Weekly playgroup to branch out

FOLLOWING its return at the start of the second school term after a more-than-two-year pause, the coordinators behind the Buninyong Community Playgroup are expanding their offerings.

Last Friday saw the debut of their bush playgroup sessions while today will mark their first around Buninyong Primary School’s garden beds.

With sessions normally held at the Buninyong Primary School, volunteer facilitator Belinda Wardle said their additional locations are about showcasing the children’s surroundings to them.

“It’s to get kids more involved in nature and getting out exploring,” she said.

“We have beautiful scenery in Buninyong and surroundings and it’s introducing them to our native environment.

“We had four participants on the Friday because the weather was extreme but I think it went really well considering. The families said they really enjoyed it.

“We run an obstacle course for the kids. I do sand play, sensory play, music, and storytelling and there’s another person that helps me.”

The playgroup has been running for about 30 years, and prior to the pause it had an average of 25 families taking part.

Ms Wardle said the coordinators are looking to broaden the scope of the playgroup since its revival.

“It’s a way of breaking things up a bit,” she said. “We’re intending on utilising more places as spring comes around including the Botanic Gardens and De Soza Park.

“We’re also linking up more with the school so they’ll have more community connection.

“We’re trying to build our numbers up again. Right now, we have about 10 attendees. A lot of people don’t know we’ve started up again so I anticipate our numbers will build up soon.”

The bush playgroup activity will run on the first Friday of every month from 9.30am to 11.30am at the Mount Buninyong Winery.

Regardless of location, each session is $6 per family with bookings to be made via the Buninyong Community Playgroup’s website.