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078 668 78 75
"Help me to do it by myself. Show me how to do it. Do not do it for me. I can and want to do it by myself. Have patience with me as I find my way. It may take longer and maybe I will need more time because I want to make several attempts. Allow me to make mistakes and to struggle, because that is how I learn."
Maria Montessori
In a playgroup, toddlers and pre-K children come together once to three times per week to play, move, build, create, sing, listen to stories, make arts and crafts and experiment. It is a closed group that meets regularly with up to 10 children, guided by trained playgroup leaders. The playgroup represents part of an educational offering for early childhood which primarily focuses on play and the collective experiences of the children. Children have time to break away from their closest caregivers, socialize with other children their age and learn how to interact within a group. Parents have a gentle introduction to their child’s future kindergarten routine and are allowed space from their care responsibilities on a regular, hourly basis.
Playgroups are part of an educational offering which largely pursues five goals:
Playgroups form a comprehensive offering for preschool-age children to learn and play. For preschoolers, play is at the heart of their life experience, which is why playtime is the key educational tool in this phase of their life: through play they learn about themselves and their surroundings and are always experiencing something new. The personality of a small child grows and becomes established through their interaction with their environment. At playgroups, children can play, sing, make music, create with various materials, build, exercise, romp, listen to and tell stories and explore their surroundings. At their core, playgroups provide an opportunity for children to try new things, work together and experience through play. Children receive not only inspiration from their peers, but also encouragement related to their focus and interests from the playgroup leaders. Playgroups thus create a vital social space for gathering experience. Children learn more about their surroundings in a group setting, and it is this consistent setting that helps them foster friendships with other children their age. They learn to find their own place in a group, accept their own strengths and weaknesses as well as those of others, help one another, but also to resolve conflicts and make peace. Through this socialization with other children, but also with adults outside the family, playgroups support children in their process of learning to overcome separation anxiety. This process is an important part of the child’s personal development. Children have the chance to gain a bit of independence in a familiar, manageable setting, which prepares them in their transition to kindergarten.
Like with daycare or other preschool groups, playgroups promote the integration of children from various social backgrounds and countries and thus serve in the area of prevention. Children who speak a foreign language at home have the opportunity to learn German through play, and those who need more stimulation are encouraged to foster their imagination and personal interests in an age-appropriate manner. Depending on the skills of the playgroup leader and the individual situation, children with a disability or illness can join the playgroup allowing greater integration and mutual understanding. Program priorities can be shifted to prioritize movement or creativity, for example.
Playgroups can also serve as a link for parents to connect and exchange experiences: during drop-off or pick-up, through the friendships the children form within the group, or through parent evenings where parents can meet and get to know other parents from the area. In some playgroups, parents can take turns to actively join in providing care – this participation of the parents is an important part of the playgroup concept. It facilitates the creation of social networks, which in turn form the foundation for mutual support and neighborly assistance in day-to-day life.
