What is a playgroup?
A playgroup is a regular and relaxed meeting for young children who haven’t yet started school and their parents or carers.
In a playgroup, children play and do activities together and with their parents. Parents supervise and socialise.
Playgroups usually happen once a week.
Most playgroups have set locations. These include preschools, schools, faith-based venues, community halls, aged care homes and parks. Sometimes playgroups move from one location to another.
Playgroups Australia’s Playgroup at Home initiative connects families, playgroup volunteers, children’s educators, entertainers and authors. This is a great way to get and share ideas for children’s play, health and wellbeing, especially when you can’t leave home or live in a rural or regional area.
Why playgroups are good for children
Playgroups can be great fun! They’re a good opportunity for children to do enjoyable activities together and make friends. Also, children learn best through play.
At playgroup, your child can:
- enjoy looking at books, playing music and doing craft
- try out new and creative activities, equipment and toys
- play with other children of different ages
- learn to follow routines
- learn to interact with adults other than their own parents or caregivers.
If your child can try different play activities, it gives them many ways to learn, as well as many chances to practise what they’re learning. For example, jigsaw puzzles give your child practice at solving problems using trial and error. Craft activities let your child experiment with different ways to use materials and make things, while developing their hand-eye coordination. And jumping through hoops outside helps your child build physical skills and confidence.
Playgroups can also help your child start developing skills they need for preschool and school, like sharing, taking turns, making friends and being part of a group.
Some playgroups are designed specifically for children with disability. Contact Playgroup Australia to ask about groups in your area, or visit PlayConnect+ to find out about groups for autistic children and children with disability or developmental concerns.
Why playgroups are good for parents and carers
Playgroups can give you and your child time for play away from home and routines. They’re also a good option if you feel that you don’t have a lot of activities for your child to do at home or you’re looking for new ideas for playing with your child.
Playgroups give you the chance to:
- meet new people and make new friends
- share tips, concerns, ideas and experiences
- learn from other parents and carers
- learn more about your community
- connect with local services like child care centres, community or mobile preschools or kindergartens, schools and more.
Some playgroups are run in community languages like Chinese, Vietnamese, German, Italian, Spanish, Arabic, Farsi, Dutch, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages and many more. And there are playgroups for specific groups, like fathers, LGBTIQ+ families, foster carers, grandparents and kinship carers.
How to find a playgroup
You can find playgroups across Australia. To contact an existing playgroup or to set up a playgroup, talk to your local playgroup association. There’s a playgroup association in every state and territory in Australia.
Playgroup associations can offer:
- resources, play ideas and professional support
- advice about how to organise a playgroup session
- regular playgroup publications
- information on programs, conferences and workshops
- training
- comprehensive insurance cover
- details of special events like National Playgroup Week or children’s concerts.
Most playgroup associations are members of Playgroup Australia.
Types of playgroups
There are 3 main types of playgroups.
Community playgroups
These playgroups are managed by the parents and carers who use them. They’re usually non-profit, which means they’re low cost and anybody can go. Over a third of children in Australia go to community playgroups.
Supported playgroups
These playgroups are helped by a facilitator and are generally organised by family support organisations or non-government organisations. These playgroups can support families facing challenges, including newly arrived or refugee families, teenage parent families, families living with mental health problems and so on.
Intensive support playgroups
These playgroups are for families who have complex support needs. They’re usually facilitated by a social worker and a family support worker. These playgroups help parents learn about raising children, creating a safe environment where young children can learn, and getting support from community services.