“Thank you for sharing,” said the 3-year-old to the 2-year-old who brought his train toys to the Kaleidoscope Play & Learn group at Brinnon Schools. Admittedly, he had a hard time returning the train to its rightful owner, but that is the work of learning how to socialize and play with his peers, which is the purpose behind the free, weekly, intergenerational, drop-in play group, Kaleidoscope Play and Learn.
Alicia Simmons, the facilitator of the Brinnon play group, guides the children from the outdoor play area at Brinnon Schools back to the preschool classroom, which houses the play group on Thursday mornings at 10:15. “I realized how important it is for them to run around and play outdoors for 20 minutes, so we started cutting craft time a bit shorter,” she added with a shrug and a smile. “Last week, they were motivated to come inside because the elk started walking through the play area.” It is a balancing act: inside, outside; structured activities versus free play; showing kids how to put away toys and modeling for caregivers how to support their children through developmentally appropriate activities. She runs the playgroup with ease and enthusiasm aiming to continuously help families in her isolated community.
“We started this play group last year because First Step Family Support Center asked us what we needed to help families and we said ‘Something for little kids to do,’” Alicia recalled. First Step Family Support Center, a private non-profit based out of Port Angeles, was able to help. Alicia attended the Kaleidoscope Play & Learn 101 training in Seattle to become a play group facilitator, and then she went on to recruit families and build an early learning presence in her community. For the past year and a half, she has planned weekly sessions, played with preschoolers, and helped create a supportive community and network for local parents and caregivers.
“If I had not attended this play group, I would not have known about half the events happening in our community,” says a homeschooling parent. “We share about what’s going on, what we need, and how to help each other.”
Alicia cleans up this week’s craft, get-well-cards for an aunt of one of the usual attendees. She will drop them off at the Hospital in Port Townsend later in the day. The play group shows the kids, parents, caregivers, and the community that sharing is for everyone.
If you're interested in find a local Kaleidoscope Play and Learn Group, please check out the list of dates/times on our events calendar! To find out how to get a group started in your area or how to train to be a play group coordinator, please contact First Step Family Services at https://firststepfamilysupportcenter.org/.
