Setting up children for success

As Australian schools prepare to gather the nation’s latest data on early childhood development next month, early childhood advocates are emphasising the importance of taking action to set children up for success well ahead of their school years.

It comes with new findings that children who are afforded the opportunity to engage in playgroup, before they start school, are 47 percent more likely to be developmentally on track across five Australian Early Development Census (AEDC) domains.

“Play, particularly structured play in the playgroup setting that engages children and families, is an extremely effective strategy to support development,” Playgroup Australia Chief Executive Officer Patricia O’Donovan said.

“Joining a local playgroup will of course bring fun and joy for children and their families, but what is perhaps not well known is just how powerful that commitment can be when it comes to setting up Australian children to be developmentally on track.

“Research shows the learning which occurs in playgroups bolsters children’s physical health and wellbeing, social competence, emotional maturity, language and cognitive skills, as well as their communication skills and general knowledge.

“Families who engage in their local playgroup benefit not only through building social connections and support with other parents and carers in their community, but they increase the odds that their children will be more developmentally prepared to start primary school.

“The research has shown that playgroups are particularly supportive options for children and families in disadvantaged and remote communities, as they are low cost and responsive to local needs. They provide social connections and deliver a network of support.

“The 2021 AEDC Census found that only just over half (54.8%) of children were developmentally on track across all five domains by the time they started school.

“We have a real opportunity in this country to support our children to thrive in their early years and build the foundation for them to succeed not only at school, but as contributors in society and the economy for decades to come.

“Playgroup Australia will continue to provide these developmental capacity building opportunities for children and their families, and support the Government to find innovative policy solutions that enable families to access the community building physical and social networks that playgroups offer.