Pre-school education encouraged

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 5, Issue 21, 20 October 1987, Page 13

Pre-school education encouraged

The Waimarino's new I community pre-school worker is well suited to the job, with three school-age children of her own and nearly 12 years involved in playcentre and kindergarten. Mary Parsons took over the position from former community pre-school worker Michelle Coley, who shifted to Taumarunui in August. Mrs Parsons became involved in playcentre when her eldest child Angela, now 11, was 18 months old. She was a Playcentre Supervisor while in Wairarapa and more recently, Liaison Officer to the Central North Mand Kindergarten Asso- ' ciation while she and her family lived in the Taupo area. Mrs Parsons was responsible for setting up playgroups particularly in the more isolated country areas, for the Mobile Kindergarten. Her position as the Waimarino community preschool worker involves a great deal of travelling visiting mothers with young children in the home and pre-school amenities, including Playcentres, Kohanga Reos and Kindergartens. Mrs Parsons encourages mothers of preschopl children to enrol their children in some form of pre-primary school education and outlines the advantages of the play groups. She also encourages families living in isolated areas to set up their own groups.

Mrs Parsons said parent education is as vital as the child's learning. "Some parents fear sending their children to pre-school groups because they don't know anyone, while such groups can be a social event for the parents," she said. "Sometimes it means simply a well-earned break for them." Mrs Parsons said she receives referrals from other child health specialists, including the Public Health Nurse, Plunket Nurse and school dental nurses. While her job involves just 15 hours a week, she maintains there are a lot of families who require her attention.