The Afloat Guide to Groups & Classes
Introduction
You don’t have to go it alone! A wide variety of social groups and courses are offered by hospitals, midwives, and other individuals. These provide parents a chance to meet other parents, learn about child development, and get assistance from professionals. Groups include:
Birth recovery (Rückbildung) courses are to led by midwives, physiotherapists, and other professionals to help women* physically rebuild their strength, posture, and pelvic floor function after pregnancy and birth. Most hospitals and many independing midwives offer courses although they can also be found at yoga studios and in physiotherapy practices.
PEKiP (Prager Eltern Kind Programm) courses are frequently attended by new parents and their babies in Germany. These are closed groups made up of same age babies and their caregiver(s). A trained facilitator offers a warm space (babies are typically naked during the meeting) and—depending on age—materials to facilitate movement and learning.
Krabbelgruppen are playgroups for babies of crawling age, often lightly facilitated. Facilitators are knowledgeable in child development and offer toys and space for exploration that are in line with babies’ developmental stage.
Baby Massage courses may be offered by midwives, doulas, and other professionals who are specifically trained in baby massage. Parents attend with their babies and learn about baby massage techniques while meeting other parents and babies.
Baby Swim courses are most frequently offered through swim clubs (Schwimmvereine). Baby swim courses are a way for babies to become accustomed to being in the water. In these courses, parents get in the water with their baby. Many baby swim courses are offered on ‘warm water days’ at the pool.
Breastfeeding Support Groups (often referred to as Stillcafes) are led by midwives, lactation consultants, or other specially trained facilitators. These groups are offered through hospitals, La Leche Liga, and/or other groups. Mothers* can drop in to these groups to troubleshoot breastfeeding issues, ask questions, get general support and meet other breastfeeding mothers*.
Cultural groups include parenting groups that are for speakers of a specific language. These groups may be a way to expose babies to a non-dominant language or they may be expressly designed for parents to meet other parents with a similar cultural or linguistic background. Groups can be found online (via social media, as Meetups), through the regional youth welfare office (Jugendamt) or through international centers.
Mother* Centers (Mütterzentren) are great places to meet new mothers*, socialize, learn to overcome challenges together, and have fun.
You can find a local mother* center here.
Intergenerational Houses (Mehrgenerationshäuser) are another great option to get to know your community, meet other moms*, and engage in fun and educational activities. They are a type of community center for all ages, usually featuring drop-in hours.