By Callum Ludwig
Don Valley Primary School is looking to address the lack of preschool activities in the area in the most messy but fun way possible.
On top of the regular playgroup, Don Valley Primary School held a Messy Play event on Thursday 7 March, with over 50 interested preschoolers, parents and guardians attending.
Teacher Kelly Corrie said it’s their sixth or seventh messy play event and it’s always a big hit.
“The playgroup’s been running for nearly 15 years and Kate (Weston) and I have been doing activities like this for probably the past eight years, Kate also does a gymnastic session on a Friday morning and we’ve done other sports sessions,” she said.
“We’re both staff members but we’re also both parents here, our children go here, it’s good to see so many new little faces coming through the school because people don’t even know we’re here, it’s a little hidden gem.”
Stations were spread out in the school yard ready to go, including slime, sand, cloured spaghetti, paint, mud and water; all the mucky things that parents don’t want to make a mess at home.
Ms Corrie said holding the event at the school allows the kids to be let loose without parents having to worry about the mess.
“A lot of these children are Covid babies and they lacked that social interaction to begin with so by providing this, it gets people out in the community, it gets them to support local schools, but also it gets them to meet other parents and other families,” she said.
“The playgroup has had a big impact on mother’s mental health too, in my opinion, just getting out of the house, chatting with a group of people that all know what you’re going through and know all know the hardships that you go through whether you are a first-time parent or a second or third-time parent,”
“It’s also a really good transition program, we do have a lot of kids that are in Prep and Grade 1 this year that have done the playgroup program with me, and it helps them be more aware of the school and more used to the surroundings, so the transition into Prep isn’t as daunting.”
The slime, jelly and spaghetti were particular favourites among the kids in attendance.
Parent and School Council representative Shannon said it’s great for the little ones to come and get to be part of the school.
“It is family-friendly and it’s great for little kids, my boy’s got a few little issues so he’s just excelled,” she said.
“It’s great for him, he gets to meet some other kids because he only goes to kinder one day a week, so he gets time to play and get to know some of the other kids who will hopefully one day come to the school with him.”
