THE BIG PLAYGROUP

Young children's service providers in Broken Hill joined together on March 24th in the Town Square for a morning of activities and promotions to highlight the importance of play.

Maari Ma's Administration Assistant, Tarissa Staker and Jane Slater
from Outreach Toy Library worked together transporting some of our
Healthy Start Playgroup.

The Big Playgroup was one of hundreds to be staged across Australia as part of National
Playgroup Week aimed at highlighting the way in which young children learn and develop together through play.

 

Maari Ma's Early Years Project Leader, Narelle Pascoe, was the coordinator of the event and Administration Assistant, Tarissa Staker, helped out with driving some of the young children who attend Maari Ma's Healthy Start Playgroup and their families.

 

Other organisations in Broken Hill taking part were CentaCare, Child & Family Health, Good Beginnings, Mission Australia, My Time Playgroup and Outreach Toy Library.

More than 100 parents, grandparents and children took part in the
Big Playgroup at the Town Square

The Big Playgroup attracted around 100 participants from a wide cross section of local families and 40 copies of printed information for parents on where and when playgroups are held around Broken Hill called
Places to Play were distributed.

 

There were also 50 cups of fruit salad handed out.

 

Narelle said there were many aspects that made the day a great success including the great attendance, raising the visibility of children and families at play, the parents enjoyed playing and mixing with other parents and linking new families to town with play based learning spaces, and the day was a positive example of collaboration between interagencies working together on a children's event.

 

The morning also generated interest and discussion from local passers by who stopped to ask what was happening and why great publicity for the importance of play.