On this page
This resource is based on the Supported Playgroups Igniting Children’s Engagement (SPICE) kit. The hard copy resource was developed by the Learning Together Communities program for playgroup facilitators.
The SPICE kit was designed with supported playgroups in mind. However, all playgroup facilitators can use the information in this resource. This includes playgroups run by parents in informal settings like homes and parks.
Learning Together Communities
Learning Together Communities is a South Australian Department for Education program. It provides high-quality supported playgroups to families across South Australia.
These playgroups help families understand and engage with their children’s learning. This acknowledges the family’s important role as children’s first teachers.
The program also offers mentoring in the Learning Together approach to facilitators in other supported and community-led playgroups.
Together messages
The Together messages support families to engage with their children’s learning both at home and in playgroup settings. The Together messages are:
- talking together
- singing together
- playing together
- reading together
- looking together
- laughing together
- learning together
- belonging together
Using this resource
This resource gives you guidance and inspiration as a playgroup facilitator. Families may also find this resource useful for play ideas at home.
If you're new to playgroup and are setting up, you may want to read this resource from start to finish. If you've been facilitating playgroup for a while, you can jump through sections to find more ideas.
- Set up your playgroup – Work through each step to get set up from finding a location, creating safe spaces, getting the right resources and promoting your playgroup.
- Plan your program – Plan your playgroup program with routine and structure and using the Together messages.
- Together activities – Search through the suggested Together activities to offer as part of your playgroup.
- Resources – Access templates, forms, books, songs and other resources you may need for your playgroup.
Two key focuses of playgroup
This resource supports you as a playgroup facilitator to address the 2 key focuses of any playgroup:
Empowering parents and carers as their children’s first teachers
Playgroups show parents and carers how they can support their child’s learning through simple things. This may be talking more about what they’re doing or seeing, reading regularly to their child or singing familiar songs. This awareness allows them to become a powerful positive influence on their child’s learning, health and wellbeing.
A focus on learning through play
As a playgroup facilitator, you can use the information in this resource to support parents or carers to engage in their child’s learning. Children learn in the context of their family. The aim of playgroups with a focus on learning is to support families to ‘see’ the learning that takes place during everyday play and through learning opportunities.
Families can be learning from the playgroup facilitator and from each other. They might learn about:
- what their child is learning as they play
- connecting with their child through play
- ideas they can implement at home
- how important the home learning environment is to children’s learning opportunities.
Development of this resource
This resource was developed by the Office for the Early Years of the South Australian Department for Education. Wellbeing SA provided input and funding as part of a partnership project aimed at supporting playgroup quality.
The department's Early Learning Strategy 2021 to 2031 supports a shared vision of all children thriving and learning. Playgroups have an important role under the Growing Learners stream of the strategy. There's a focus on providing strong support for families as their children’s first teachers.
Wellbeing SA is a state government agency supporting the physical, mental and social wellbeing of South Australians. With the Early Years being a priority focus area for Wellbeing SA, the agency is working in partnership to support all South Australian children to have the best start in life for optimal growth and development. Wellbeing SA has provided funding to support the development of this resource.
Other key resources and information related to this work include: