Playgroup

What is playgroup?

Playgroup is part of the early childhood education and care sector and is the only represented service where parents and carers stay and play with their children to establish the vital bonds needed in the critical early years of childhood development.

A playgroup is a regular meeting of parents and carers with their children, aged 0-5 years, aimed at forging the bonds essential for child development, parental confidence, and community cohesion. A playgroup is a safe and welcoming space where babies and children can learn and develop through play with the support of their parents or carers.

Benefits of playgroups

• A wide variety of play-based learning experiences aimed at fostering children's social, emotional, physical, and cognitive development
• An explicit focus on nurturing the parent-child bond and increasing parental capacity and confidence
• Meaningful social interaction for both children and adults
• Strengthened community connection with peers and local support networks
• Preparation for the transition to kindergarten or the foundation year of school
• Accessible early years education that empowers parents and carers in the role of their child's first teacher