ACWA 2010 Conference

Mike Quilty - Program Manager Playgroup Australia Ltd.

Playgroup Australia

National body recognised as the leading representative for playgroups.

Advocates...

learning through play

supporting parents, families and children

strengthening communities.

Provider of the Australian Government’s National Supported Playgroup Program

Sole provider of PlayConnect Playgroups.

Research has shown the value of play for the social, cognitive, emotional and physical development of all children.

(Ginsburg,2007)

The Importance of Play

“It is paradoxical that many educators and parentsstill differentiate between a time for learning

and a time for play without seeing the vital connection between them.”

Leo F. Buscaglia

The Human Brain

• Reasoning• Planning• Movement• Emotions• Problem

Solving

• Movement• Orientation• Recognition• Perception

FRONTAL LOBE

PARIETAL LOBE

• Visual Processing

OCCIPITAL LOBE

• Perception

• Audio• Memory• Speech

TEMPORAL LOBE

• Movement• Posture• Balance

CEREBELLUM SP

INA

L C

OR

D

• Breathing• Heartbeat• Blood

Pressure

MEDELLA

• PLAY

Through play children engage & interact with the world create a world where they can master skills & competencies

Play requires a child to be active and to initiate leading to a sense of empowerment over the environment

The Importance of Play

“Play is a major avenue for learning to manage anxiety. It gives the child a safe space where they can experiment at will, suspending the rules and constraints of physical and social reality. In play, the child becomes master rather than subject.... Play allows the child to transcend passivity and to become the active doer of what happens around them.”

 

(Alicia F. Lieberman (20th century), U.S. psychologist. The Emotional Life of the Toddler, ch. 7 (1993).)

Functions of Play in Development

Creating

Collaborating

Making choices

Organising

Problem Solving

Taking and Sharing Responsibility Interpreting

Predicting

Recalling

Reflecting

Communicating

PlayConnect Playgroups

Families with a child aged 0-6 years

ASD diagnosis or displaying ASD-like symptoms.

Children do not require a formal ASD diagnosis.

Families self-select to attend.

Siblings and other relatives are welcome.

Free to attend

PlayConnect Playgroups facilitated by a Development Worker.

Benefits of Playgroup for Children with ASD

Provides opportunities for learning play skills, social behaviours and coping strategies

Dr John Irvine Movie

Benefits of Playgroup for Children with ASD

Provides opportunities for learning play skills, social behaviours and coping strategies

With the development of play skills, rituals and routine may decrease

The opportunity to generalise new behaviours.

Stepping stone towards the next stage of intervention

Introduces new people into the child’s life

“ on the 20th May at Enfield – S’s mum was amazed that S sat on Development Workers lap to do craft (DW asked permission prior to S doing this).  The mum’s comment was “he never does that, he normally will only sit with me.”  When the Development Worker asked again if this was ok, the mum answered enthusiastically “YES, it gives me a break!”

PlayConnect Coordinator - SA

Parent Quote

Benefits of PlayConnect for Parents Participating parents offer understanding, validation, support and friendship to one another

PlayConnect exposes parents to informationand strategies about how they can supporttheir children’s development through play

Parents gain child insights by engaging in child-driven play

Parents can experience an increase in their self-confidence

Participation in a non-therapeutic environment provides recognition of the parent’s value and worth in their children’s life

Focus of playgroup not solely on diagnosed child.

Siblings have opportunity to connect with other siblings

Inclusive environment

Factors which promote positive family relationships

Benefits of Playgroup for the family

Capacity Building at PlayConnect

A peer support approach to working with parents to develop their confidence and create supportive family networks

Facilitate connections between families and other specialist community agencies supporting both the child and their family

Connect families with resources available through Helping Children with Autism package.

Feedback on Capacity Building

“When I first started going I didn’t know anyone else with a child with ASD, so meeting other parents was great for me - a relief in a way. Also at the Playgroup we have guests come along who are Professionals in different fields - this has opened up new doors for me and my family that I didn’t know of before”.

Parent attending PlayConnect - Cairns

National Survey

I mee

t with

fam

ilies

in a

simila

r situ

ation

I can

talk

with, a

nd s

hare

idea

s with

oth

ers

I exp

erien

ce a

n ASD fr

iendly

env

ironm

ent

There

are

no

expe

ctat

ions

on m

e or

my

child

I find

the

Develo

pmen

t Wor

ker t

o be

ver

y he

lpful

It’s

small

and

intim

ate

It’s

free

to a

ttend

My

child

is a

ble to

hav

e ne

w play

exp

erien

ces

It’s

ASD spe

cific

I lea

rn m

ore

abou

t aut

ism

The w

hole

fam

ily is

welc

ome

My

child

is le

arnin

g to

play

bet

ter

0.00%

20.00%

40.00%

60.00%

80.00%

100.00%

120.00%

Most positive aspects of the PlayConnect Playgroup(Multiple Statements Selectable)

National Survey

“You get so busy that you forget they are still just kids. You get caught up in doing things that will help him and teach him.

You’re always at preschool, speech therapy, early intervention programs, doctors, specialists, which fill up the week, but the kids also need to be kids and just play and have fun. PlayConnect is

about timetabling some fun and nothing else. You probably shouldn’t have to do that – timetable fun, but that’s the reality for

most parents with special needs kids, and that’s why PlayConnect works so well.”

Kylie EmrDevelopment Worker

& mother of a child diagnosed with ASD.

Final Slide

www.playgroupaustralia.com.auor

www.playconnect.com.au

Free Call: 1800 790 335

Final Slide

www.playgroupaustralia.com.auor

www.playconnect.com.au

Free Call: 1800 790 335