Beginning in July 2024, I began a playgroup series, which I am hosting at our community hall every two weeks in our rural town of Elko, BC. The playgroup is a place where children ages 0-6 can play in a fun and stimulating environment, as well as a place for parents to connect and socialize. With the help of the Neighbourhood Small Grant I was able to purchase toys and equipment to make this playgroup a success. So far I have held two events, the first had an attendance of 23 children, which represented 19 families within the area. The second had a great turnout as well.
The feedback has been extremely positive, with many families grateful to have a group activity over the summer months. My plan is to keep this as an ongoing event, year round, to give more opportunities for connection for children preschool aged and under. I did not run into any major challenges planning this and look forward to further expanding activities in the future.