Berkeley Parents Network: Dads' Groups

Berkeley Parents Network

Dads' Groups

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East Bay Dads Feb 2005
How to find playgroups with dads? May 2002
Moms' and Dad's Clubs

East Bay Dads

Feb 2005

East Bay Dads is group of fathers with babies, toddlers and pre-schoolers in the Oakland / Berkeley area. We meet every Monday morning with our kids at a local park, museum, or other place. Most Thursday mornings there is a hike for dads with kids still young enough to go in a front- or backpack or jog stroller. The group is free and open to anyone (some of us are full time stay-at-home dads, others work part time and/or have flexible work schedules). We welcome all dads in the East Bay to check the schedule at www.eastbaydads.org and come meet up with us!
Evan Weissman

How to find playgroups with dads?

May 2002

Hi - I'm a stay at home Dad. I'm interested in playgroups or classes for my 6 month old son (only child). Many groups I see refer to Mommies so I'm not sure if a Daddy is ok too. Any suggestions on where my son and I can go so he can 'socialize' with other babies, while I socialize with parents (moms or dads)? A mixed group (ie moms and dads) would be great, as I don't want to be the odd man out (literally). Thanks! John

Although not a playgroup per se, I know dads who attend Music Together classes with their small children. There are many classes offered each week, and I'm sure you could find one where there is at least a sizable minority of dads. Website: www.eastbaymusictogether.com. My 8-month-old daughter really enjoys the classes. Liz O.

I'm a grizzled veteran of 5 years of stay-at-home-daddom in Berkeley and here's what worked for me: first, I joined the Neighborhood Parents Network (527-6667). They have new member orientations that you can attend to meet other new parents, and they have a variety of playgroups. Obviously, most playgroups will be run by moms, but many moms (although not all) are open to having dads in the group. I am part of the only playgroup for stay-at-home dads in the East Bay (that I know about, at least) and we always welcome new members. Another good resource for meeting parents is East Bay Moms, which sponsors hikes for parents and children - you can find information about them at eastbaymoms.com. Go to your local playground and talk to the parents there; get to know the other moms and dads in your neighborhood who hang out at the park. But you'd better get used to being the odd man out because most of the time you'll be the only dad in a playgroup; that's just the way it is. Despite that, the Berkeley/Oakland area is a great place to be an at-home dad because often you'll find other dads at the playground or at classes, and the moms you meet are usually very dad-friendly. Richard

The June issue of ''Parents' Press'' (which I, admittedly, work for, so I'm biased) will be out and available free of charge at libraries, kids' stores, markets, etc., about the 26th of this month. One of the features is about the Grateful Dads over in Marin who do fairly strenuous hikes together with their babies and toddlers in backpacks. There's also a sidebar about the Father's Forum in Berkeley and other organizations for dads and kids. If none of these meet your needs, consider posting a message here on the parents' network and organizing your own group. Good luck; I'm very glad to see fathers banding together in this way. Melanie

I don't know how I missed your initial message, but I'm the ''organizing tendency'' for an outing group for dads and kids here in the East Bay, very loosely associated with Bruce Linton's Father's Forum. As our kids get older, we're sort of becoming a playgroup! We used to hike more....

Remainder of 2002 Schedule (meetings are at 10AM unless noted):

June 16 - Aguatic Park ''Choo-Choo Park'' playground
July 20-21 - Camping at Samuel P. Taylor - All Parental Genders 
Invited!
August 18 - Niles Canyon Railroad, Sunol - Steam Trains - late 
start, 10:30+
September 15 - Bay Trail hike, starting at the Albany Bulb 
October 20 - Crab Cove, Alameda - late Start?
November 17 - Lake Merritt - playground at the bird sanctuary
Nothing in December

We are now using E-groups for communication, http://www.egroups.com/group/EBayDads-Kids If you join, you'll get reminders 2 weeks and 3 days before scheduled events, and you'll be a part of various side discussions that periodically erupt. http://users.lmi.net/~ryoung

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