Welcome to the May 2023 edition of Jiggys Newsletter, where we bring you all the juiciest news and updates from the Jiggys community.

Jiggy’s News

Welcome to Jiggy Wrigglers newsletter with news from our franchises and leaders across the UK. Meet some of our franchisees, find out what it is like to be part of the Jiggy’s team and most importantly, we share some of our top tips based on our years of experience working with babies, toddlers and pre-schoolers. So, take five minutes out of your busy day (grab a cuppa if you can!) and enjoy getting to know the Jiggy team a little bit better. For up-to-date news as and when it happens, make sure to follow our social channels and get involved in the conversation.

Meet CO Founder Katie Clunn

In the beginning

Hi, I’m Katie and I’m mum to three children; Etienne age 15, Amelie age 13 and Sophie age six. Before the birth of my first child in 2007, I had built a solid career in the financial services sector. But like many new mums, while I was on maternity leave, I had started to reflect on the direction that I wanted to take in my career and how that would fit around being a new parent. I started thinking about some sort of music session for mums and babies and put all the plans in motion. But just before my first class was about to launch, I decided to take a trip with my baby to a new Jiggy Wrigglers group that had just opened near to my home. Well, we loved it and I decided to approach the lady that ran the class, explaining my plans and offered her the chance to take the business to the next level.

Building the business

That was back in 2008 and today, there are sessions all over the UK with an award-winning franchise system and a team of 50 people within the Jiggy Wrigglers network. I started franchising in 2011 and although we have grown, we have not lost the core values that were so important to me as a new mum such as friendliness, accessibility and fun, but now it’s on a much bigger scale. We’ve added new and exciting programmes for different age categories and refreshed the branding with four new characters forming the Jiggy family.

Finding a purpose

I’m so proud to be able to provide a space where new parents and their children can meet, have fun and get support. But I’m also very grateful for the franchise system that has allowed so many other parents to make the same leap as I did and leave the 9-5 to find a financial rewarding role as a Jiggy franchisee, that works around their family and brings them so much joy.

New Parent Support Group launches

Being a parent is amazing, but it can also be incredibly challenging. Whether it’s feelings of isolation, a loss of confidence, general overwhelm or you are figuring out the life/work balance now you are a parent, having a new baby is a huge adjustment.

Our Founder Katie was one of the many mums that suffer from postnatal depression (PND) and through our years of experience, we know that many others are going through similar struggles. What helped Katie and many like her, was to form friends and community at Jiggy’s, which is why we are launching our Parent Support Group.

The sessions at Jiggy’s offer new parents the chance to meet others going through similar experiences and gives them the opportunity to share worries or have a laugh over a hot drink and biscuit while the children are entertained. The online support group will extend this important service providing a safe space to ask questions, share tips, offer support and share activities and ideas with each other. We believe parents need to feel valued, included and validated on their journey of parenthood, after all, we all agree that this is the most important job in the world.

Visit our Parent Support Group to access all advice and the community

Parent Support page

Could you run a Jiggy Wrigglers franchise?

Emma Johnson, franchisee of Jiggy Wrigglers Havant and Waterlooville, stepped away from her 15-year teaching career to launch her Jiggy’s. In just over a year, Emma is earning more now than she ever did as a teacher, with her only regret that she should have done it sooner!

“I now earn double of what I used to earn as a teacher, and I can work the hours that fit around my family and lifestyle. It’s totally up to me when I work, and I have achieved that balance of having a successful, financially rewarding career, and being there for the children. I love that even though we are a franchise, we can choose how we grow and what we want to do with the business. It’s wonderful being a business owner but having the comfort blanket of having an experienced franchisor behind you is very reassuring. I also really love what I do, I never have that Monday morning feeling of dread. Making babies and children smile and interact is a lovely way to spend your day and the parents and carers are also so thankful for what you do for the children.”

Sound interesting?

Speak to Katie about opportunities in your area and what the Jiggy Wrigglers franchise opportunity can offer you.

Katie@jiggywrigglers.com

How to thrive by five

If you’ve ever listened to Molly Wright’s TED Talk on ‘How every child can thrive by five’, you will understand the importance of the first five years in children’s health and development, specifically the brain. Thanks to science, we now know how important these years are. The team at Jiggy Wrigglers are experts who can engage children and their families with their specialised teaching, building bonds and aiding healthy development. At Jiggy’s, we give children and their families the tools that they need to thrive.

• Connecting
• Talking
• Playing
• Community

Welcome to the Jiggy’s team

We are delighted to announce that we are expanding again with two new franchisees. Welcome to the team Sam Vaughan Wolf who will be opening Jiggy’s in Petersfield and Lindsay McCarthy who will be opening in West Lancashire. Lovely to have you both on board and if you live near, or have friends near these areas, please let them know that there is a new Jiggy’s in town!

Use your words!

The ability to communicate is one of the most important tools children can possess. They are ready to communicate from birth with crying, then babbling and gesturing before learning any words. Many children find it difficult to communicate, leading to frustration and meltdowns. While some children may need extra support from speech therapists, all children can be helped with some simple daily routines from their parents.

• Talk to your baby as much as possible and maintain eye contact.
• Pay attention to their small forms of communication and respond accordingly.
• Chat about everyday things that you see while out and about.
• Read books, poems or tell stories.
• Sing songs and nursery rhymes and watch their face light up when they start to recognise them.
• Encourage pretend play.

Jiggy’s are looking for leaders

Looking for a fun, rewarding and flexible job? If you love working with children and want to brighten the lives of local families, get in touch and we can let you know about opportunities as a Jiggy Wrigglers leader. Excellent rates of pay and hours to fit between the school runs. Get in touch to find out about all employment opportunities available.

We are also looking for new franchises in the following areas

Glagsow
Kent
Essex
Exeter
Devon
Cornwall
Manchester
Leeds

franchsie@jiggywrigglers.com