How to Make a Moms Group Successful

I think it's a good idea to do a poll and find out what people want. What times work for them? What activities are they interested in?

Sometimes it's just the time of year. Summer can be tough because people go on vacations and do their own thing.

I also found that it depends on the area. I was part of a Mom's group in one town and there was barely any participation. A Mom's group in a different town (still close to me) had lots. Both were meetup.com and both had similar options for meetups. I guess sometimes it's just the attitude of that area!

My friends and I started our own little MOM group and what makes it work is that we ALL volunteer ideas and activities that we would like to do with our kids as a group and then it is scheduled. We take turns having playdates at our houses, so not one or two are always burdend with the responsiblity. If this MOM group is not working...try seeking out another.

I started a small playgroup a number of years ago and here are my thoughts on what works best:

1. A big playgroup isn't always better. In fact, you get to know people a lot better with a smaller group. And there are fewer demands on you when you host the group (fewer snacks to buy, etc.). Consider spinning off the group with those who usually attend. Then, you can easily host the group at your homes.

2. Keep it simple. No rules, etc. Keep it casual so it doesn't become a chore.

3. Plan it at a time that works well for everyone. If it's always in the morning, for example, working moms can't make it. Ask people what time works best and try to be flexible.

4. Give lots of notice on fun events. Again, find out what time people prefer. Weeknight MNOs may not work for a lot of people.

Good luck!

Don't know if this is true or not. Just tinkling out laud. In Texas people are more involve in church community and church activities. If you can join a church you will have the most social interactions. (I am not suggesting that this is what you should do, just observing). Outside of the church - not much of social life, except for business. May be, it will change someday. People like you will make a difference. Here's an idea - find people that have moved from out of state.

Have age-based playgroups that meet on the same day and time each week. Once people start coming and get to know each other, they will feel more committed to the club and all of the club's other activities.

Plan a fun mom's night out once a month so people can chat and get to know each other without the kids around.

I don't have any suggestions that haven't already been mentioned, but thought your experience was interesting.

When I moved back to Dallas from Northern Virginia about 11 years ago, I noticed the same thing. I was part of a very active group of women who worked in Web-related jobs in the Washington, DC area. I really enjoyed that group, so I was very disappointed when the sister group in Dallas was not active at all.

Good luck with your group!

I don't know if you might be open to looking into a MOPS (Mothers of PreSchoolers) group. You can go to their website http://www.mops.org to see if there is a group that meets near you. I know it has been a lifeline for some of the girls in the group I help mentor.

I'm in a MOMS Club with about 40 members too, and probably only about 15 participate in anything in a given week. I'm on the activities committee, and we ask for suggestions from the group each month, and we try to schedule lots of things (at least 5 a week, and more in the summer) at various times of day to meet everyone's scheduling needs. We do have age-specific playgroups, as someone below mentioned, and, though I think that's necessary when a group gets as big as ours, I think it's also divided our group into smaller cliques, and that's not a great thing. Those playgroup people tend to get together on their own on non-playgroup days and do things without inviting others, even though there's something on the calendar for the whole group. I don't know if your group is having that problem or not, but it's something we've encountered and honestly we haven't figured out a way around it. We can't tell people they aren't allowed to meet outside of the club, and we can't make people be more social.

I once went to a MOMS Club banquet and the speaker said that if your club has an activity and only 10% of the group attends (for us, that's 4 people), you've still provided a social activity for 4 people (plus their kids) who otherwise would have been home doing nothing. When I think of it that way, it makes me less irritated about the huge number of people in our club who don't come to anything.

I guess I don't really have a solution for you, but know that you're not alone in your frustration!