Playgroup Tasmania children

What is the role of a Playgroup Leader?

Here you’ll learn about the role and responsibilities of a Playgroup Leader. If you do not have responsibility for a child in the group, you are considered a formal volunteer and have certain obligations under Playgroup Tasmania’s policies.

You can find out more about this here:

Volunteering at playgroup

As a Playgroup Leader, your role is to support your playgroup and the families who attend to enjoy a positive and welcoming experience.

Tasks that help with this include:

  • demonstrating your commitment to child safety and wellbeing by following Playgroup Tasmania’s policies and procedures
  • opening and closing the venue and setting up/cleaning up playgroup activities
  • creating a welcoming, inclusive, age appropriate and safe environment for babies, children, and their caregivers
  • engaging with children and adults in the playgroup to encourage connections peer to peer and parent to child
  • connecting parents and caregivers to each other and providing information about relevant programs and services in the community
  • role modelling positive adult/child interaction
  • encouraging playgroup participants to engage in the play experiences
  • promoting and maintaining contact with playgroup families between sessions.

If you are a formal volunteer, you will work closely with Playgroup Tasmania staff to support administrative tasks including:

  • making sure families are aware of the Playgroup Tasmania Statement of Commitment to Child Safety and Wellbeing
  • keeping and sharing playgroup attendance records
  • doing risk assessments of activities and the playgroup venue
  • completing incident forms as needed
  • raising issues of concern with Playgroup Tasmania as quickly as possible.


Playgroup Tasmania children

Volunteering at playgroup

Here you’ll learn what we mean by ‘volunteer’ and the different roles and responsibilities a volunteer may take on as part of playgroup.

Volunteers with Playgroup Tasmania are community members who choose to support activities like running community playgroups.

There are two kinds of roles for people who want to help run a playgroup.

1. Formal volunteers

These volunteers are individuals who take on formal leadership or support roles at a playgroup. They are people from the community who are not connected to a child at the playgroup and do not have responsibility for a child in the group.

2. Parent participants (informal volunteers)

This is the name we give to family members or caregivers who participate with a child in playgroup.

Parent/Caregiver participants may take on leadership or support roles at a playgroup but because they are also in playgroup, they are not considered to be formal Playgroup Tasmania volunteers.

There is difference in the expectations for and responsibilities of these 2 roles.

Playgroup Tasmania expects a formal volunteer to take on regular and ongoing responsibilities for either leading or assisting with the playgroup sessions. This role requires a pre-volunteering screening process (in line with Playgroup Tasmania’s Child Safety and Wellbeing Policy), agreement to the volunteer role description, a formal induction and some training which is provided by Playgroup Tasmania.

As informal volunteers, they are not required to undergo formal volunteering screening process described above. They are, however, required to complete child safety and wellbeing training and abide by Playgroup Tasmania’s Child Safety and Wellbeing Code of Conduct and related policies and procedures. While Playgroup Tasmania encourages everyone at playgroup to lend a hand, there is no formal obligation for parent participants to help out at playgroup sessions.


Playgroup Tasmania children

Promoting your playgroup

Promoting your playgroup

Here are some tips to help you:

  • make sure your playgroup families know what to expect at sessions
  • keep in touch with families in case a session is cancelled
  • let the wider community know about your playgroup.

For families who already attend your playgroup

Setting up a social media account is good way to keep your playgroup families informed and interested in attending. In Tasmania, we find that Facebook Groups are one of the best ways to reach families.

If you already have a Facebook account, this is simple to do by following the instructions for your device at this link:

How to set up a Facebook Group

If you don’t already have a Facebook account or need help to set one up, please contact admin@playgrouptas.org.au

To attract new families

  • Word of mouth
    • Most families join a playgroup because a friend invited them. This is a great reason to tell your friends and relatives about your playgroup. You could also carry playgroup information with you and pass it on to parents with young children you meet while shopping, at kindergarten/day care pick up or wherever you go in your local area. You’ll be surprised at how successful this approach can be.
  • Signage
    • Playgroup Tasmania provides community playgroups with ‘Join us here’ flag signage for use outside your venue to let people know a session is on. We also have poster templates you can use to promote your playgroup in your local community. Speak with your Playgroup Tasmania Development Officer to arrange this.
  • Playgroup Tasmania website
    • All Playgroup Tasmania playgroups are added to our online Find a Playgroup map. Many families will find out about your playgroup through this web page.
  • Playgroup Tasmania Facebook page
    • Playgroup Tasmania has a Facebook page, and associated regional pages, that highlight upcoming and current events and themes for playgroups around the state. We also like to share information and photos from playgroups to help your activities reach a wider audience. Please let us know of any posts you would like us to reshare via direct message on Facebook or by tagging @playgrouptasmania in your post.


Planning a playgroup session

So you’re ready to hold a playgroup session?

Below you’ll find out:

  • what a typical community playgroup session run by a Volunteer Playgroup Leader looks like
  • trusted sources for playgroup activity ideas
  • links to more information
  • links to printable checklists and fact sheets

A typical community playgroup session led by a Volunteer Playgroup Leader is:

Fun

When planning activities, make sure you consider the development levels of the children attending and the general interests of the families who attend.

Flexible

While young children – and most adults – like a bit of structure and routine, it is important to not over-plan your session so you can go with the flow of people’s moods and the unpredictable nature of Tasmania’s weather.

Safe

Playgroup Tasmania believes that all children have the right to live safely – emotionally, mentally and physically. Everyone has a role to play in keeping children safe from harm and creating child safe and child friendly environments.

Welcoming

Inclusion is a universal human right. Its aim is to embrace all people regardless of race, gender, ability, religion, medical or other need. It is about giving equal access and opportunities and removing the barriers of discrimination and intolerance.
Inclusion at playgroup recognises that all children and families benefit from play and that playgroups benefit from the different backgrounds and abilities of the children and families taking part.

Most community playgroup sessions run for 1.5 to 2 hours.

Depending on the time of day and playgroup resources, you may want to have some simple snacks on hand (like fruit), as well as tea, coffee and water.

A typical 90-minute session might look like this.

15-30 minutes before the start time

Playgroup Leader and other volunteer helpers arrive to set up activities and make sure the playgroup space is child safe.

The first 15 minutes

Volunteers welcome families as they arrive, asking how they are and letting them know about any special session activities. They also support parents/care givers to complete the playgroup attendance sheet.

Next 45 minutes

Allow lots of time for enjoyment of free play and planned activities.

15 minutes before the session ends

Volunteers check in with families – children and adults – to ask:

  • what they’ve enjoyed at today’s session
  • what they’d like to do at future sessions
  • how they are doing in general.

Everyone is encouraged to help tidy and clean up the playgroup area, put toys or special activities away, clean hands, faces and dishes.

End time

Volunteers say goodbye as families leave, and check that nothing is being left behind.

Immediately after the session

The Volunteer Playgroup Leader:

  • collects attendance sheets for passing onto Playgroup Tasmania
  • fills out any incident or feedback forms about the session for passing onto Playgroup Tasmania
  • phones/texts their Playgroup Tasmania Development Officer to pass on any urgent issues, concerning incidents or to debrief and ask advice.


Playgroup Tasmania children

Activity ideas and resources

Looking for ideas for playgroup activities?

Consider these questions when planning activities for your playgroup. Is the activity:

  • simple enough that it won’t cause stress for volunteers to plan, hold and clean up after?
  • age and developmentally appropriate for the children and families attending?
  • safe and accessible for everyone, both physically and emotionally?
  • inclusive and doesn’t make anyone feel left out? For example, not all children attending will have a mum and dad, so Mother’s Day and Father’s Day activities could instead be focused on each child’s ‘special person’.
  • built around the children’s interests and does it include what’s happening in the local community? For example, an activity can reflect a change in season, a special celebration day or a community event.
  • fun?

Some ‘trusted sites’ that Playgroup Tasmania uses to get activity ideas are:


How Playgroup Tasmania can support you

Did you know Playgroup Tasmania has experienced Playgroup Development Officers who can help you with everything you need to start and run a successful, fun playgroup?

Your local Playgroup Tasmania Development Officer can help you with the following things.

Starting a new playgroup

  • Provision of information and tools for running a playgroup
  • Support to find a suitable venue and help with risk assessments
  • Assistance with venue lease terms
  • Promotional materials
  • Training for playgroup committee volunteers
  • Fundraising ideas

Running a playgroup

  • Ideas for play activities
  • Ideas for playgroup structures
  • Information for parents
  • Assistance with grant applications and auspicing funds
  • Insurance claims
  • Incident/accident/injury/near miss reports
  • Child safety concerns and reporting processes
  • Guest speakers and connections to local programs and services

To find out more, please contact Playgroup Tasmania at admin@playgrouptas.org.au