Many playgroups successfully cater for three and four-year old children in the regular sessions.  Other playgroups with older children may decide that one of their sessions will be designated as a three-year old group or a four-year old group.

These groups operate in the same way as family playgroups, but the emphasis may be on planning activities, stories, toys and songs with older children in mind.

Many playgroups successfully cater for four-year old children in the regular sessions. A dedicated session for older children further extends the play environment in order to create new challenges.
Around the age of three or four, a child’s spoken language starts to flourish.

Children of this age enjoy role-playing and make-believe and can construct whole stories just by giving a running commentary to their actions. It is useful to provide equipment, toys and material that stimulate children’s imagination, extend their play and create new challenges. You can include activities that encourage adults and children to share language experiences such as reading storybooks together and enjoying, poems, finger rhymes and songs.

Some playgroups employ a qualified play leader or teacher to organise special activities for three and four-year olds. These groups benefit from the experience of someone who has training in early childhood learning, while still maintaining the positive nature of adults and children playing and learning together.

Parents are in attendance and are still responsible for their children and for assisting in the running of the playgroup and the playgroup session.

 Tips for three and four-year old playgroups

• Provide toys appropriate to the children’s level of development
• Present activities in an interesting friendly way allowing children to freely choose for themselves
• Include open-ended activities. Encourage children to experiment with materials and try new ideas
• Introduce simple routines for the children to follow

Playgroup WA has publications with dozens of activity suggestions.  These can be purchased from Playgroup WA.

Contact Playgroup WA for more ideas on extending play for older children