Playgroup SA

During the first few weeks of this term PlayConnect+ families and children have been using all their senses in exploring ‘The Very Hungry Caterpillar’. We have been reading the book during fruit time and offering a variety of sensory and craft activities linking with the book. We even had our little plush hungry caterpillar join us for fruit time. The children have enjoyed making, creating, listening and intertwining different sections of the book within their play during playgroup! We are excited to continue reading The Very Hungry Caterpillar during the first half of the term before introducing another book during the second half.

Parents, did you know?
Repetitive reading is amazing for your children, and we all know just how much children love the same book over and over again. The good news is you don’t have to read the book word for word every time. Change it up by using the pictures to spark conversation and imagination. Ask questions to prompt creativity, you will be amazed at where their imaginations can take it! - Words Grow Minds, 2024.

We love playgroups and recognize the positive impact they have on children and families. Playgroup Census Week offers us a chance to show the government how essential playgroups are for families across Australia and within our local communities.

During the week of September 2nd-8th, we will be gathering attendance data for all playgroups conducted within this timeframe.
For more information go to https://playgroupsa.com.au/playgroupcensus2024.html

What do we mean by being inclusive?
Being inclusive at playgroup and in the wider world can include some of the following:
- A feeling of safety
- Meaningful participation without barriers
- Friendship
- Having a sense of belonging
- Feeling welcome and understood
- Receiving support to participate fully

There are many ways to promote inclusion for children and adults in playgroups. Head to our website for more information on PlayTogether training.

Please do not purchase tickets for tomorrow's event from Facebook scammers. 🚫🚫

The Mud and Play event is SOLD OUT and tickets are not transferable. Unfortunately, scammers prey on everyone. Do not transfer money to anyone who is stating they have tickets available.

WOW we have sold out for tomorrow's Mud and Play event!

Tips for tomorrow:
🧣Rug up it's cold and you'll want to be comfortable!
🥾Wear your gum boots or waterproof shoes.
🎒Bring a change of clothes for the little ones.

Get ready to have a fun morning of messy play! Can't wait to see you there!

Hey Westies! Join in the fun at Flinders Park Primary Playgroup. 👋
9.15am on Thursdays during the school term.
OSHC building, 70 Holbrooks Rd, Flinders Park.

FREE with gorgeous activities, come and play in the cosy house and enjoy the fun outdoor area. 🥰🥰🌷

From the 2nd-8th September 2024 we're doing a Playgroup Census. We know Aussie kids and parents love playgroup, and we're encouraging everyone to get involved and . It's as simple as heading to a local playgroup during the first week of September, checking in, and having a great time engaging in play activities with your children and chatting with other parents. We can't wait to see you there!

Talking with your baby is widely considered one of the most important things a parent can do with their child. 📣 To date, it has been shown that back-and-forth conversation is important for brain structure and function, reading skills, socioemotional and language development, and IQ scores in middle school! Here’s a simple activity that you can do: Talk about what you are doing and thinking - turn daily routines into opportunities for talk. 🗣 For more tips, visit wordsgrowminds.org.au.

🏆 This year we are launching the Playgroup SA Excellence Awards, to recognise and celebrate the excellence and dedication within our playgroup community. These awards recognise the remarkable efforts of playgroups, facilitators, and volunteers who have made significant contributions to the development and well-being of children and families. The awards honour those who go above and beyond to create inclusive, supportive, and stimulating environments where children can thrive, and families can find the support they need. 🏆

The categories for this year's awards include:
Excellence in Inclusion at Playgroup
Excellence in Intergenerational Play and Practice
Excellence in Supported Playgroup Facilitation
Excellence in Family Support and Empowerment (based on survey results)
Playgroup of the Year

Playgroup Coordinators can nominate their own playgroup. To nominate a playgroup, fill out the nomination form available on our website.

Little Garden Explorers at Eastwood Community Centre 🌿🥗👩🏾‍🌾
Tuesdays during term time- 9:30-11am

We are thrilled to introduce the Little Garden Explorers Playgroup at the Eastwood
Community Centre! This inclusive playgroup provides access to a variety of indoor
activities and our beautiful garden, creating a perfect blend of educational and fun
experiences. The playroom opens directly onto a lovely verandah and garden, allowing children to explore and interact with nature seamlessly. We encourage families to bring a piece of fruit to share, fostering a sense of community and healthy eating habits among our young explorers.

Join us at Little Garden Explorers, where every child can grow, learn, and play in a nurturing and inclusive environment.

Check out Butterfly Playgroup's Term 3 program. 👇👌

Tuesday mornings 9.30 - 11.30am
Trott Park Neighbourhood Centre
34 Hessing Crescent
Cost $4 per family call to book in.

Kate and Katie (also known as Kenny Kenny to some playgroup children) set up a wonderful session involving fossil finding at their PlayConnect+ Playgroups this week. Children were engaged and curious and some even experimented with their fossil finds to continue their exploration with play dough and patterns. 🌿🦖🦕🪵

There are six PlayConnect+ Playgroups across metro and regional South Australia.
PlayConnect+ Playgroups

What's on the menu at your house? 🥙🥗 Do your children like a variety of fruits, vegetables and protein? 🤐It can be really hard to deal with fussy eaters.
For more information check out: https://raisingchildren.net.au/toddlers/nutrition-fitness/common-concerns/fussy-eating

This morning Beck and Emma joined Laura at Woodcroft Morphett Vale Neighbourhood Centre for the family fun day and launch of the Babies and Boomers intergenerational playgroup. Loads of families came through and joined in the Words Grow Minds session, Ochre painting, face painting and spoke to various services. Seeing such an engaged community and connecting in so many conversations was fabulous. Well done to all involved! City of Onkaparinga

Come along to Little Garden Patch Play - TOMORROW!
☀️ Outdoor-based playgroup for ages 0-5yrs
🌱 Alternating Thursdays 9:30AM-11AM
🪴Macclesfield Primary School, Adelaide Hills

What’s included?
- Access to the beautiful gardens and cosy Little Garden Shed at the Macclesfield Primary School
- Nature-inspired activities, thoughtfully planned out and prepared with fun & safe resources
- A fresh fruit snack for you and your little ones to enjoy
- A hot beverage of your choice: tea, coffee and hot chocolate available
- A safe space & supportive community of like-minded caregivers
- Public Liability & Personal Property insurance

Are you looking for a playgroup near Ingle Farm? 🥳
Join our new playgroup...
PEEP Learning Together Playgroup
Monday 10.00am - 12.00pm
Family Zone
2 Belalie Ave, Ingle Farm
Contact Ellie

Our 50th Birthday Quiz Night was a wonderful success. 🥳🥳
176 friends and supporters came together to eat, drink and be competitive! We had so many amazing prizes to give away thanks to our generous sponsors! The Brainy Bunch took out top spot and won a gift pack each, with last place earning a wooden spoon and a roll of toilet paper. 😜 Thanks to QuizzaMe Australia and everyone in attendance for making it a fantastic night.

We look forward to our next event; Mud & Play at Cleland. 🐨🌿🍃
Tickets available here: https://www.playgroupsa.com.au/whatson-events.html

MCCSA Multicultural Playgroup 🫶
Children with disabilities are very welcome!

MCCSA Multicultural Playgroup:
Who can attend: parents or carers with a child aged from 0 to 5
When: Every Tuesday during the school term 10:30 am – 12:00 pm, excluding public holidays
Venue: MCCSA Hall (113 Gilbert Street Adelaide 5000)
Cost: $10/term (+Playgroup SA enrolment fee)

MCCSA staff and volunteers all love our playgroups as we want all multicultural children in South Australia to have the best possible start in life and we want parents to feel supported.

If you would like more information or want to attend with your child, please contact Abby Liu via phone 8345 5266 on Tuesdays, or email Abby at [email protected] anytime.

Attention: Playgroup Coordinators! 👋
We want to promote your playgroup! Send us images and a short write-up featuring what makes your playgroup special or unique and we will promote your playgroup as part of registration with Playgroup SA.

🌡️Overheating is a major risk factor for SIDS and SUDI, read on for more information on appropriate bedding for your baby.

🌡️Overheating is one of the major risk factors for SIDS and SUDI, but how do you know how much or what sort of bedding to use to keep baby both warm and safer while sleeping?

To mitigate this risk, Red Nose advises parents and caregivers to use their judgment, considering factors such as climate, heating in the house, and the baby's health status.

Dress your baby in a way that ensures comfort, neither too hot nor too cold, just as you would dress yourself.

Get the facts here: https://rednose.org.au/article/bedding-amount-recommended-for-safe-sleep

Tomorrow night is the night... 7pm - Don't be late!
Playgroup SA 50th Quiz Night at Payneham Bowls Club.

Reminders:
- Organise with your table who is bringing the cob dip. 🤪
- Drinks are to be purchased at the bar. NO BYO of alcohol.
- Practice makes perfect - get your general knowledge up to speed tonight.

There are over $3000 of prizes to win! Let's go playgroupers! 👊

Sensory play at home is made easy. 👌🚕🚖
All you need is uncooked rice, trucks, cups and funnels.
The rice can be used long term, it is easier to clean up than you think!
Place the rice into a large tray to contain spills and you have a wonderful sensory activity that the children will love playing with during the holidays.

Join our playgroup - it’s FREE
WEDNESDAY 10.00am - 12.00pm
(School term only)

Gawler & District College B-12 Children's Centre for Early Childhood Development and Parenting
Gate 6/7, Building 40, Barnet Road, Evanston

Contact: Kate 0456 898 937

Playconnect Plus is a free, safe and supported Playgroup for children aged 0-8 years with a disability, autistic characteristics, developmental delays or behaviour concerns and their families.
A diagnosis is not required for families to attend.

PlayConnect+ is Funded by the Australian Government Department of Social Services
and in partnership with Autism Queensland.

The Learning Tree Ingle Farm 🌳🤍
Residents, families, staff and volunteers at the Ingle Farm care home have created a vibrant community. Our cozy atmosphere and spacious outdoor areas, including a cubby house, provide the perfect setting for families and residents to connect. Our onsite café is available for young and old to enjoy refreshments together.

The Learning Tree Ingle Farm
Wednesday (weekly, school term only)
10am – 11:30am
Phone: 8397 8200
Facilitator: Chantelle
Address: 7-31 Shackleton Ave, Ingle Farm

Join Kate and Katie at Bagster Road Community Centre on Monday!
PlayConnect + is tailored for children with a disability and or developmental delay. Children do not need a diagnosis to attend 🙂
SMS Kate to RSVP 0456 898 937

Join in the fun at the PlayConnect+ School Holiday Session at Mt Gambier Children's Centre! 👇🤩🤩
Wednesday 17th July.
9.30am - 11.30 am
Call or SMS Nicky to RSVP at 0409 448 691

Who's going on a bear hunt? 🐻🌿🌥🌧💧🥰

"I just wanted to tell you about a great session with our Intergenerational “Mums and Bubs” playgroup today at Strathalbyn Aged Care. We had a combined “Bear Hunt” and “Teddy Bear’s Picnic”. The children and their parents came along with their Teddy Bears. We had some Teddy Bears here at the care home. They were all set up and waiting. We put out a picnic rug and set up the bears. We then went on a Bear Hunt. Kate and Amy-Lee set up a fantastic trail of wavy grass, mud, a river, and snow. Both the children and the older friends set off on the bear hunt complete with walking frames, wheelchairs, and binoculars.

We read from the fantastic book by Michael Rosen “We Are Going on a Bear Hunt” and weathered the grass, the mud the river and the snow. Finally, we came to the cave (a blanket and chair cubby). Inside, we found the Bear! A giant teddy Bear. There was a lot of laughter and suspense as the older people and children walked together on “the Bear Hunt’.

After all the excitement we gathered back at the picnic rug for the Teddy Bear’s Picnic. We sang “If You Go Out in the Woods Today” which our older friends knew and “Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear turn around” which the children knew.

We just wanted to share our joy at today’s session."

Thanks so much for sharing with us Jo, Strathalbyn Aged Care Mums and Bubs Playgroup. 🥰🥰

🧚‍♂️⚡️Last Friday morning, Laura from our team, ended Term 2 with a visit to Trevu Playgroup. They all fell down the rabbit hole into Wonderland. Attending the morning tea party were The Mad Hatter, The Cheshire Cat, The White Rabbit and of course. Alice! 🐰🍭☕⚡️

Seeing older friends, coordinators and families participating in this wonderful event and dressing up was fantastic. Nadia and her team at Calvary Trevu House, continue to go above and beyond creating an engaging experience for everyone involved.

It is clear how much joy and happiness seeing the families brings to the older friends.

If you would like more information about Trevu Playgroup at Gawler East contact Nadia on 8522 1045.
Friday mornings 10.30 - 11.30am during school term.

NAIDOC WEEK 🔥🔥
Have you seen the AIATSIS Map of Indigenous Australia?

Australia's First Peoples have lived here for millennia. They are the world's oldest surviving culture, with each population consisting of diverse and unique groups, with their own traditions, languages, and legal systems.

Map of Indigenous Australia The AIATSIS map serves as a visual reminder of the richness and diversity of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australia.