Parent and Child groups operate widely in England and are used to offer support for the development and wellbeing of 0-5 yr old children and their parents – often known as ‘Stay and Play’ groups.
They typically operate weekly, for a 2-3 hour session, to provide a combination of free play and structured activities for children. Their aims are to:
- Stimulate child development through quality experiences
- Increase parental knowledge re: child development, discipline etc.
- Focus on facilitating social networks for parents and children
- Provide access to information and resources
- Provide early identification and referral re: developmental or family issues
Watch: Stay and Play
In your neighbourhood
Watch the video below of the types of activities at a stay and play session and think about how these might help children be ready for school.
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Apply Your Thinking:
After wacthing the video above, use your portfolio to complete the following task:
- Develop five questions that you could ask the people who lead/coordinate the Stay and Play Group about how the group supports children’s School Readiness.
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