Playgroups are a valued part of family and community life.
Playgroups allow the parent/carer and child to take part in shared experiences, strengthening their relationship and bringing mutual benefits.
Shared play is the foundation to support children’s learning and development, strengthen parenting capacity, and build strong family and community relationships.
Supported playgroups add an extra layer of care by using a trained facilitator to engage families, lead the playgroup program, and link families with supports they may need in their community.
Supported playgroups:
- are flexible and do not have a specific curriculum
- meet for about two hours each week in a local setting such as a community service, Early Years Place, library or school
- can be offered by outreach to remote locations, at community events and local parks
- are offered by a range of not-for-profit organisations, community services, and government agencies.
Setting up a supported playgroup
Download the
practice guide designed for facilitators who coordinate, plan and deliver supported playgroups and the sponsoring organisations that assist and oversee their work.
Videos
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Aims of supported playgroups, transcript
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Stories of success in playgroups, transcript
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Being a playgroup facilitator, transcript
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Facilitator role, skills and qualities, transcript
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Recruiting and supporting facilitators, transcript
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Starting and maintaining a playgroup, transcript
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Working with diverse families, transcript
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Engaging with families and children, transcript
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Connecting playgroup with community, transcript
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Playgroup routines, transcript
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Planning a playgroup session, transcript
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Managing challenges in playgroup, transcript
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Measuring and celebrating playgroup outcomes, transcript
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Becoming a facilitator: Mikayla's Story, transcript