Broadmeadows mums help other parents learn the power of play

1st March 2018

Mums and toddlers from Broadmeadows Women’s Community House supported playgroup are the inspiration for a new resource to boost parent confidence and promote the power of play.

Broadmeadows Women’s Community House, in partnership with St Luke’s Innovative Resources, have developed a resource for parents called ‘Play Together, Learn Together’ to help build playful moments between children and adults at home, in playgroups and other early learning environments.

The resource was created when mothers and children, many from refugee families, joined the ‘Fun and Free’ supported playgroups at Broadmeadows Women’s House. It was developed from an initial grant from Hume City Council in 2016.

The resource is centred round activity cards with explanations for building learning skills and encouraging healthy parent-child relationships for babies and toddlers through play at home or in any early childhood setting. It includes colouring pages and Turkish and Arabic key words on each card to be more accessible to other cultures.

Broadmeadows Women’s House Team Leader Helen Slonek said the resource will be valuable for local parents.

“Play Together, Learn Together is a simple and accessible resource for the many mothers we help here at the Broadmeadows Women’s House,’’ she said. “This resource is far more than a set of ideas for activities. It is about laying the foundations for life-long learning and bonding with children and equipping mothers with the skills to develop confidence with their parenting skills.”

The Broadmeadows Community Women’s House is a friendly and safe place for women and children to meet new people, talk, listen and discover more about themselves.  Its programs address social, cultural and geographic isolation, promote and enhance parent/child relationships, particularly in the early childhood years, build self-esteem and the coping skills of women and assist families to develop links to the community.

More information about ‘Play Together, Learn Together’ is available at the Innovative Resources website  Contact the Broadmeadows Women’s Community House on 9309 9433.

Media Enquiries: E: media@anglicarevic.org.au P: (03) 9412 6173

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