What Are The Benefits Of You And Your Child Attending Playgroup?

Attending a playgroup can bring so many benefits for both the family and parent, as well as for each individual child. Each child and family will have different needs and wants and different reasons for attending a playgroup but the common theme and feedback across all groups are that children are having fun! Below are just some of the benefits for children and their carers attending Playgroup!

1. Playgroup provides an ideal environment for a variety of social interactions - for both adults and children

Following COVID and lockdowns, being able to talk to other adults in person, as a parent or carer has become increasingly important. Being face to face with other parents at a local playgroup allows time for parents and carers to share their experiences, ideas and day to day challenges in a safe and supportive environment. Whilst they are there to support one another they are developing new and much needed relationships with other people in their local community - after all they do say it takes a village to raise a child! Having a support network of people to call on and a regular place to go each week where you know you can openly talk to people who understand in times of need can be crucial to reduce isolation and mental health struggles.

Working together on a common goal such as operating a playgroup can also develop a wonderful sense of community spirit and can open parents up to new networking opportunities and connect you into authentic partnerships which can support you on your parenting journey.

Not only do adults benefit from the social interaction in a regular playgroup, children are also able to thrive in a safe space where they can develop their social skills at their own pace. Each child has their own way of being with other children and developing relationships and this will depend both on their unique personality style as well as their developmental age/stage.

2. Supports transition to school

Playgroups provide a wonderful opportunity for children to learn through play. Learning through play is the most effective way for children to practice and develop the skills they need to- eventually transition to more formal schooling and into their adulthood. 

As we know leaning starts from their very first days of life and is something they will continue to do and hopefully enjoy well into their adulthood.  

Playgroups help support children to have the right dispositions for lifelong learning as they provide a fun, enjoyable and relatively unstructured way to become curious, to explore and to learn.  By providing children time to play freely with a variety of materials and allowing them blocks of time to explore and create, this supports development of creativity, imagination and problem-solving skills which will certainly aid in their transition to school.

Many of the local playgroups which are supported by Playgroup NSW offer activities and resources which are developed with education in mind to ensure the children can learn in an appropriate and open-ended way as well also provide opportunities to experience different, materials and resources to foster their developing skills across a wide variety of developmental areas.

In Playgroup NSW’s supported playgroups, we have trained educators at each group to provide and to plan educational experiences for your children, as well as to offer guidance and support for families in order for them to support their children to transition into school in the future. By having this additional support this can provide a child with an enjoyable, more relaxed yet stimulating environment where they can acquire and practice new skills.

3. Building a child’s resilience and confidence

As we already know the best thing for young babies and children is to have warm and nurturing relationships with their family.  These safe authentic relationships give the child a sense of safety, attachment and stability. This type of relationship can be with parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles or other carers.

A huge benefit of attending a playgroup is that children come along to the groups each week supported by their parents or other carers so from an emotional perspective this time together in a safe space absolutely strengthens the relationship between the child and their carer, because it creates a shared experience.

Whilst at the playgroup your child meets new people in an increasingly familiar environment which allows for a safe space to test short bursts of separation from their carer. This process helps form an important part of beginning to build increasingly levels of confidence in young children as well as supporting them to become increasingly independent.

Being by your parents side during new experiences as a safe base helps children to be able to explore and try new experiences and activities and to move outside their comfort zones, it also supports the development of resilience are parents are close by to support, engage, encourage and model appropriate self-help strategies as needed

4. Having fun and playing alongside your child

Playgroups provide children and families with a safe and happy place to play, to network and to enjoy social interactions. They also provide families a rare opportunity to just relax, slow down, have fun and play with your young child in a non-pressured environment which is supportive of yours and your child’s varying abilities.

We even get the opportunity to spend time outside our regular group environment by going to special events, having guest speakers or even going on excursions as a group!

5. Playgroups provide affordable membership and multiple sessions.

The most amazing thing about Playgroups are that playgroup membership is free!

This means that no matter your budget you can still find a playgroup which provides so much value and can suit you and your families needs even when the purse strings are tight.

How can I find a playgroup near me?

The Playgroup NSW team are here to help connect you with a Playgroup, or we can help you start your very own group. Find your nearest Playgroup here.

Alternatively, you can call the Playgroup NSW number on 1800 171 882 and enquire about playgroups in your area. You can also keep in touch and up to date on all the latest news and fun competitions, by following Playgroup NSW on Facebook and Instagram.