Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is Tots and Co. all about?
Tots and Co. is a voluntary run organisation which aims to provide a support network to English-speaking families in the Toulouse area. We also use our group to raise funds for children’s charities both in France and the UK.
2. Can I come along and see if I like the group before joining?
Of course! You are welcome to come along to three different meetings at the hall in Léguevin (on different days if you prefer) to see whether you like us before you decide to join as a Tots and Co. member. For Kids Club and the Toulouse Coffee Morning, we ask you to join on your second visit.
3. How do I join Tots and Co.?
You should download the membership form and responsibility disclaimer form from the “How to Join” page on this website. You need to give these two forms plus your payment in cash (euros only) or by cheque (drawn from a French account) to a committee member.
4. What is the primary language used at Tots and Co. meetings?
There is only one language: ENGLISH, ENGLISH and ENGLISH!!!!
5. Can I join Tots and Co. even if English is not my mother tongue?
All our members speak and understand English. But we do certainly welcome non-native speakers ; we have several French mums who are married to English native speakers. Basically, as long as there is one parent who speaks English to the children at home, it doesn’t matter if English is not your mother tongue. Our members, even non-native speakers, always make the effort to speak in English though, as our aim is to provide an English-speaking environment for the parents and children.
6. Will Tots and Co. help my children learn English?
Our totters do not need any formal tuition – most are future bilinguals! – but Mums and Tots does provide the opportunity to hear, understand, and speak English through play, songs, and other more structured activities. If you are a non-speaking English family and would like your children to learn English, there are many mini-schools in Toulouse which cater for young children.
7. Does Tots and Co. do anything to promote the Anglo-Saxon culture as well as the language?
Yes, we are very keen to keep our culture in the thickest of South-West France! We organise Easter egg hunts, Hallowe’en parties with bobbing apples, Christmas parties with mince pies and carols, etc. We are pleased to keep our English community thriving on all fronts in Toulouse!
8. Where is the Tots and Co. headquarters?
Tots and Co. does not have a headquarters or any paid staff. We are an entirely voluntary run organisation holding our weekly get-togethers in the Foyer Rural in Léguevin and other meetings in members’ homes.
9. Will I be expected to help out in some way?
Tots and Co. is run on a voluntary basis and therefore all offers of help are very much appreciated! It may be helping to tidy up the toys and crafts on the days you come along or a more regular way of helping out by being part of the committee. Whatever you wish to do and however involved you’d like to become, please remember that Mums & Tots’ success relies on our members giving something back to the group by helping out.
10. Are all Tots and Co. members on short-term contracts with Airbus, just passing through?
Until a few years ago this used to be the predominant group within the Mums & Tots members list. However some of those short term contracts do tend to turn into long term ones once you understand the joys of living in the South of France!
Also, in the last two years we have seen a significant membership increase of Mums with French partners who are here for the ‘long term’. The strength of our group is somewhat thanks to the fact that we have such a mix of members and that some will be experiencing the short-term worries as others are coming to terms with bringing up children bi-lingually in the long term. It all makes for a good natter over a cup of tea!
11. I’m going through a tough time with a divorce / bereavement / difficult pregnancy / health issues with my child, etc. Can Tots and Co. offer any particular support?
Tots and Co. is first and foremost a network of support for English-speaking mothers in the Toulouse area. We are not a trained counselling service but we do have Mums who have been through different traumas over the years our group has been running. All these Mums would be more than happy to listen and give you some advice. All you need to do is contact your ‘buddy’ or a committee member on a strictly confidential basis and we will do our very best to provide you with the support you need. Please ask if there’s something you need our help with – we can only help you if we know about it!
12. I’ll be moving to France in the next few months, can I join Tots and Co. before I get there?
Yes, by all means. You’ll need to download the membership form and responsibility disclaimer form from the “How to Join” page on this website and post these to us with your payment in cash (Euros only) or by (French) cheque. Please send an email to the contact on the “How to join us” page and she will send you the postal address to send your forms and payment to us.
13. I’m totally new to Toulouse and am feeling rather overwhelmed with everything, how can Tots and Co. help me?
Tots and Co. is made up of members who have been through exactly the same experience as you. Come along to our regular meetings and talk to other people about how they have coped and settled into their new lives here. You’ll be amazed at the wealth of good advice! Also, once you are a signed-up member you will be assigned a “buddy” contact who will be your local representative of the Tots and Co. group. This person will live in your area and be available to help with any questions you may have about Mums & Tots, Toulouse, motherhood or whatever else!
14. I’m expecting my first baby, can I still come along to the group?
Absolutely! We welcome expectant Mums to come along to our meetings during their pregnancy. It’s a great way to meet everybody and feel settled in the group before the bump becomes a baby! We also run a Pregnancy and New Mother Support Group as part of Tots and Co. which you would also be able to attend.
15. I’ve just found out I’m pregnant with my first baby and am rather scared at the thought of giving birth in France. Can Tots and Co. offer any advice?
Yes, and we can do a whole lot more too! We now run a Pregnancy and New Mother Support group to give you the help you need through your pregnancy and the first months with your new baby. You will also be given a booklet called the “Pregnancy Support Guide – Having a baby in Toulouse” which outlines all the medical check-ups you need to have and which administrative forms you need to fill in when.
16. My children are now in school, does Tots and Co. offer anything for school age children?
Yes we do! We have a Kids’ Club which meets once a month on a “mercredi libéré” (the Wednesday when there is no school) for children aged 3 years and over. We have an age range between 3 and 11. We meet in the Centre SEPT, in Toulouse, and organise two separate groups: one for the 3-4 age range and one for the +5 year olds.
17. I’ve been living in France for nearly 10 years and am totally bi-lingual, how useful would Tots and Co. be to me?
Even if you’ve been in France for a while, you may be new to Toulouse or new to parenting. Tots and Co. can offer you the chance to meet other English speaking Mums in the area. We often find that even if you’ve lived a ‘French life’ in France for a long time, becoming a Mum suddenly spurs you into thinking about your English roots and you feel the need to be able to share your mother tongue & culture with your new bundle of joy. We have many bi-lingual families within the group who have found as much support from Mums & Tots as the ‘all English’ speaking families.
18. Are all Tots and Co. members ‘stay-at-home’ Mums?
The majority of Mums who come along to the Tuesday & Friday meetings are. However we do have some Mums who work part-time or are actively looking to get back into employment. If you’re in full time employment you can become a Social member and still enjoy the social side of Mums & Tots (see question below).
19. I work full-time, are there any Tots and Co. activities I can come along to?
Our regular meetings with mums and children are held during the week. However you are welcome to come along on days off whenever possible. You would also be able to come along to the Mums Nights Out, which happen once a month. There is a Social Membership which enables you to keep in touch with what Tots and Co. is doing and to enjoy all our social gatherings – a bargain at 20 euros for the school year!
20. Does Tots and Co. do anything with the Dads too?
Dads, grandparents and friends are welcome to attend any of our meetings just like the Mums. To include the Dads in some of the Tots and Co. fun we do organise a few outings each year in the warmer months for all the family: a family picnic in May and a Father’s Day barbecue in June. We also have some evening events where Dads are invited, for example our Christmas night out.
21. Does Tots and Co. offer any activities for Mums without the children?!
Yes, we have a monthly night out for Mums only – we deserve it! We generally go out for a meal but evenings do range from bowling, cinema, dancing, etc. You’ll need to check on the monthly schedule and sign up by e-mail.
22. Does Tots and Co. still meet up in the school holidays?
As a general rule, no, we usually only meet during term time. During the Christmas Holidays we do not have the use of the hall. However during half-term in February and October and the Easter holidays we do sometimes open up on Fridays. You’ll need to check the monthly schedules to make sure.
However, because the summer holidays are very long in France and we can’t possible survive without our weekly dose of Tots and Co.(!) we do organise two meetings each week over the school holidays in July and August. We have coffee mornings in members’ homes and we organise trips to parks, swimming pools, etc. If you’re planning on arriving in Toulouse over the summer, please send us an e-mail and we will send you the ‘Summer Meets Schedule’ so that you can get to know everybody before school starts back in September!
23. Can Tots and Co. help me find a babysitter / nanny for my children?
Tots and Co. cannot recommend babysitters or nannies. However as a Tots and Co. member you can place an advert looking for or offering babysitting / nannying services in our newsletter. Tots and Co. also runs local area babysitting groups with a token system for day-time and / or evening babysitting. For more information on the Tots and Co. baby-sitting circle, please contact a committee member.
24. I’m a working Mum, can my child’s nanny / childminder / grandparent bring him / her along?
Yes, as long as you as the parent are a member of Tots and Co., another authorised person may accompany your child to the group. However, please remember that this person will need to abide by the “English only” rule when at our meetings.
25. What is the e-mail etiquette with the Tots and Co. distribution list?
The Tots and Co. e-mail distribution list is for Tots and Co. use only and should not be used for private purposes.
If you do have something which you think would be of interest to all members, please forward it to the President, Vice-President, Secretary or Vice-Secretary who will then decide whether the information should be sent out to all members or not.
26. I have a list of baby items / house items to sell. How can I inform Tots and Co. members?
We do not allow members to e-mail the Tots and Co. distribution list with private requests / items for sale, etc. If you are a Tots and Co. member, you can place an advert in our quarterly newsletter free of charge. You can also print a copy of your advert and leave it by the kitchen area for Mums to look at at our weekly meetings. Another way is to use the Tots and Co. forum (there is a topic section called ‘For sale and Wanted’).
27. How can I advertise my product(s) / service(s) to Tots members?
Please do not send out any emails to the Tots and Co. distribution list. Advertising is free for full members, 20 euros for 4 issues for Social Members, and 40 euros for 4 issues for non-members.
