A Week of Fun, Connection, Learning and Play
Belong, Share, Grow
All The Little Things
This National Playgroup Week, we want to focus on the little discoveries, adventures and connections we make at playgroup. We believe these little things come together to form significant things- among them a sense of belonging, shared enriching experiences and the support needed to grow. Through their natural devotion to the play world, children invite us not only glance, but to look closely and pay attention to the wonder all around. Children often find the ‘awe’ in each day. In the busyness of the modern world, playgroup sessions can be a reprieve, helping us to tune back into the important little things which nurture wellbeing, development, contentment, goodness and joy
National Playgroup Week 2025 Promo Pack For Playgroups!
We have a collection of colourful artworks to showcase National Playgroup Week! Download our flyers, posters, logos and social posts. We encourage you to share these resources widely. We would love for you to share this with your friends and network!
Advertise Your National Playgroup Week Event!
Kryal Castle Play Day
Wednesday 19th March 2025
Join us for a play day at Kryal Castle, located at Leigh Creek, 15 minutes from Ballarat and 1.2 hours from Melbourne. Activities for the day include:
⭐A Pop-Up Playgroup hosted by Playgroup Victoria
⭐Story time: 10:30am and 12pm
⭐Dragon meet and greet: 11am and 12:15pm
⭐Dancing: 11:30am
⭐Throughout the day, families can explore the dragons labyrinth, knights tower, wizards tower, playground and animal pens. One of Kryal Castle’s squires will be able to take children in one or two at a time to have a pat with the friendly sheep and highland cow!
While tickets will be available on the day, we encourage families to pre-book via the link below.
SPECIAL TICKET PRICES:
$15 entry for both adults and children
OR special family pass available = $50 for a family of four
Let’s Celebrate and Award Local Efforts!
Nominate Your Playgroup Champion
Who is your playgroup hero? Who do you wish to thank for their contributions?
Playgroup is a collective, shared experience, one that cannot happen without the input, kindness, hard work and consideration of those involved. Nominate someone who has made a positive difference during your time at playgroup today!
Nominations close 11/03/2025. Terms and Conditions available HERE
National Playgroup Week Inspiration for Playgroups
- Run a Teddy Bears Picnic: Invite your group to bring their teddies and enjoy a picnic in the great outdoors
- Show-and-Tell Special: Bring along something important to you and share a story with the group
- Cooking and Culture: Cook something as a group such as scones or cookies or invite members of your group to share a special dish
- Crafty cards: Make cards together or make crafty messages and artworks to share with friends, family and those in your local community
- Nature walk day: Explore your local green spaces and enjoy discovering different plants and animals as a group. What new things can you see and find?
- Excursion: Did you know that playgroups take place in all sorts of different places and venues? Enjoy a special day out and visit new spaces such as your local botanic gardens, museum, library or playground
- Bring a book to playgroup day: Encourage families to bring their favourite books to share with the group. Enjoy story-time as a group. Afterwards you could make your own storybook using paper and your imagination.
Find a Playgroup Near You
There are many playgroups in Victoria looking for new members. Browse through our Find a Playgroup directory to access information about your local playgroups.
Find the Right Playgroup for You and Your Family
All playgroups are unique. We have bush playgroups, intergenerational playgroups, grandparent playgroups, baby playgroups, cultural specific playgroups, playgroups for children with different needs, playgroups for children with disabilities. Some playgroups run with a set routine and planned activities. Others are more laid back and full of free play. Some people simply like to pop in for a cuppa and a chat. Some run playgroup sessions four times a week. Some come every once in a while. You can pick and choose what suits you best. Playgroup creates opportunities for you to play with your child, relax, connect with others, share information and unwind. Download our FREE Playgroup Starter Guide here
FREE Family Membership
It is our hope that all families have access to playgroup, and all families have opportunities to participate in playgroup. With that in mind, Family Membership is now FREE!
Let’s Play!
Celebrate National Playgroup week with lots of inspiring play! Here is a range of play sheets to explore.
Highlights from 2024 National Playgroup Week!
National Playgroup Week 2024 provided us with an opportunity to come together, share stories, have fun, revel in the wonder of childhood and commemorate our 50-year milestone. Playgroup weaves together fragments of early years learning, development, history, culture and identity. We welcomed recollections of playgroup across generations, right up to present day participants and practitioners.
“By being together and engaged with our children and other families, Playgroup gives us space to be in the moment. I encourage everyone during this year’s National Playgroup Week to enjoy these moments that can be filed in our ‘remember when’ catalogue of stories to tell.”- Playgroup Victoria CEO, Danny Schwarz
Throughout National Playgroup Week 2024, we promoted local events, we offered playgroups 20% off Playgroup Victoria registration and we ran several giveaways with our partners. We opened nominations for 2024 Playgroup Champions and were inundated with heartwarming submissions from playgroup attendees across the state.
A highlight of the week was our Teddy Bears Picnic event. This was a joyful end to National Playgroup Week 2024 and featured live music, activities and two large pop-up playgroups. We invited the playgroup community to celebrate 50 years of Playgroup Victoria in the best way we know how – through play! Everyone was welcome. The event was held in the park beside the building that had been Playgroup Victoria headquarters for 30 years. It was the end of an era, and would be the last major event before our office relocation to Essendon.
We enjoyed live music from The Mik Maks who were supported by Auslan Stage Left. There was face painting, music from Bop Til You Drop DJ’s, storytime, lots of playground fun, a coffee van, a sausage sizzle and opportunities to meet other families (and teddies). We thank each and every one of you who came along to celebrate 50 years of Playgroup Victoria! We had the best time watching all the kids (and big kids) come together to honour what playgroup is about: supporting families to thrive during the early years.
