Westside Playcentre ��

from The Year That Was 2022

by Wairarapa Times-Age

Wairarapa Young Parents��

91

STUDENTS

56

WHANAU

SESSION FACILITATOR

Kia ora koutou, As I re ect on the year 2022, I feel great pride in our Westside Playcentre whanau. We opened a fourth Morning session at the beginning of this year that has steadily increased in enrolments, we now have waitlists for all of our morning sessions - a fantastic position to be in. Our days vary and are busy, on and o site. Tamariki are o ered many opportunities at Playcentre that include Messy play, Dramatic play and lots of Physical play. Based on the interests of our tamariki, kaiako plan trips within our community. Tamariki are o ered “real world” opportunities This year at Westside we started ‘Space - for you and your baby’ sessions and I also facilitate these groups. This year we have run 3 courses, and next year we will have 3 Space sessions running all year around. I am passionate about helping to create a community for our Mums, Dads, Caregivers and their tamariki. I can support this in both my roles with Playcentre and Space. We welcome new families to visit us.

Kahlia Hall

Playcentre is based on the philosophy of whānau tupu ngā tahi – ‘families growing together’ and is a parent/ whānau led early-learning service for 0-6 year olds. The aim is to enrich the Wairarapa community by strengthening parent engagement and recognising parents and whānau as the rst and best educators of children.

In practice, this means Playcentre is co-operatively governed and led by volunteer parents. For children, Playcentre is unstructured learning where they learn by doing what they do best; being children and playing. By providing them with the access to resources, materials and opportunities, parents are learning alongside their children as they explore the world around them and how they interact with it.

We would like to thank all the local organisations that have supported us over the past year allowing us to thrive. We are greatly indebted to the assistance a orded us by Trust House Ltd, Masterton Trust Lands Trust, Eastern Central Community Trust, Countdown, The Men’s Shed Masterton, Carpet Court, Mitre 10. Thank you also to the committee who all volunteer their time to run Playcentre. Our centre and tamariki are richer for your gifts of time and energy. Nga mihi nui, President – Helena Murphy