a nice friendly group of people (max. about 8 mums) with kids of various ages.

The lady who co-ordinates everything is called Annie and if you are interested in coming I can send you contact details.

I am also waiting for the Yahoo families-in-zurich to accept me to join (the angst) so I can find out about other meetings...

maxhd - I'd love more info on the St Andrews group - could you PM with the info (or point me to a website)?

thanks

From... http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Families-in-Zurich

AFFOLTERN - Gemeinschaftszentrum, Bodenacker 25
Fun 4 U Playgroup
Friday 9:30-11:30
For 0-5 year olds
Marianne Kadarmideen 043 366 0549
Yasemin Coskun famcoskun@bluewin.ch 044 303 1420

WIEDIKON
AWC Clubhouse, Schoentalstrasse 8
Moms,Pops & Tots Club
for 0-5 year olds
Wednesday 9:00-11:30
Also for non-members
Kids Campus Preschool
An early educational experience for ages 2 to 5.
Two certified teachers.
Tuesdays from 9:00 to 12:00 at the
American Women's Club of Zurich.
Open to all.
Contact Kathy Zabel 043 311 0430
or Marilyn Joyce 079 378 9491

St. Andrew's Church Community Centre
Promenadengasse 9
The Canterbury Group
for 0-4 year olds
Monday 9:45 - 11:15
Sonia Paget 043 233 8452 calrya2000@yahoo.com
for 0-5 year olds
Wednesday 14.30 - 16.30
Annie Unsworth 043 333 1576 nisou@hotmail.com

HÖNGG
Quartierraum Ruetihof
Im oberen Boden 7
Little Critters
Structured Playgroup
Tuesday 9:30-11:00
Severina Sanders 043 818 4740

IPC Mom's & Tots
French Church
Meets 1st, 3rd, 4th & 5th Wednesday of the month
9:30-11:00
0-4 year olds
Annelies Guthman 044 912 32 53 aguthman@bluewin.ch

Stork's Nest
Near Kreuzplatz
Monday 9:15-11:15
15 months to 3+ year olds
Clare Cusack 044 910 68 54
info@thestork.ch

Stork's Nest HOTTINGEN
Near Romerhof 15
Friday 9:00-11:00
Mums & Toddlers 15 months tp 4 years
Maria Flames Meijer 044 380 55 23
info@thestork.ch

Kinderhaus Artergut (Klosbachstrasse)
Monday mornings: Parent-Child "Toddlers" for children from 2-5 years
Frau S. Brönnimann, Telefon 044 260 79 29
Monday afternoons: Parent-Child for up to 18 months
Frau S. Szpilmann, Telefon 043 960 38 33

Zurich, Kreis 3.
http://www.aentlistube.ch
Damara Tel. 079 525 39 64
damara@aentlistube.ch
The location is near the S10 Binz stop, 5 minutes from the HB
and two minutes walk from the Wings School

WIPKINGEN - Kreis 10
GZ Wipkingen - Breitensteinstrasse 19a
moppets&poppets - bilingual english/german group
kids 1-3 years
Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays 08.30-12.30
playgroupwip@yahoo.com

Outside of Zurich city...

ADLISWIL
Roman Catholic Church, Rellstenstrasse 2
Tiger Tots
for 0 - 3.5 year olds
Monday 15:00-16:30
Stephanie Sorgo 043 388 5578.

ADLISWIL
McTots English Speaking Playclub for children 18 months - 5 years
Monday to Friday mornings 9.30 - noon
in the centre of Adliswil
http://www.mctots.ch
079 296 99 36

BÜLACH
Mums and Kids International
Twice a month on Friday 9:30-11:30
For 0-4 year olds
Katie Murrie Widmer 044 860 59 93

BÜLACH
English Speaking Playgroup
Thursday 14:30-16:30
For 2 ½ - 5 year olds
Elaine Keller-Vogel 044 862 20 04

EMBRACH
Little Angels English speaking Play Group
0 – 5 yrs
opening Soon at the Ganesha-Center, Embrach.
Parents and children come and have fun!!!!!!!!!!!
Interact with our little Angels and Play, Sing Nursery Rhymes, Dance,
Arts and Crafts and Read Stories.
Mums and Dads can join in the fun with the children and meet other parents.
A great meeting point for everyone!!!!!!!
Refreshments are offered.
And a great time is guaranteed.
If you are interested and would like more information,
Please contact: Louise Pile
O76 421 15 04 / earthangel@hispeed.ch

EMBRACH
Playgroup- FUN WITH ENGLISH
from 16-04-07 @ Embrach(located near Zurich Airport)
for kids 3 -5 yrs, kids below 3 could also join in with parents
open on tuesdays, wednesdays and fridays
from 9.30 to 11.30 Hrs and 14.30 to 16.30 Hrs
cost per session(2 hrs) is Chf.10., for registered members .
Address: Hardstr 32, 8424 Embrach
Tel: 043 444 1082
E-Mail : n_rhymes@yahoo.com

GOCKHAUSEN by Zürich (near Zoo)
International Playgroup
small groups of max. 6 children per day
Mon, Tue, Thurs, Fri: full or half day
6 months to 4 years old
English, French & German
contact Eva Werts 079 471 59 51 / 044 210 35 15
evawerts@gmx.ch
www.playgroup.ch

HORGEN
Children's Playhouse
Tuesday & Thursday 9:30-12:00
For 2-5 year olds
Anita 01 726 03 81
Or 078 635 35 12

KÜSNACHT
Stork's Nest
Friday 9:00-11:30
For 0-4 year olds
Andrea Bader 044 926 57 48 Andrea@TheStork.ch

REGENSDORF
Englische Spielgruppe
Familienzentrum Regenbogen
Schulstrasse 56
8105 Regensdorf
Neera Mallick, 043 388 83 44 or 076 515 55 77

SEEGRÄBEN at Jucker Farm
The English Play & Preschool
Playgroup for children from age 2
A combination of english, montessori and NATURE!
Stephanie Csikos stephanie@csico.ch
www.preschool.ch

STEINMAUR
In the Kirchegemeindehaus (corner
Of Schulwiesstrasse/Bettenstrasse)
Mums & Tots Fun Club
Friday 14:30-16:30
For 0-5 year olds
Darcy Molnar 044 853 0045
Or Dawn Marmo 044 850 6704

USTER
Women's Activity Club (WAC)
Winterthurstrasse 18
043 305 9250
www.WAC.ch
http://www.wac.ch/courses_events/eve...ex.cfm?all=yes
The Women's Activity Club, or "WAC", is a non-profit,
multifunctional organization whose purpose is to meet the
social, educational, and personal needs of its members.
The Club is designed to encourage international friendship,
support, and sharing of ideas.
The Club's main activities are playgroups, child development groups,
a library, and room rentals. The working language of the Club is
English and all women (and men) are welcome to use the WAC facility.
For further information: www.wac.ch or email info@wac.ch
The Learning Tree Cooperative School was founded in 1992 by members
of the WAC to meet the pre and after school needs of their children.
The English pre-school caters for children from 2 to 5 years old.
The after-school provides supplementary English reading and writing
tuition once a week for children from 5 to 11 years. For information,
telephone on 043 305 9250 from 9.00 till 12.00 Monday to Thursday
or email: LTCSchool@WAC.ch .

WAEDENSWIL
Little Angels Playgroup
Roman Catholic Church on Etzelstrasse 3
Mondays 09.30-11.30
Parents/Carers & 0-5 year olds
Come and have fun and meet other parents/carers.
Lots of toys. Craft activity each week. Fun song time.
CHF 7.00 per week per family (includes refreshments).
Andrea Snashall 043 844 68 66 Email: andreasnashall@excite.com

ZOLLIKON
Catholic Church, Gustav-Mauererstrasse 13
The Playgroup
Pre-School age kids with parents
Monday 9:30-11:30
Kirstie jamestmclellan@yahoo.co.uk

I hope you have found a place and settled in well. In the mean time, for future reference I thought I'd add my 2 cents/pence/rappen on the questions, as I think they are good ones to have answers to when you are new.

The Zoo is fab - annual membership is really affordable IMO and great value. Love the penguin walk in the afternoons, and it's a great afternoon out. The food has been good when we've eaten at the restaurant at the Rainforest, and it's very kid friendly (as you would expect) with a view to the Masoala rainforest while you are eating.

For Restaurants, I just bought the book In and Around Zurich with kids (also available from the Orrell Fussli English bookshop on Bahnhoffstrasse) and it has a great listing of kid friendly places. I wish I'd bought this when we'd first arrived! You definitely can't tell by looking (apparently) as to kid-friendliness, as a place I would have thought too fancy (white tablecloths etc.) is apparently great with little diners. So I highly recommend the book, for that, as well as all the "to do" stuff it contains. Well worth the purchase price IMO.

As for the trams, the door with the sticker (on the older trams) indicates the opening that is widest (most likely to get your pushchair through) but yes, you do have to lift them up. A couple of tram lines (4 and I think 11) have the new trams that you can just roll the pushchair right on. I haven't had need/opportunity to ride them but they look great! The train situation is similar: the S7 has mostly the new trains you can roll the strollers on and off of. But the S16 seems to be the oldest trains (steepest steps, narrowest doors) and the S2 also sometimes has these older trains. The majority are the ones with nice wide doors (easy to get pushchair through width wise) but still have steps.

I would say 90% of the time when I take the train someone offers to help me with my pushchair, but I have always managed on the times when they don't. Just stand on the bottom step and the doors will stay open while you are loading/offloading. Not sure how helpful people are on the trams, as I am only ever on those with my husband so have help.

__________________
Thus far you have been adrift in the sheltered harbour of my patience. ~ Cobra Bubbles

Moving to Oerlikon next weekend with a very social 2 yr old boy (here he has football club, playgroup 3 days and as we currently live opposite a park meets his friends daily) and emerging social girl 5 months.

Does anyone live/know the Oerlikon area?

Also are there soft play indoor play centres around?