“They live in the moment. Everything is an adventure for them. Everything is play for them.”
Lisa Wells, playgroup coordinator, loves how immersed the children become in their play. While there is so much going on in the world, of such seriousness, she finds happiness and reassurance here.
“I’m watching them and they are happy, not a worry in the world. I think adults can really learn a lot from children.”
Lisa brings much of this play philosophy to We Care Playgroup. There’s colour, crafts, an indoor cubby and play prompts that spark the imagination and inspire. Once inside the playgroup, it is transporting with bright murals on the walls. One space encourages mess, art and creativity- there are easels with paint set up, water play, jelly and slime. A container of shredded paper is of particular interest to the kids as they jump in and throw the strands up and over their heads. The other space is softly carpeted, ready for exploration, or to nestle into and have a chat. It houses a reading corner, a mat, an array of toys. This is encouraging different parts of the brain to be activated. New skills are being learnt and memories made.
Some families have been coming for many years, returning with second and third children.
“I just love the kids and I have become so attached to them,” said Lisa.
“We have a two week break over the holidays- even though it’s nice to have that two week break- I do really miss the families. When I come back I get really emotional because some of them I haven’t seen for a while.”
Lisa said that over time, the friendships have developed and continue to as new families join.
“They tell you a lot of things that are going on in their life and you do become attached to them and build relationships with them. That has brought so much joy for me, the family and the kids. I love it. I would have a conversation and play with a kid any day before I would have a conversation with an adult,” she laughs.
“I just love it. There is just so much you can learn from them.”
Lisa has over twelve years experience working with children: “plus I have two children of my own, one having special needs so I am familiar with that kind of field.”
This space has been created to consider different needs, interests and abilities. Some items are consistent and familiar for the children, developing a feeling of comfort when they return. In amongst the reliable staples, toys and activities are changed subtly for variety.
One grandma, Maureen, accompanies her two grandchildren to playgroup alongside her husband, Terry. All morning they are busily playing.
“We really enjoy it,” said Maureen.
“These two were born during Covid and had nothing so they’ve come out of their shells when they come here from where they were, it’s really made them happier children.”
They love that there is plenty of space, plenty of activities for them. The community.
“Children playing with everybody and they’ve really come a long way, learning to share and play with each other.”
It is a great mix of families, many people coming from all over the world.
Joelle has been coming to this playgroup for several years and loves how welcoming it is.
“This specific playgroup is really good in the sense, that if someone is coming who hasn’t been before, we will just try and make them extra welcome and you do, you feel that way.”
Joelle is a stay-at-home Mum and tried quite a few playgroups before finding this one to be the right fit.
“I love children. I always said when I have them, I’ll keep them at home with me so I did, but you need to keep them really occupied, so for me, it has kept me sane. The second thing is, I’ve met people from here and we have a lot of good chats. I think it’s also nice when you’re chatting about things and you’re like, ‘Yeah! I’m going through that as well’. I feel like it’s a good community.”
Claire is another playgroup regular. She is originally from England.
“Without any family here, it just improved my social things. We’ve made friends here, I’ve made friends outside of this playgroup now that we see. It has improved our social connections here.”
Like many who attend the group, Claire can’t speak more highly of Lisa.
“She’s honestly one of the best things about this playgroup. She’s always very accommodating. She genuinely loves the parents and the children. We’ve been coming here since my daughter was nine months old. She just makes us all feel very welcome when we come. She loves the kids and obviously the space is great and it’s great to have the section up there with all the arts, crafts and sensory- then obviously you have all of this,” gesturing to the toys and spaces laid out before her.
Karolina is also from overseas and loves the local connection for her and the comfort for her son.
“I love coming here,” Karolina said.
“I don’t have much family here in Australia as I am from Poland, so we have been here every Monday and Wednesday. It’s just beautiful.”
She said it is more childcare focused in Poland and loves how playgroup has allowed both her and her child to find a place of belonging and reassurance.
“It has helped me because, when I first started coming here, he was crying all the time and every day he was getting better and better. Now he plays with kids, without kids, he just plays. Before, he was not like that, he was just by himself at home with me, no kids around- a bit different than here- plenty of people, plenty of kids. He loves it and I love it, too.”
Rochelle had her son during Covid and said he was always very shy. When they started coming to playgroup last year he did not talk, yet as the weeks went by he started to be more social.
“Now he’s getting out of his little bubble and starting to interact.”
With an older sibling at home, Rochelle said it is action packed at their house.
“Sometimes I’ve been up since five and then they [playgroup attendees] are like, ‘Why are you here?’- I have to get out, I can’t just stay at home. I’m happy to get out and do stuff, regardless because even just to be out it boosts your energy.”
There is an energy in the room at playgroup. No matter the morning the people have had, once here, they are welcome to relax, have a cup of tea, share their stories and their experiences.
Two stalwart volunteers are there to greet families and make them feel welcome.
“We always say, when you grow old, that’s your second childhood,” laughs volunteer Amy.
“This is more or less like my family home. These are like my grandchildren. I play with them as well, I run after them, I have fun with them, I enjoy the day with them.”
“[Play] is very important for kids.”
“I haven’t been a mother so I give what I haven’t given, so that’s what I do.”
Lisa says the two volunteers bring a lot of wisdom and the children look up to them like a grandmother or grandparent figure.
“I think with them being older, they seem a lot more calm and they see things that I don’t see. I’m sometimes running around doing things and they are in here, looking at things from a different perspective. They have a good chat to the parents and they relate to the little kids a lot too because they have that calming nature- plus they have been doing this for six years so they’re really a familiar face to the families as well.”
Jean, another volunteer, is Scottish. She said she enjoys watching the children playing, growing up.
“I love children and I like to be in a place where there are children.”
“It is good social interaction for the children. It’s very important for children and also helps them before school. Mixing with the other mums with very similar problems and some of them do come and chat.”
Jean also talks about the good atmosphere, when everyone is gathered together.
Emma, who attends with her daughter, Pippy, agrees. She said Lisa has helped to create the a good feeling in the room.
“Lisa is amazing. We are so lucky to have her. She puts in 100 per cent and there is such a great atmosphere because of her.”
“It is a beautiful space. It’s so fun! So many fun things for Pippy!”
“Making friends, and getting to know the little kids, that has been amazing as well.”
Emma loves how vibrant the space is and how it has supported her daughter’s development. Pippy has progressed from crawling to walking while here and the different activities encourage her next steps.
“Motor skills for the kids has been amazing, block building, train building, walking along, jumping- it’s great. Wait until the end! Songs and bubbles!”
The activities have created play opportunities that Emma appreciates.
“I love playdough because I don’t have to do it at home, the glitter and the craft because I don’t have to do it at home- are you getting a theme here?,” Emma laughs. “The paint, as I don’t have to do it at home but also having a kitchen and a cubby house inside, such a good idea! You don’t have the space for all these things and there’s such a variety that we can do different things on different weeks and it’s still fresh.”
Throughout the session, many of the families talk about their highlight, aside from the friendships, connections and play- it’s the bubbles and music at the end.
Sure enough, the space is transformed, imaginations in full flight as glistening bubbles float down on masse, enchanting younger and older alike. The music begins and a group singalong. There’s that energy that the parents talk about.
“Simple things are sometimes all you need for them to enjoy,” said Lisa.
It’s called We Care. Looking around, it seems like they all really do.
Article by Sinead Halliday
Photography by Mylie Nauendorf