TGCOF-Turtle Garden Circle of Friends Sample Flyer--Key Disclaimers and Points

Here's a sample flyer I made to get the Turtle Garden Circle of Friends idea launched in the Brooklyn NY area. I will be working with others to fine tune things, so stay posted. You can make up your own name that is more practical or list the state, town and area such as NY-Brooklyn-Fort Greene-TGCOF (and even abbreviate the place such as NY-BKLN-FG-TGCOF, or put the TGCOF first. Okay that is to help people in your area find each other most readily. Other resources such as libraries and parks and schools could be listed in a similar 'short list' that might be helpful for people to reference at a glance. For instance if meeting at a park near a playgroup, both locations could be listed. If the library near those is a rain place alternative, then that might be good to include along with one or two contact people or an online group (for those savvy and ready to monitor such efforts.)

So back to the Sample Poster or Flyer or Online Post in a FB or Group Share about the Turtle Garden Circle of Friends (TGCOF).

In a heart or circle with a Turtle (maybe with a heart on its shell and a smiley face profile) drawn near the wording, print Turtle Garden Circle of Friends (TGCOF) . Then TGCOF iss an idea to enjoy the local area (put your general area or neighborhood) with friends old and new. For more information, see a site or google Turtle Garden Circle of Friends where ideas can also be shared.

 Some guidelines include:

1. Important to Note at the Top of a Flyer (and don't post illegally publicly in NYC for instance on telephone poles or distribute on private residences, etc): These gatherings and networking efforts are Not Sponsored by Any Organization, Location or Individual. Rather they are an Independent, Voluntary Idea to Enjoy Responsibly. Safe and Reasonable Adult or Parental Supervision is Expected.

Adults may network reasonably to trade with childcare, but ideally that would be for 3-4 children for any one adult to be responsible for on a given day. If people from an existing group are extending this idea and invitation to others, they could review the matter with the board of the playgroup or library or faith group to help clarify the manner in which to distribute or share information so no peopel are not confused or misled about the additional networking, responsibilities and liability. 

2. Be Friendly With Others and Families in a Natural Way. Many do this already. Making a new friendship with one or two other parents and caregivers can get the ball rolling to find out what people like in an area, places to let children play and adults visit and network.

While caregivers may be the initial contacts that could meet weekly or more, ideally more parents could craft times to meet and be more aware of routines and options over the seasons of the year.

Monthly or seasonal get-togethers at a park or small event that is already planned on a weekend may be most practical and online forums as well. Some areas are up and running at a nice clip along these lines and others may lack any clear contact groups or people. Libraries, parks, and playgrounds may be the easiest ways to join in informally.

3.For fresh air, time to picnic or exercise and play for children and their caregivers, group play time at a park (fill in a specific place and meeting spot such as a playground or certain landmark).

Keeping groups to about 20 children can create a reasonable flow of supervising children. Another group could gather the following hour, or meet in another spot if the numbers get high, to keep track of people, allow for picnicking or games whether on the grass for running or bouncing balls and jumping rope for instance (even adults can show little kids these simple exercises.)

4.  Practical Tips; For outdoors, dress appropriately for weather which can change.  Pack snacks and drinks for your own crew at least initially, review any allergies to peanuts etc, and practice safety along those lines. Sunscreen and bug repellant would also be best for individuals to provide for their own. A blanket and diaper supplies if needed would also be individuals' responsibility (along with trash removal if required.)

5.Add details about Where and When to meet if complementing an existing program. For a program that meets Mon-Fri with different families, for starters, each group could meet for an hour at the park following their playgroup time (or before if that seemed better for a mid-day program.) That could be done with Monday, Wednesday, Friday meeting weeks One and Three, and Tuesday, Thursday meeting weeks Two and Four of a month. Another 'starter plan' would be to have the Monday group meet the first week of each month, the Tuesday group meet the second week, Wed and Friday meet the third week, and Thursday the fourth week.

Then no meeting the fifth week if there is one. This could be followed up with the specific dates that fit that schedule for a certain group. The idea could be used by other groups as well. More details will be put in another post such as having nametags with the caregiver and child's name  (and Mom and Dad listed below the child's for instance) so people could learn each others names more readily. )

6. To help supervise children, caregivers and children could wear a tee-shirt of their own logo making and consider wearing theme colors such as Blue for Boys and their Caregiver and Green for Girls and Their Caregiver. These colors can then be used to help blend boys and girls on the same project or team (half of each for instance working together). In games, those colors could be used as ways to pair up either with someone of the same color shirt or different, to line up in two lines of the same color or make a pattern, etc.

7. For weekend gatherings to invite parents, other family and friends to join in the networking, planning activities or meeting times for 3-5pm may be helpful (or 2-4 in the fall or winter since it gets dark earlier). That is least likely to interfere with morning routines, allow famliies to catch up on sleep and get organized (laundry and shopping, meal planning for the next week,etc).

For many on a Saturday would work well so planning for the 1st and 3rd Saturday for Moms and Dads etc of  kids up through 3 years of age and then the 2nd and 4th Saturdays for families of kids 3-5 years of age would be one way to get the ball rolling. For planning smaller playdates, perhaps those could happen on a Sunday.

If there is enough interest, Sundays could be used for the younger kids and their families to network on the 2nd and 4th weekends monthly and for the older kids on the 1st and 3rd Sundays in case Saturdays are not a good option for some families. Ideally with some pre-planning or a couple of parents hosting a family social time at a park or nearby library that may be open at those times if the weather is not good or changes, then more families and caregivers could drop in as works for them and feel supported.

A calendar could be made for the year with people filling in for the upcoming two months for instance once a core group of people decided what might work for their area. All of these suggestions are voluntary, flexible, free and open to family and guests and not sponsored by any organization (unless otherwise approved.) Friendly-Free-Flexible Fun at Playgrounds, Parks, Libraries and More.

Weekly themes to use at home, with groups or online can be shared to echo nature, the seasons, music, art and literacy (singing and telling little stories, reading books and taking times sharing in a circle like Show and Tell about an object, a trip, etc for a minute or two by one or more people..) Thanks for doing your pat to start each day, week, month and season off on a nice note of gratitude and kindness.

For children, parents, caregivers, and others supportive of families. School communities, faith groups, recreation programs, businesses and non-profits  ( such as clubs or community gardens which often have open hours) and Others encouraged to promote ideas for families to network class by class, age by age, interest and area as may work to help everybuddy feel supported, included and celebrated. People at each age and stage of life benefit from social networking and helping one another in a neighborly fashion.