Jackson Bell
There is more involved than the name Mommy & Me might suggest.
The Burbank-based company, in fact, encourages playtime among
children and anyone who watches over them -- including fathers,
grandparents or other legal guardians.
"Mommy & Me allows the primary caretaker, whomever that might be,
and the child to get together and learn from each other while
spending quality one-on-one time," company President Jane Pemberton
said.
Founded in 1989 by a child development specialist, Mommy & Me
provides the tools and know-how for guardians to spend more time
interacting with newborn to 5-year-old children through playtime.
The company, which was purchased by DIC Entertain- ment and moved
to Burbank 2 1/2 years ago, has two facets.
The Mommy & Me Assn. is a national organization that provides
instruction and toys to people who want to either set up or join a
parent/child playgroup with other families. There are 4 million
people in the United States participating in 30,000 playgroups,
Pemberton said, adding that the company offers groups more than 1,000
activities and instructional tips.
People can also log onto www.mommyandme.com and enter their ZIP
Code to find a local playgroup they might want to join.
"It's challenging to have children, and a new experience for many
people," she said. "Many parents are desperate to meet other people
like them. And up until Mommy & Me, there wasn't a service like this
that got people involved in playgroups."
The Mommy & Me Co. is the leg of the business that provides
multimedia items for guardians and their children to play with at
home.
The company's more recent item, "playgroup-in-a-bag," was rolled
out about 10 days ago to Targets across the county, Pemberton said.
The package features hand puppets and an interactive CD and DVD.
Other toys and instructional videos are available at such retail
chains as Borders and Wal-Mart.
"It's so important that parents spend time with their children,
because that is how children learn about the world around them and
[develop] relationships with people," said Senior Vice President
Shelley Miles. "We supply them with the tools they need."
