Playcentre passes on message

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 9, Issue 433, 21 April 1992, Page 4

Playcentre passes on message

By

Jo

Howie

Members of the Waiouru Playcentre handed over to community midwife, Libby Tuthil, a newly released video from the Playcentre Federation called 'A Unique Experience, last week. "Libby , comes into contact with most Waiouru mothers and babies, so its a good chance for her to show them the video, and they can learn about Playcentre," said supervisor Jenny Huriwai. Libby has organised a mothers and babies group to meet once a week to discuss various topics such as CPR, asthma, introducing solids, living with pets, medicine care and administration, developmental stages from birth to walking, and cervical smears and breast examinations. The aim of the video is to inform potential members and agencies like Plunket about Playcentre. The main concepts on the video are; what children and parents get out of Playcentre, parent education and the importance Playcentre attaches to adult learning, and the co-operative nature of Playcentre and what that

means. The Playcentres roll is full but Jenny said family membership will not be denied. She said Waiouru has a large population o f preschoolers and the Playcentre is a popular facility. "We are running parent education classes every Tuesday night which include a series of workshops on different areas of play. Interested parents come from Waiouru and surrounding areas to attend the classes, covering topics on music and movement, mucky play, dramatic play, junk and construction.'The parent education classes were organised by Jan Savell and Michelle Summers, the parent education officers. Playcentre play is based on free play with structured environment, and there are 16 different areas of play provided each session. Last week Waiouru Playcentre held an open day as part of national Playcentre week which occurs biannually. Local indentities professionally associated with preschoolers, and community member were invited.