Playcentre welcomes fathers

Media Release – New Zealand Playcentre Federation
26 August 2007

Playcentre welcomes fathers

With the approach of Fathers' Day the Playcentre Federation wishes to encourage all fathers of 0-5 year old children to pop into their local Playcentre and join in the fun. “Playcentre is a great place to learn and have fun alongside your kids,“ said Bernard Woodhams, father of four. “I started going to our local Playcentre when my oldest daughter was four and carried on, taking the Playcentre training and learning how to be an effective father and teacher.”

Playcentres offer an environment where parents learn with and alongside their children. Of all early childhood services in New Zealand, Playcentres have the highest proportion of men participating. Some centres have long traditions of several men participating in sessions and undertaking training. For example, Brooklyn Playcentre in Wellington has had between three and five fathers attending weekly sessions throughout the past ten years. Having dads on session really brings an extra dimension to the children's learning.

“I was always made to feel very welcome at my local centre. And I made friends with both other dads and the mothers of other children. Lots of the dads got together for some big working bees while I was at the centre, including demolishing fencing, building retaining walls and making a fantastic new play area. Some of the dads who started off with working bees ended up coming along to the sessions and really enjoyed themselves.”

A special feature of Playcentre is that, while they meet Ministry of Education requirements for young children's education, and follow a national Philosophy, they are also tailored to the needs of the local community. All members of a local centre are democratically involved in making decisions about the day-to-day running of the centre. So a Playcentre really is as strong as the members who rock up, wanting a Playcentre education for their children. Playcentre invites all fathers of young children to come and visit, and see if the Playcentre education is for them.

For further information and the contact details of a local Playcentre, visit www.playcentre.org.nz.

ENDS

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