Tiny Turtles right on top

THE Tiny Turtles playgroup has been named the state’s best supported playgroup at the Playgroup Victoria Awards on Thursday 30 October.
Tiny Turtles was developed by Cardinia Shire Council’s Family Connections team for families who live in Officer.
The free playgroup encourages play in nature and the surrounding environment, to promote outdoor play and motor skills.
Council’s Family Connections facilitator Belinda Potts was instrumental in establishing and running the playgroup.
“Officer is an area of rapid growth in Cardinia Shire and many new families to the area don’t know anyone locally and are not linked in with services in the community, so it was the ideal place to start a playgroup like this,” she said.
“This playgroup aims to remind families that they do not need ‘toys’ to play when the natural environment is available. Tiny Turtles families often come up with the activities themselves and we have had fun with bush crafts, a scavenger hunt, planted seeds and search for snails in wet weather. It is a playgroup which happens outside, regardless of the weather.”
Local services have also attended Tiny Turtles to provide support to families and link with services like the library, recreation facilities, Maternal Child Health and nutrition.
Deputy mayor Graeme Moore attended the ceremony to accept the award.
“The judges were impressed that the playgroup promoted creative play in the environment rather than relying on resources and toys. It is really bringing families, children and services together through nature play,” he said.
This group is in the process of transitioning to a community playgroup from Term 1 2015 with the parents running the playgroup themselves.
For more information on community playgroups in Cardinia Shire, visit the ‘Playgroups’ page on council’s website or call council’s Family Connections facilitator on 1300 787 624.