Danish Playgroup

So as I said in my blog post last week, I decided to try out the only playgroup in Esbjerg. Reasons for this were:

a) Joshua enjoyed it so much in Australia (playing with the other kids & toys)

b) I enjoyed the interaction with other mums

c) It gets both of us out of the house

The church that runs it is a Lutheran church, so there are a few discrepecies in beliefs, but thankfully it's not overly "religious" in content. That was also not the biggest problem I had with it, it was Danish culture. You see it is not the culture to talk to people until you get to know them. So I turned up & walked into the room, put my bag down & placed Joshua on the floor to play. Then we just sat there playing together & watching all the other children. No one came up & said hello, introduced themselves or welcomed us. Even the mum I had said hello to in the corridor while hanging our coats didn't come over & talk to me. I tried to make conversation with a couple of the mums, but it was all one-sided.

There is no tea/coffee or cake (though I later read in their brochure that there should be) & no organised program. It's just free play for 1.5hrs. The priest's wife (who is the leader) did come in 1/2hr before finishing time & do a couple of songs. She also did come over & say hello & welcome. But I went home rather disappointed.

They run another group on Fridays that is a little different. They meet together & have "brunch" then do songs & games before the older kids do a craft. Here the mums were a little more friendly & open. Again, Danish culture, they are more open & talkative with a cup of coffee in their hand!. I enjoyed this one a little bit more & will probably make this my regular group. The problem with it though is that it starts earlier, which means Joshua skips his morning sleep. Rather than being able to have it before we go, as with the Wednesday group.