Need Help Making Some New Mom or Dad Friends?
Whether if you are a new parent or a seasoned one, having friends or being in a social group with parents who have children around the same age as yours can create more fun parenting experiences such as group play dates and excursions as well as provide you with a kind ear and advice when you are going through parenting challenges. But, how do you find and make these connections, especially if you are a new parent in the 4th trimester? We’ve got you! See below for some ideas to help you get started building a physical and virtual village of support.
Social media is a great tool for helping you connect to other families, find family meet ups and activities in your area, and give you other ideas on how you can get more involved.
Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat are social media platforms where you will find many groups, pages and resources through keyword searches and hashtag searches.
Keyword search: What keywords should you use in the Facebook or Instagram search bar? Start with some that capture your interests and then filter your search to make the results more relative or to single out groups from pages. Here are some keyword search examples: “Mom group + your town;” “New parents + your town;” “Black parents + your town;” “ADHD children + your town.”
Hashtag search: By searching with hashtags, you will pull all messages using that hashtag into one conversation stream. For instance, try using “#Dads + your city” (e.g., #SavannahDads or #AtlantaMoms). Other ideas, #AthensNewParentPlaygroups, #LatinXFamiliesGeorgia, #SingleParentingMacon, etc.
Once you uncover a few groups that interest you, you’ll need to request to join them and will most likely have questions to answer as part of the process. Once you are admitted into the group, post an introduction of yourself to the community. Typical introductions are short posts that include a little bit about your family, such as the ages of your children, your interests, and what you are hoping to achieve with the group such as community playdates, advice and etc.
2. Not feeling social media or finding the resources there that you need? Well, there’s an app for you! Some apps recommended by parents are:
Social.Mom, a place that enables moms to encourage each other and connect
Meerkat, where parents meet parent friends
Peanut, the app connecting women through all stages of motherhood
MeetUp, helps you find or start a group or find an event in your area
3. There are lots of ways to find parent friends without using technology. However, you need to be ready to put yourself out there and plan outings where you know other parents will be. So, think about the things you like doing with your child or may already be involved in but in another capacity.
Like music? Look for parent-child music classes available near you where you can meet other parents and children around the same age of your child.
If you attend worship services, inquire about parent groups or play groups that are available.
Does your child enjoy being read to? Find story time events at local bookstores and libraries. Strike up a conversation with parents afterwards while your kids are doing activities or looking at books.
Kids love parks which makes them a great place to meet other moms and dads! Check your local nature centers as well as they often have special activities such as nature walks and classes.
If your child attends a child care program or school, look for ways to get involved. Many high-quality child care programs and schools offer parent support in creating relationships through parties, volunteer days, and class meetings. If your child’s school does not have these opportunities, consider starting a play group. Other ideas? Ask the teacher if you can be a guest story teller. Join the PTA.
Check out these articles and resources to help you find or create your parent village.
