What’s the Purpose of a Community Playgroup?
Article published in the Bennington Banner
Wednesday, April 2, 2004
There are six playgroups in Bennington County. Playgroups are free of charge,
and serve all children 0-6 and their families. Playgroup gives your child
a chance
to be with other children. It’s a chance for your child to use toys and materials
that are age appropriate. Playgroups offer developmental activities and play
materials that encourage children to explore, experiment and create. They
offer both children and adults an opportunity to socialize. While children
learn how
to share, take turns and resolve conflicts, parents connect with one another
to share information, ideas and resources.
Although playgroups have these
fundamental purposes in common, one playgroup may look very different
from another. Some
playgroups are organized around projects and circle time, while another
may be an hour and half of free play. Playgroups are housed in
church basements,
schools
and libraries. Some of the playgroup parents had this to say about playgroup:
“I thought being new to the area would be difficult.
I was away from friends and family in unfamiliar surroundings
with a young daughter. Not long after we
moved into our new home, an acquaintance mentioned a program called Success
by Six. The rest is history. The playgroup gave my daughter
an exercise in cognitive
skills, creative development, socials skills, and self discipline. The
program also extends to mothers to get a chance to socialize,
and talk about every day
challenges of raising children. Thank you for the opportunity for us
to be able to take part in this wonderful program. It helped
my transition into the community.”
-Mary DeVitto, Willowbrook Playgroup
“I was introduced to Mettawee School Playgroup when my daughter
was about 7 or 8 months old. Through the playgroup I have met several
people and have since developed some wonderful friendships with
mothers, fathers and many little people. My daughter is now 2 and
she has been able to learn how to share through observation of
others, she is given the opportunity to play with toys she doesn’t
have at home and she has learned several new songs.”
– Amy, Mettawee
Playgroup
“We have been bringing our daughter to the Success by Six playgroup
since she was 6 months old. Both she, my husband and I have found
it to be a safe informative outlet where she can play and learn.”
- Heidi, Jeff and Gretchen, Mettawee Playgroup
“We first came to our Success By Six playgroup
when my daughter was 6 weeks old. It enabled me go meet other
parents in the community, and become familiar with
our local schools and their administrators. Without this program I think
I would have felt isolated in my attempts to find other parental
support and my daughter’s
life would not be so enriched.”
–Caroline, Mettawee Playgroup
Below are the playgroup location and times:
- Pownal Gross Motor - Wednesdays 9:30 – 11:00 A.M
- Pownal Infant Toddler – Fridays 9:30 – 11:30 A.M.
Pownal Valley Fire Dept. Rte. 7
- Bennington Baptist Church, Main St.- Fridays 10:00 – 11:30 A.M.
- Bennington Willowbrook Community Room, Willow Road Thursdays 10:00 – 11:30
A.M.
- Arlington Martha Canfield Library – Tuesdays & Thursdays 10:00 – 11:30
A.M.
- Manchester First Baptist Church, Bonnet Street - Wednesdays 9:15 – 10:45
A.M.
- Pawlet Mettawee Community School – Fridays 9:30 – 11:00A.M.
- Danby/Mt. Tabor – Mt. Tabor Town Hall - Fridays 10:00 – 11:30 A.M.
For more information on playgroups please call Marlene Downey at 447-6413.
Please come and join us!
Article submitted by Marlene Downey, Success
By Six Coordinator
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