Parent Voice Autumn 09 blue.pmd - City of Darebin

Playgroups seeking new members:• Pakistani Playgrygroup:meets at Penders Grove PrimarySchool, Victoria St, Thornbury on Tuesday 11.30am -1.30pm. Gold coin donation. Ph Nusra on 0402 566 473.• Intergenerational playgrygroup:meets at Eden TerraceAged Care Facility in Glasgow St, Reservoir on Monday11-1pm. Gold coin donation. Ph Kelly on 9402 0548.• Indigenous playgrygroup:meets at Maya Living FreeHealing Centre, 7-11 Rossmoyne St, Thornbury,Wednesdays 10-2pm. This is a supported playgroup.Ph Shirley on 9480 1111.• Alphington MyTime Playgrygroup(formerly AlphingtonPlaytime Playgroup) meet at Alphington CommunityCentre, 2 Kelvin Rd, on Tuesday 1-3pm.Ph Sue on 0411 499 324. This supported playgroup is foranyone caring for a child under school age with adisability or chronic medical condition.• St Mary’y’s s Playgrygrouphas a religious focus.Meets at St. Mary’s School Hall, Mansfield St, Thornbury.Ph Tania on 0408 527 883 (see page 5 for more details).• Mandarin Language Learning Playgrygroupisconducted in Mandarin. Meets at Clyde St CommunityCentre, 64 Clyde St Thornbury. Mandarin teacherfacilitates playgroup as children learn Mandarin throughplay. Cost: Playgroup term fee of $23.00 plus $16.00 perchild per session. Ph Shelley on 9495 1530.Here e are some more of the range of playgrygroups inDarebin.• Japanese playgrygroupoup: meets at Jika Jika CommunityCentre, Cnr Plant and Union Sts, Northcote on Monday10.30 - 1pm. Ph Maiko on 9435 18 63.• Natural Parenting Playgrygroupsrun from both Jika JikaCommunity Centre (ph 9482 5100) and PrestonNeighbourhood House (ph 9484 5806).• Multiple births: Nimba Playgrygroupoup meets at Clyde StCommunity Centre, 64 Clyde St, Thornbury every 2ndFriday 10-12noon. Ph Antoinette on 9370 0375• Dads Playgroup: Northern thern Dads meet at various homeson Friday 11am-1pm. Ph Clint on 0430 411 495• Post Natal Depression Playgroup: Ponder Playgrygroupmeets at Batman Park Hall, Elm St, Northcote on Monday9.30 -11.30am. Ph Sarah on 0431 039 302• Playgroup for same-sex parented families: RainbowConnections playgrygroupoup, Clyde St Community Centre,64 Clyde St, Thornbury every Wednesday 10am-12.Email Louise on willis_l@bigpond.net.au• Playgroup with a religious focus: St. Gabriel’s s ChurchPlaygrygroupoup, Spring St, Reservoir is a facilitated playgroupwhich meets on Wednesdays 9-11am.Playgroup newsPlaygroups can provide a wonderful opportunityto build lasting friendships. Some playgroupscontinue to meet even though the children havefinished school. Adult children request the regular‘get together’.When you become part of the group, the supportthat is offered can be extremely valuable. With afeeling of acceptance you can discuss parentingissues, raise concerns, get ideas and maybe evenoffer suggestions to others.How do we ensure e that everery playgrygroupmember feels welcomed regardless ofgender, age, culture, religion or background?• Welcome the new family with a smile• Introduce the new family to the other families• Supply name tags for everyone at playgroup forthe the first few weeks. On the parent’s nametags list their child/ren’s names so family units canbe identified• Get to know the family by talking with them. Youmay find out what they hope to gain from theirplaygroup experience and also about their likesand dislikes.• Explain and include the new family into theplaygroup routine.• Make sure the new family is not standing orplaying alone.• Tell them about your playgroup (typical activities,any social outings, fees and what they are usedfor, the way in which all the jobs are shared by allthe families) and if appropriate give them anywritten information you have about theplaygroup.• Involve the family in planning playgroup activities.Make your playgroup environment ‘inclusive’. Youcould display a poster listing ‘welcome’ in severallanguages and learn to say ‘hello’ in different ways.Plan a day where families can bring food from home(be aware of food allergies in both children andadults) or wear their national costumes. Wherepossible include play props (dress-ups, cookingutensils), songs or stories from all cultures intoplaygroup routine.Arriving at their first session of playgroup can bedaunting for any family. With a bit of thought andplanning new families can be made to feel verywelcome.Ideas from PlaygrygroupVictoria literature.Susan Stanecki – Darebin Playgrygroup Liaison &Resource ce Officericer, phone 8470 8115.6