activities and events

Our weekly playgroups are a great way to make good friends. Each group is intentionally small so parents and kids can get to know each other on a regular basis. A group meets weekly on the same day of the week, at the same time. One group comprises approximately 9 families.

Members are matched with a playgroup based on parents’ schedules, group availability, and children’s birth dates. By grouping the kids by school year, our children form friendships that grow with them—from sitting up, to walking, to potty training, to registering for preschools and kindergarten.

Parents who have more than one child can join a playgroup for each of their children’s ages, and siblings are welcome to attend the other’s playgroup.

Group members take turns hosting, which simply means choosing a location for their playgroup to meet. Typical locations include local parks, libraries, nature centers, rec centers, and members’ homes. Weekly playdates generally stay within our membership boundaries and do not cost parents money.

WAM & Fam’s activities coordinator posts monthly events that any of our members can attend. The events appear in both our members-only Google calendar and listserv, so parents can see what opportunities are next and plan ahead.

Past outings and activities have included stroller-paced, kid-paced, or adult-paced walks; meet ups at local parks and playgrounds; pool days at the county aquatic centers; field trips to farms; cookie swaps; coffee dates; seasonal craft projects; story or music hours at the library; and occasional trips into D.C. Generally, we aim to keep these outings to little or no cost.

Any member can suggest an outing for the calendar and be the host, which can be as simple as welcoming members at the gathering and being the event’s point of contact.

Three times a year we host large parties for our general membership. Traditionally, these are a Valentine’s Day party, an end-of-school-year party to kick off the summer, and a Halloween party.

WAM & Fam has a book club! We generally we read all types: fiction, non-fiction, best sellers, classics, memoirs, poetry, etc.

Joining our book club is an excellent way for parents to make some time for themselves; children do not participate, but infants are welcome. We meet once a month and in the evening to discuss a book. Members do not need to finish the book to attend the meeting; however, we might discuss the book’s ending.

Book club members are encouraged to rotate hosting duties, which involves choosing a location and, if desired, leading the discussion. Past locations have included local restaurants and members’ homes. For convenience, we ask that the location be central to WAM & Fam’s membership in the Silver Spring and Wheaton areas.

WAM & Fam is committed staying connected to and giving back to our community through service activities. We regularly run volunteer service activities, aiming for at least once per month. Current and past projects include blood drives, park clean ups, and clothing drives. We are always open to new ideas!