National Playgroup Week, between March 18-24, is a time to celebrate and promote the benefits of playgroups for children, families, and communities.
Catholic Education South Australia (CESA) recognises the essential role playgroups have in supporting children, families, and communities through its Supported Playgroups in Catholic Education (SPiCE) Program.
CESA is proud to offer 65 supported playgroups, that are run by trained facilitators and are open to any child aged birth to five years old. The supported playgroups are designed to develop thriving and capable learners and leaders for the world God desires by enabling all participants the time to grow and learn with others. The playgroups are a place where connections can be made, relationships built and wonder, joy and love experienced.
Emily Bowden, an Early Years Consultant, and lead of the SPiCE Program at CESA said:
“Positive and meaningful connections are vital, especially for children aged birth – 3. Our supported playgroups provide opportunities to educate parents and care givers on the important role they have in helping to grow their child’s brain. Through involvement in playgroup, parents and care givers are provided support and practical guidance in learning how to connect and play with their children every day.
“With 65 supported playgroups in our network, we can reach many families with young children. We look forward to talking, singing, reading, and playing with you soon at one of our playgroups!”
CESA is a proud taskforce member of the new statewide Words Grow Minds (WGM) campaign, which was launched on March 12. The campaign’s critical messages focus on brain development and the importance of equipping parents and caregivers with the tools and information to support children to thrive from the outset through talking, playing, reading, and singing.
The WGM campaign is centred around research that shows that the first 1,000 days in a child’s life are crucial for brain development.
As part of the campaign’s roll out, all CESA’s supported playgroup families will receive a WGM resource pack.
CESA welcomes new families to come along and join a playgroup this year. Find your closest playgroup by visiting the CESA website and searching in the CESA School Directory.
Watch the Words Grow Minds Early Childhood Campaign Video and for more information visit the website Words Grow Minds.
On Friday March 8, nine students from five Catholic schools were given the opportunity to present their big ideas on how to improve South Australia, at The Advertiser’s Teen Parliament. The event was held in the House of Assembly at state parliament with politicians and change-makers listening to the 31 Year 10 - Year 12 students speak.
