Space

For you and your baby

Te Akoranga Playcentre Associations SPACE sessions are aimed mainly at first time parents and their babies, and have been designed to support parents through the first year of their child's developmental journey. The programme runs weekly for 3-4 terms (i.e. 30-40 weeks). The sessions are run by facilitators who have knowledge, experience, and training in early childhood care and education.

Infants join the SPACE programme around 0-3 months of age. There may be opportunities for older babies to join in with an existing SPACE session depending on the availability of places.

Sessions run for 2½ hours and typically include:

• a welcoming and settling in time
• a sharing time
• a discussion topic or guest speaker
• morning or afternoon tea
• a thought for the session
• music, rhymes, and books
• continued opportunities for play

The discussion topics may include:

• Getting to know you and your baby
• Understanding me (crying & communication)
• Becoming a parent
• Sleeping
• Making resources
• Understanding thinking
• Reflective parenting
• The beauty of the brain
• Establishing attachment
• What do I see & What do I hear?
• See me move
• Heuristic play
• Music
• Meaningful men

Parents are provided with handouts on the various discussion topics and areas of play.

The areas of play that may be explored in this unit include:
• Blocks
• Painting
• Collage
• Puzzles
• Messy play
• Books
• Water play
• Playdough
• Sand play
• Encouraging playfulness
• Outdoor play & challenge courses for infants