Going for gold: Playcentre’s milestone anniversary
We might have been on holiday for the last six weeks but there has still been plenty going on at Playcentre with the renovation of our new playhouse and mud kitchen. Progress is on track and our tamariki are all looking forward to starting back at centre to check out the new digs!
Planning is also underway for our 50th anniversary celebration in April. We are planning to invite the community to share this special commemorative event with us, so it will be a great opportunity to check out all the changes that have taken place at Playcentre in recent years – especially so for our previous members. We’d be thrilled for any past members (particularly from the early years in the 1970s-80s) to get involved with helping us pull together something wonderful to mark this special occasion. If you are interested in sharing your history and ideas, please email omokoroa@playcentre.org.nz
We are also excited to be hosting two SPACE programmes this year for new babies and their parents. SPACE is aimed mainly at first-time parents but we often have some attendees who bring their second or third babies along just to be able to share a special activity each week with their wee one. SPACE promotes a supportive network for new parents, as well as providing informative and interesting topics of discussion such as sleep, neurological development, and changing identities and expectations. Not only that it’s an awesome way to meet other people at the same age and stage from your local community.
Emma Green, who attended with her son Lewis in 2020, said she "loved being able to share thoughts on topics, meet other mums with the same aged children, loved the outdoor play with 'gloop', water or paints. I felt I learned a lot of new things about motherhood that I never would have thought of. SPACE was a really special place to be, for me and my baby every week… I looked forward to it so much."
Federica, another mum who came with her daughter in 2020, said that "meeting new mums and feeling at home was the highlight for me, a good support group that doesn't make you feel alone. Oh and the morning tea!"
The first session is for babies born between June - October 2020 and while it continues the programme started in term four last year, new babies and parents are more than welcome to come along. This session restarts on Wednesday 3rd February at 12.15pm -2.15pm.
The second session is for babies born between October 2020 - February 2021 and will run from Wednesday 10th March 9.30am-11.30am for approximately 30 weeks (during school terms).
Spaces are currently still available in both sessions so if you or someone you know has a new baby, be sure to book your place as soon as possible as spaces are limited. Book online at www.bookwhen.com/spacebopplaycentres or contact Ōmokoroa Playcentre for further information.