What do playgroup leaders do?

Here you’ll learn about what playgroup leaders do and how parents and caregivers can help make playgroups be warm and welcoming spaces for all families.

There are lots of different ways parents, caregivers and community members can support playgroups to run fun sessions for all families.

One of the most important things is to make sure that it’s not just one person who is expected to do everything.

Most often, people will offer to help out, but if you could use another hand or two, be sure to ask other attendees to volunteer with tasks at or between sessions. See: How do I lend a hand at playgroup?

You can also get everyone involved in things like packing up after activities by turning it into a game.

People who lead or contribute to running playgroup sessions can make everyone feel welcome by:

• greeting families as they arrive.
• introducing parents and caregivers to each other.
• letting people know what other community services and programs they can access.
• asking parents, caregivers and children what sorts of activities they’d like to do at playgroup.
• encouraging everyone to join in with activities and asking for help to pack up at the end of a session.
• checking in on families you haven’t seen for a while or who have missed a session.

Playgroup Tasmania is committed to ensuring playgroups are child safe, child friendly spaces. To do this we support playgroup leaders and volunteers to:

• display the Playgroup Tasmania Statement of Commitment to Child Safety and Wellbeing at your playgroup and model this commitment within the playgroup.
• think about any dangers that might be in or near your playgroup venue (things like slippery areas, poisonous plants or nearby roads).
• get in touch with Playgroup Tasmania if you are concerned about anything or just want to talk something through.