Blog

Emma's Story - Life Before & After Playgroup

Monday, November 12, 2018

Hi There, I’m Emma, mum of two, perilously close in age, preschool children. Miss Scarlett is three, and Master Felix, four. Welcome to my tale of life before, and after Playgroup.

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Crafting Confidence in Children

Wednesday, July 12, 2017

It’s the process not the end result of craft that aids children’s development and confidence in a range of key developmental milestones. Here’s why we think craft is important for children and why we encourage Playgroups to offer craft.

How many families out there have a fridge over flowing with ‘craft creations’?  How many of us at the end of Playgroup take home an extra bag of spaceships and glittery creations? So, is there a point to Playgroups offering varied craft activities each week?

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Playgroups Positive Impact

Wednesday, July 26, 2017

Research shows Playgroups play an important role in children’s development.

Much has been written about the importance of play for children’s development. In fact, play is considered so important for childhood development that it has been recognised by the United Nations High Commission for Human Rights as a basic right of every child.  In today’s world however, we see children engaging in much less play with other children than previous generations. There are a number of reasons why we think this might be happening. Pressures on families are changing due to increased working hours, changes to neighbourhoods make it less inviting for children to meet and mingle, there is less available outdoor play space, there is an increased focus on early literacy and numeracy, and increases in passive entertainment through toys and entertainment devices for children are overwhelming. 

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A Helping Hand

Wednesday, November 15, 2017

Playgroup provides a welcoming place and vital support for parents who suffer postnatal depression.

Attending a new Playgroup for the first time can be daunting: as with any new situation, there are nerves and a feeling of self-consciousness.  But for someone suffering postnatal depression, just getting out the door with a baby (and all the associated baby paraphernalia) can feel completely overwhelming, let alone getting to Playgroup.

This is one of the many reasons why being inclusive at your Playgroup is so important.

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Ages, Stages and Playgroup

Wednesday, December 13, 2017

It’s not news that children love to play and that play is important for children’s development. But how does Playgroup benefit children of different ages and stages? 

The period between birth and seven is the most rapid stage of brain and skill development. Young children’s minds are like sponges, ready and able to absorb more information that we give them credit for. So what does Playgroup provide to babies, toddlers and pre-schoolers in terms of brain development? Clearly Playgroup provides a wide variety of early learning experiences that serve to enrich development. But what are the specifics?

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Structured vs Unstructured Play

Wednesday, November 29, 2017

Play is more than just fun, it's the key to your child's healthy development.

One of the greatest joys of being a parent is seeing your child grow and develop while watching them play, observing them take delight in mastering new skills and making new friends as they play.

Play is more than just fun however; it’s the key to healthy development. From birth, it’s how babies and children learn. It’s how they work out who they are, test their strengths and boundaries, and discover how the world works and where they fit in.

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All in the Family

Wednesday, January 24, 2018

As parents return to work sooner, grandparents are stepping up to care for their grandchildren – and turning to Playgroup for help. 

Grandparents and great grandparents are a wealth of family knowledge, culture and history. They play such an important role in the lives of young children. You only need to see the smiles and laughter that come from both grandparents and children when they’re in the same company to see how important and special these bonds are. 

But as many parents return to work and find that conventional child care options cannot meet their needs, the role of the grandparent is changing. Many now care for their grandchild or grandchildren on a part time or full-time basis. 

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Hands-On Fun!

Wednesday, April 4, 2018

Introduce sensory activities for children with autism and you’ll find other children will love them, too.

Socialising can be a daunting task for parents who have a child with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). But with careful planning, you can create a welcoming, exciting environment that will help these children engage in play at your playgroup.

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Free child development checks

Sunday, April 30, 2023

Free child development checks with Playgroup SA 

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