Family Roundup: Find Your Parent Network

Being a parent is one of the toughest jobs in the world, so connecting early with a “parent and tot” group and choosing some fun activities you can do with your baby or toddler is one of the smartest things you can do as a new parent.

Woodinville’s Debbie Taylor works part time at Virginia Mason in radiology and her husband is a Boeing engineer. When they started their family in the late 1990s they had just moved to the area and Taylor was eager to connect with other Eastside families but didn’t know how to get started. Luckily her neighbor provided a great tip.

“I chose the Program for Early Parent Support (PEPS) program, because my neighbor at the time was a PEPS leader," Taylor said. "I was so grateful that she told me about PEPS. My husband and I had just moved to Washington and had no family here. This group was a great help with all my questions, fears, etcetera.”

Taylor met with her first PEPs group in 1996 with her daughter, Alexandra, who was 1 month old. Although both her kids are now in junior high, she continues to stay in touch with members of the group.

“I met some of my lifelong friends through PEPS. Having each other through the years, especially during those times when life was difficult or even when it was great, has been a blessing," Taylor said. "Each member has been a resource of information due to her different life experiences.

"I learned about this area and all it had to offer. I tried new things I probably would never had tried if not brought up by a member. Most of us do not live close to each other, but still e-mail, phone or scrapbook occasionally. ”

Taylor endorses early parenting groups such as these.

“I recommend that all moms, especially new moms, join a mom and baby group. There is nothing better than having others going through similar situations to help you. Especially when you need advice or just need to vent!” 

Program For Early Parent Support (PEPS)

PEPS is an extremely popular support group that meets in a volunteer facilitator’s home. There are many PEPS groups that meet on the Eastside, including in Bellevue. The group begins when babies are 4 months old or younger and meets weekly for 12 weeks. Groups often continue to stay connected, even after those former babies have headed off to kindergarten. The challenging part with PEPS is you must attend a monthly orientation and then register ideally when you are expecting or before your baby is 4 months old. Orientations on the Eastside are offered the second Tuesday of each month at the Little School in Bellevue at 2812 116th Ave. NE at 12:30 p.m. The next orientation will be March 8. More information about PEPS is available on their organizations website.

Parent-Infant and First and Second Year Toddler Classes at 

offers weekly parent and infant classes that have an education component as well as fun activities including music, play and movement. You register for your class by calling the Parent Education Office at 425 564-2365 as soon as your baby is born, any time throughout the year. More information on the website.

also offers for “first” and “second” year toddlers where parents continue to accompany the child. More information about these ongoing classes including how to register is on the college’s website

Redmond Toddler Group

For more than 35 years the Redmond Toddler Group has offered fun, friendship and support for families with infants to 36-month-old toddlers. The program is offered in conjunction with the Lake Washington Technical College and meets in the college’s facility near the entrance to Marymoor Park off East Lake Sammamish Parkway at 6505 176th Ave. NE in Redmond, just minutes from Bridal Trails and many other Bellevue neighborhoods. Most parents register in the spring for fall enrollment but there are also openings in ongoing classes throughout the year.

You can learn more by visiting RTG’s website. Or meet RTG’s current students and teachers in person by attending the group’s spring fundraiser carnival with your toddler March 19 beginning at 9 a.m. at Evergreen Junior High in Redmond. The carnival features activities designed for 1- to 5-year-olds including games with prizes, face painting, a cake walk and kid-pleasing food. Family admission is $5 at the door and activity tickets are two for $1.

Parent-Baby Groups at Evergreen Hospital Medical Center

offers a number of “parent and baby” groups including a specialized support group for moms with postpartum depression. If you deliver at Evergreen you and your baby can attend the age "zero to three month" group for free. More information is available on Evergreen Hospital's website.

Kindermusik

Kindermusik programs offer a great way to enjoy music with your baby or toddler and meet other parents. To find all the locations offered near you in Bellevue, visit the Kindermusik website. You can try your first class for free.

offers parent and tot classes for babies and toddlers who develop motor skills and offer fun group play activities. The forst class is free. A current schedule of classes is on their website. 

Bellevue Parks and Recreation

The parks department offers a number of reasonably priced activities for parents and tots including art, music and drop-in play times at local community centers including at the , and community centers. More information on the program’s website. 

The and club

Have fun with your baby in the water at or the where both offer “parent and tot” swim classes year-round. 

 Stroller Strides

Stroller Strides is a parent and child fitness program offered around the Eastside including in Bellevue at the . More information on the website or contact instructor Amber Pacquer at 425-785-5408 or amber@strollerstrides.net.

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