Grandparents playgroup a first for SA

Gone are the days when grandparents would sit in their rocking chairs with the sewing needle in hand – these days they can be found in the playground; and are out in full swing.

South Australia’s first playgroup for grandparents, created for the rising number of grandparents caring for their working children’s offspring, has opened in Adelaide.

Dernancourt Grandparent’s Playground organiser, Carol Lang, told DPS eNews the playgroup gives grandparents the chance to talk about anything and absolutely everything.

Relationship issues, how to balance their ‘grandparenting’ skills and how they were parented themselves are just some topics spoken about at the Dernancourt playgroup.

“Grandparents have always been important and hold a special role in families – but in recent years there has been a spilt,” Ms Lang claims.

As more families become dual-income and the cost and placements in childcare centres become limited, many grandparents now face the challenge of taking on a caregiver role for their grandchildren.

Ms Lang says the playgroup offers the grandparent a chance to bond with their grandchild.

“It’s a group that is for the grandparents. They are thrilled we’re thinking of them and it shows we value their role. It’s also fantastic for the kids. The response has been amazing; it has been very positive,” she says.

Recent Australian Bureau of Statistics figures show almost one in five children aged up to 11 years are cared for by their grandparents.

Council on the Ageing national chief executive, Ian Yates, told Adelaide’s The Advertiser newspaper, grandparent-specific playgroups recognise grandparents’ “enormous contribution” towards caring and raising children.

According to Mr Yates, statistics show grandparents are the largest provider of care to grandchildren, and claims “[grandparents] do a lot more than provide before and after-school care”.

“Generally speaking, it’s a good thing because [grandparent playgroups] provide regular contact between the generations, and children have a different relationship with their grandparents than with their parents,” Mr Yates says.

The Dernancourt playgroup program has been running for a few months, and although only a few grandparents attend the playgroup, Ms Lang says they are hoping to create more sessions soon.

“The grandparent’s playgroup is relatively new. In time, as the group grows, and we get a wider age range of children, we will introduce rosters for craft and song/story time.

“For now, just come, play, chat, relax and enjoy your grandchildren,” Ms Lang says.

Grandparent Playgroup is on every Wednesday during school terms and starts from 9.30am. Attendance is free but kind donations are welcomed.

For more information on the Grandparent Playgroup call 0422 688 324 or email ducplaygroups@gmail.com.