Playcentres offer family- involved pre-schooling

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 9, Issue 431, 7 April 1992, Page 5

Playcentres offer familyinvolved pre-schooling

BYPLAYCENTRE PUBUCnY OFFICER-

PAULINE

BRENNAN.

Raetihi and Waiouru playcentres are holding open days Thursday and Wednesday respectively to celebrate Playcentre Week. Playcentre is a preschool organisation designed to develop children through play and interaction with other people, both children and adults. Playcentre is leading the way in a child-cen-tred approach to learning, play based programmes, family involvement, positive discipline and providing for parent education and training. The organisation started in 1941 when groups were formed by parents who wanted to be directly involved with their children's preschool development. Over the years the organisation has grown into a nationwide parent co-operative with 616 centres. Playcentre believes the whole family matters and should have the opportunity to be directly involved in the development and learning of their children. It believes all children have the right to safe and stimulating play in a nurturing environment and it is through such play and support in small community groups that young children can best develop. Free play Playcentres run free play programmes. This means that during the entire session the children are free to choose to work at any of the different activities provided, eg blocks, paint, fingerpaint, collage, puzzles, carpentry, crafts, sand water and equipment for climbing, swinging, sliding, dressing up, cooking, storytelling, music, science and imaginative play - being a social situation there need to be guide-lines and limits for acceptable be-

haviour. It is essential to respect the needs and rights of others so that all are free to choose. Any child may work for as long as she/he wishes at a chosen activity providing she/he is not interrupting another child's play

or abusing the equipment, or creating danger for self or others. These situations are dealt with quickly and positively by the adults present. Children soon learn that a caring adult is always within call to help with ideas and solutions.

if they are needed. To celebrate Playcentre Week the local Playcentres are holding Open Days: Raetihi Playcentre Thursday 9 April 9.30 - 11.30am. Waiouru Playcentre Wednesday 8 April 9.30 - Ilam. Normal session times

are: Raetihi Playcentre, Monday to Friday 9am - 12noon, phone 3854065 Pauline Brennan for further details; Waiouru Playcentre, Tuesday to Thursday 9am - 11.30am, phone 3876324 Joanna Saunders for further details.