The power of playgroups in playfully preparing for school and lifelong learning! The Enhanced Transition to Schools (ETTS) Project is a partnership between Playgroup WA, the Department for Education, Association of Independent Schools WA (AISWA), and Catholic Education WA (CEWA). The focus of the project: Strengthening family engagement with schools…
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Children’s Week 2024: Celebrated from October 19th to 27th, Children’s Week is a special time to recognise the rights of all children and to celebrate their potential to thrive through play, creativity, and exploration. It’s a week filled with fun, family-friendly events and activities that encourage children and their families…
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Host a Pizza* & Paper Planes event at your Playgroup to celebrate Father's Day! Playgroup WA and The Fathering Project are joining forces to invite playgroups to host their own Father's Day celebration with a Pizza and Paper Planes event! Invite dads and father-figures to come along with their families…
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National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children's Day is held annually on 4 August to celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children. This day encourages services and organisations to be inclusive of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in early years services and schools. Watch and Share this Video by…
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As many parents would have experienced, young children need to learn emotional self-management to be able to transition from one activity they are enjoying to the next activity without a meltdown. Many parents find helping a child finish using a screen device challenging. As part of a study funded by…
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COMPETITION HAS CLOSED. Thank you for entering. Winners have been drawn. Congratulations to the 5 winners! Enter for your chance to win one of five Junior Wild Vet incursions at your playgroup! 🦁 🐊 We’re giving five lucky playgroups the chance to win a Junior Wild Vet incursion run by…
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*Competition closed* Believe in the power of imagination. Harold and the Purple Crayon is exclusively in cinemas September 12, 2024. Watch the trailer on YouTube here: https://bit.ly/44RImEG Inside of his book, adventurous Harold (Zachary Levi) can make anything come to life simply by drawing it. After he grows up and…
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Everyone knows that being physically active is great for kids and helps them be healthy and happy. But many of us worry that technology use is reducing the physical activity of our children. Playgroup WA has been working with ABC Kids, Raising Children Network and Curtin University on a project…
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These easy handprint crafts make sweet Mother's Day gifts and keepsakes! Handprint Flower Card What you need: Paint Paint brushes and/or sponge Card What to do: You can do this in two ways: take a damp sponge and put it on a plate, apply a few squirts of paint…
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Get your hand's messy with your little ones with Earth seed bombs! This activity is great for sensory play and also provides an opportunity to talk about the planet and how plants grow! What you need: Coloured paper (blue, white, green) Packets of seeds Water Bowls Blender What to do:…
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Hop to it and create some bunny-tastic art with your little one's footprints! Image credit What you need: Paper/card Paint Paper plates Pipecleaners What to do: Paint 2 paper plates and cut the edge off one to make it slightly smaller, glue the plates to make the head and…
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Get your little ones out & about, exploring nature and their creativity with this leaf painting craft! Image credit What you need: Paints Paint brush Paper or card (optional) Leaves What to do: Take your little ones out for a walk and collect fallen leaves Let your child's creativity…
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Help your little ones express their love with this super sweet handprint love bug craft! What you need: Construction paper or card stock Red and black washable paint Sponge or paint brush Black marker Googley eyes (optional) Scissors Glue What to do: Cut out a small circle for the lady…
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Discover a variety of fun and festive Christmas crafts and activities perfect for little ones aged 0-5! These simple, hands-on ideas are easy to do at home and help develop fine motor skills, creativity, and holiday spirit. From sensory play to keepsake crafts, there's something for every child to enjoy…
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In 2022, First Friends Playgroup Inc was at risk of having to close its doors. Faced with falling membership numbers, an ageing building, a lease with high maintenance responsibilities and costly bills, the playgroup was at breaking point. The committee was exhausted and close to burnout. The committee shared their…
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Playing with playdough provides many benefits for young children and toddlers. Playdough is a classic childhood favourite that’s been around for many years and provides hours of fun. Children love playdough because it’s the perfect play activity – it’s squishy, colourful and there’s no wrong or right way to play.…
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Intergenerational Playgroups are so special to us at Playgroup WA. And you can see why with our latest video! These groups are a wonderful way to build beautiful relationships for both the families and seniors. They offer opportunities to broaden a child’s life experiences, build acceptance of older people and…
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Incorporating recycled plastic bottles as toys is a great way to incorporate recycling concepts into play time. We've previously shared the benefits of using plastic bottles as homemade toys. Showing children how to reuse and recycle materials for different purposes is an important learning opportunity too. There are endless ways…
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We know many of our school groups have been impacted by COVID regulations preventing groups from meeting at school. But this does not have to stop you from seeing one another - meeting at your local park or playground is a great way to continue to meet up and connect.…
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Incorporating a tray for play time encourages open-ended exploratory play opportunities. They're perfect DIY activities you can set up easily at playgroup or anywhere such as the park or home. Setting up play activities using a tray is great for little hands as it can help keep kids focused while…
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Sorting is one of the first skills that our kids can master. It may seem like an easy skill, but sorting is so much more. Sorting is the ability to identify similarities and differences among a set of objects and grouping them accordingly. When your child is engaging in these…
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Playgroup WA member discounts continue! Our gift to you 💝 Playgroup WA family members have exclusive access to a wide range of discounts on movie tickets, attractions, experiences and gift cards. This includes some of your favourite places like Event Cinemas, HOYTS, Wanneroo Botanical Gardens & Mini Golf, Adventure World,…
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If you're looking for simple water play ideas that are easy but guaranteed to keep your little one busy then check out our list! Water play is very beneficial for little ones for so many reasons. We love it because it's simple, versatile and can be done any time of…
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2022 marks 50 years of Playgroup WA! We're so excited to be celebrating this amazing milestone and have lots of fun things planned, including stories and celebrations throughout the past 50 years. And we'd love to hear from anyone who has a story to tell or photos from playgroup from…
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There are so many benefits from children attending playgroup. We know the research shows that children who attend playgroup in the early years have significantly better child development when they start school. The period between birth and 5 years is the most rapid stage of brain and skill development. Kids…
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Bring a Senior to Playgroup Week (4-10 November 2024) is Playgroup WA's annual celebration of the important role seniors play in our families and communities. While we know many grandparents and other special seniors already attend playgroup, it's time to celebrate the many wonderful ways they inspire, nurture and play! …
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Announcing the new Playgroup WA Resource Kit Playgroup WA is excited to announce our new Playgroup WA Resource Kit. This new online resource is packed full of information on the playgroup sector and how to manage playgroups. It is a ‘one-stop destination’ for anyone interested in running, hosting, attending or making…
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Looking for fun indoor activities to do with your toddler? Look no further. Setting up activities when you're stuck indoors doesn't need to be difficult or elaborate - in fact, they should be easy and most of the time, you can use things from around the house. We asked our…
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Looking for messy play ideas? Messy play (and sensory play) is a fun activity for kids of all ages! It engages all the senses and is particularly important form of play especially for babies and toddlers. If you like, you can read about the benefits of messy play here. The…
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Messy play is lots of fun and a great opportunity for little ones to develop some important skills. Many parents can be hesitant when they first think about messy play but they don’t need to be! Kids need to understand the world through their senses. Messy play provides children with…
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Everyone wants to feel comfortable and included at playgroup, but sometimes it can be a challenge to know how to achieve that when a child seems to be “a bit different”. As a parent of an adult child with autism, working as a special needs education assistant and being a…
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In October, DVassist launched a new helpline specifically for people living in regional and remote WA who are experiencing domestic violence. DVassist provides free support and counselling for any person in regional WA who feels unsafe, disrespected or isolated in their relationship. The DVassist team is made up of qualified counsellors who have experience working with people…
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No matter how big or small your playgroup is, all playgroups need people to work together to help make things happen. Your playgroup may have a formal committee with clearly defined roles and tasks, or you may be part of a group that has a more informal way of organising things. Either way…
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As we enter the home run for 2020 and start to gear up for Christmas - spare a thought for your pre-schooler’s mental health. It is saddening to know that 1 in 7 primary school children in Australia struggle with poor mental health*. It’s a very fast-paced adult world we…
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With the weather warming up it is a perfect time for some nature play. Involving nature in play settings is a lovely way to get children take more notice of their natural surroundings and also encourages imaginative play. Half the fun of nature inspired activities is heading outdoors to collect…
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I will never forget the first time at a playgroup when a tired baby cried. The baby’s mum was worried that the sound would bother the senior members of the group. Several of the senior members had memory difficulties and high care needs and we weren’t sure how they were going to react. However, the cries and gurgles seemed to awaken wonder and…
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One of our Playgroup WA staff members was very lucky during a regional visits to Waabiny Time Playgroup in Albany to have prominent indigenous elder "Aunty Averil" make her very special style of fried damper. Averil is a well-known highly respected Noongar Elder as well as being a great grandmother…
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Books are entertaining and fun but more than that, sharing books with your child is extremely beneficial for their early development and life long learning. Reading books with your children provides them with many building blocks for important development throughout life. Books spark the imagination, expands their vocabulary and encourages…
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It’s time to get spooky! If you’re looking for Halloween themed activities then have a look at what some of our playgroups have done. These are great for you to do at your own playgroup or at home. Sensory Activity Stations Gooseberry Hill playgroup had different sensory stations for their…
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Parenting can be challenging at times and, as they say, it takes a village to raise a child. As we have seen changes to our current community situation, having access to parenting support is more important than ever. Whether you live in the Perth metropolitan area or regional Western Australia,…
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Celebrate Earth Day with your little ones with these activities! Every year on April 22nd, Earth Day brings the world together to celebrate, and it’s the perfect time to talk about our wonderful planet with our little ones! When children connect and contribute to their world, it broadens their experiences…
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In this challenging time, we have some exciting news. We have launched a new Facebook group called Playgroup at Home WA. This group is for WA families with children aged 0-5 years and in it we will share many different activities and ideas to keep you inspired, entertained and connected…
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It’s never too early to start practicing good hygiene habits with our little ones. Children learn a great deal by copying the behavior of their parents, caregivers and other kids. The best way to teach children about good hygiene is to make sure we practice good habits ourselves. Here are some of…
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In celebration of National Playgroup Week, Playgroup WA will be holding local, community play days throughout out Perth! These free events are for parents/carers with children under 5 years, and will be a great opportunity for families to get together for some fun, play and a chance to meet others…
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Welcome to our first Case Study blog! This new blog series is all about playgroups sharing their ideas and experiences so that other playgroups can get inspired and find out what has worked and lessons learnt. We’ll be chatting with playgroups about topics like fundraising, membership drives, getting people to join the…
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Using scissors helps to improve hand eye coordination and is great for building muscle tone that will be required for writing later on in schooling years. It is also something that requires a bit of practice! Often little ones may start to show an interest in cutting but can find…
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Homemade toys, such as recycled bottles, can provide the same level of fun and learning opportunities as most mainstream toys. Toys are fun and a great way to extend the play experience but they don't need to be fancy. Especially for the younger ones. A good toy is one that stimulates your…
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Pre-writing skills are fundamental in developing the ability to write. Handwriting is a skill that is developed over time. To master handwriting children need to combine fine motor skills, language, memory and concentration. Acquiring these skills will contribute to your child’s ability to hold and use a pencil, write, draw…
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Encouraging early literacy (pre-reading and pre-writing) skills can be developed through every day experiences and play. Being able to recite the alphabet or write their name doesn't always mean a child will be able to pick up these skills quickly at school, pre-primary or even kindergarten. IN fact, a lot…
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Christmas is a wonderful time of the year - and with it comes lots of festive inspired crafts to do at playgroup or at home! We have listed some of our favourite Christmas themed activities for you and best of all, they are all simple and easy to do. Christmas…
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The pressures of modern life can mean new mums and dads have unrealistic ideas about parenthood. Having a baby can be hugely challenging and adjusting to your new roles can take time. Having a good understanding of what to expect and how you might cope when baby comes home will…
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Many playgroups often enlist the help of volunteers to help out with their playgroup. What is the difference between a volunteer and a member? A member is a parent or carer with a child currently attending the playgroup. A volunteer is a person who doesn't have children attending the playgroup…
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The WA Government through Lotterywest has approved a grant of $200,000 a year for the next three years to provide financial support to community playgroups. Today, the Hon. Simone McGurk, Minister for Child Protection; Women’s Interests; Prevention of Family and Domestic Violence; Community Services, visited Inglewood Playgroup to officially present…
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Did you know? Research has shown that young children can easily learn road drills or rules but nay not use them in dangerous situations or simply recite them without understanding them. Smart Steps Hint... Increase your child's road safety skills and understanding by doing some practical road-side training with them,…
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Recruiting committee members Are you looking at recruiting members for your playgroup committee? Read some of our tips below to help with getting members to join! Provide clear information about the jobs and tasks involved including how much of their free time will be required. You will find most members will…
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The colder months are here and sometimes this can present a challenge to keep kids entertained at playgroup. But don't let the rain stop you from having fun - we've written some fun ideas to do with the kids at playgroup (and at home!). 1. Hold a disco Dancing promotes…
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Who doesn’t love getting in the kitchen with the kids? If you’re looking for some inspiration and a great way to talk about road safety with your little ones then try our fun Traffic Light Sandwich recipe. This activity is also a great one to do at playgroup. Items you…
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Our children can be encouraged to be safe pedestrians from very early on. And one of the simplest ways to start is by asking your child to hold hands. It’s an easy concept for them to understand and one you should start practising the moment they start walking. Try and…
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Celebrate National Families Week with these fun activities! National Families Week (held between 15 - 21 May) is a wonderful time to celebrate the importance of family in our life and our community. The aim of the Week is to celebrate the vital role that families play in Australian society.…
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With most playgroups on break over the school holidays, we know that sometimes getting inspiration for play ideas to do at home can be tough. Activities don't need to be overly complicated and you'll be surprised how engaged kids will get with even the simplest of play ideas. Playgroup WA…
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This recipe is so simple and perfect for little hands to help with! And with only two ingredients it's an easy introduction into cooking with your little one. And once the dough is made the options of what you do with it are endless - you can make pizza, scrolls,…
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Ever noticed how children use their senses to engage with the world from a really young age? When they have rich sensory experiences whether at a playgroup, at home, in the park or anywhere else, it boosts their brain development. Research has found that children learn by interacting, practising and…
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Do you remember when you joined playgroup for the first time? What were the things that made you feel welcomed? People seek out to join a playgroup for numerous reasons and visiting a playgroup can be a daunting feeling for some - remember, this person is stepping out of their…
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The year is coming fast to an end (when did this happen??) which also means that for many parents there is another thing on their mind......the countdown to kindy! It's a bittersweet time, our little ones are embarking on a new journey of independence and an exciting new phase in…
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This time of year is certainly wonderful; there's a special magic in the air! The end of the year often sees us reflecting on the last twelve months while looking onwards to the possibilities a whole new year promises. This also means that for some of our wonderful friends, it…
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Keep cool – there are many ways to keep cool this Summer! In addition to drinking lots of water, squirty bottles are great fun and excellent for building hand strength and gripping skills - helpful when children eventually learn to hold a pencil and write. Other ways to keep cool…
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Being a parent is role I love but one fraught with challenges. However, on an average day, being a parent is what I live for. And I know ‘parents’ come in all different shapes and sizes. The Working Parent One I want to touch on now is the Working Parent…
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When it’s cold outside it’s easy to get grumpy and forget what fun can be had indoors! One of my favourites is dress ups – and loads of new looks can be made from discarded materials you’ll likely have at home or stored at playgroup. Ask your playgroup families collect…
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Playgroup WA has been supporting, servicing and establishing playgroups throughout Western Australia since 1972.
