Two new Manx parent and toddler groups have started up in Braddan and Castletown.

The groups are organised by Possan Cloie - a ’pre-school parents and tots group for those wishing to find out about the Manx language, learn with their little ones and practice with other learners’.

They want to enable parents and carers to learn and use a little bit of Manx in an informal setting.

There is a well established group in St John’s run by Mooinjer Veggey, the Manx Education charity and supported by Culture Vannin.

Now Mooinjer Veggey has started two new groups, one in the Civic Centre, Castletown and another at Braddan School House, right next door to Braddan School.

All the groups have a craft session which follows the seasons, Manx cultural events and special dates, and the children and parents learn songs and rhymes in Manx.

Helen Robinson from Mooinjer Veggey said: ’The establishment of parents and tots groups is very important as it develops interest in learning Manx for both the adult and child.

’The one at St John’s has been running for several years and it has been very popular and there are quite a lot of people who come to it.’

The groups are open to all, not only those who wish to learn Manx.

She continued: ’Even if they come not really particularly interested in learning Manx, some people come just because it’s a parent and tots group, but then they develop and interest, so it’s important for Mooinjer Veggey because it expands the group of people who develop an interest in Manx, which is why we function really!

’We want to encourage more people to be interested in Manx language and culture so the parent and tots groups are a great way of introducing new people to the language, people who hadn’t thought they were interested in the first place.’

A nice side effect of the groups is that once that interest in Manx is developed within the parents and children, some go on to attend Bunscoill Ghaelgagh in St John’s, the only school taught fully in Manx on the island.

The aim is that children who attend the school are able to learn the language fluently, something which continues to be a success.

In September, it celebrated 20 years since it opened its doors.

’Mrs Robinson said: ’We have had some people come along not knowing anything about it and they end up going to Bunscoill, so you know, it’s great when that happens.

’Just to get a few people who go to Mooinjer Veggey nursery and then onto the Bunscoill Ghaelgagh, that’s brilliant really.’

She added: ’We are very excited to have two new groups started this year, and it is our aim to establish more in other parts of the island.’

The groups are open to all.

For more details about the various groups, visit Possan Cloie’s Facebook page, Mooinjer Veggey’s website, or telephone: 801925.