Blue Mountains Playgroups are one of the first and most important social networks for our local children and all families to connect, learn through play and have fun.
In NSW, over 800 community and church run playgroups meet throughout the week. At Blue Mountains Mums we endeavour to keep you up to date with all of our local Blue Mountains playgroups.
Blue Mountains Playgroups:
What You Need To Know
In the Blue Mountains, playgroups run during school term times unless stated otherwise. Playgroups are usually run by unpaid volunteers and cater for children from birth to school age. Donations made towards playgroup are usually very small and are used to cover the cost of morning tea, craft and other playgroup resources.
All parents and carers with their children are welcome to our Blue Mountains Playgroups. You are allowed to simply turn up to most community playgroups and enjoy a friendly and informal morning connecting with other parents and carers.
Even though playgroup organisers help to keep children safe, parents are required to supervise their own children. Playgroups are usually run by volunteers with up to date Working With Children Check (WWCC). If you would like more information to confirm WWCC and Child Safe training of playgroup leaders please contact your specific playgroup coordinator on the number or email address provided on their playgroup page on our website to discuss these requirements.
At Blue Mountains Mums, we have endeavoured to collect all of the essential information that you need to find playgroups throughout the Blue Mountains. It is your ultimate Blue Mountains playgroup guide and is perfect for any new family to the Blue Mountains to find a group in their local area.
Blue Mountains Playgroups
We are fortunate to have such a range of playgroups to enjoy in the Blue Mountains. We do our best to keep this article up to date but at times playgroup providers may change their details so it is always best to contact your playgroup provider and check their Facebook Page to confirm the details.
You will also find the 2022 playgroup brochures by Connect Child and Family Services attached below this list (these Blue Mountains playgroups are funded by NSW Department of Education and Department of Communities and Justice).
Mountains Outreach Community Services (MOCS) are another core provider of playgroups in the Blue Mountains. Many others are run by volunteers at churches. Blue Mountains City Council also provide you with many of the family services available in the Blue Mountains.
If a playgroup is located on the grounds of a school, these groups can be excellent in transitioning your child to school and for you and your child to meet other local families.
Lower Blue Mountains Playgroups
Monday
It Takes A Village Playgroup, Springwood 10 AM – 12 PM
Playtime at Springwood Presbyterian Church 10 AM – 11.30 AM
Tuesday
LMAP Playgroup, Glenbrook 9:30 AM – 11:30 AM
Winmalee Family Playgroup 10 AM – 12 PM
Wednesday
St Finbar’s Playgroup, Glenbrook 9:30 AM – 11:30 AM
Belong Blue Mountains Playgroup, Blaxland East 9:30 AM – 11:00 AM
Jump And Jive Playgroup, Emu Plains 9:30 AM – 11:00 AM
Bush Playgroup, Blaxland Preschool Kindergarten 9:30 AM – 12 PM (Bookings essential)
Connect Play & Chat, Winmalee 9:15 AM – 11:15 AM
Thursday
Kids Play – Parents Breathe, Blaxland 9:30 AM – 11 AM
Gateway Family Services Play & Chat, Blaxland 9:15 AM – 11:15 AM
Toddlertime, Springwood Hub 9.30 AM – 10:00 AM
MOCS Playgroup, Springwood 9:30 AM – 11:30 AM
Mini Moves Playgroup, Springwood 9.30 AM – 11:00 AM
Storytime, Springwood Hub 11 AM – 11:45 AM
Friday
Junior Jivers @ LMAP Blaxland, 9:30 AM – 11.30 AM
Springwood Baptist Church KIDS Playcentre, Springwood 10 AM – 11:30 AM
Riv Kids Playgroup, Mount Riverview 10 AM – 12 PM (for home schooled primary aged children)
Babytime, Blaxland Library 10 AM – 10:30 AM
Storytime, Blaxland Library 11 AM – 11:45 AM
Middle Blue Mountains Playgroups
Monday
Heatherbrae Play & Chat, Lawson 9:30 AM – 4 PM
Belong Blue Mountains Kookaburra Playgroup, Lawson 9:30 AM – 11 AM
Mountain Kids Sensory Play, Faulconbridge 9:30 AM – 10:30 AM
Mountain Kids Sensory Play, Faulconbridge 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM
Tuesday
Heatherbrae Play & Chat, Lawson 9:30 AM – 3 PM
Wednesday
Heatherbrae Play & Chat, Lawson 9:30 AM – 3 PM
Wattle Glow Playgroup, Hazelbrook 9:30 AM – 11:30 AM
MOCS Play In The Park, Hazelbrook 10 AM – 12 PM
First time parents with babies under 12 months, Heatherbrae, Lawson 10 AM – 12 PM
Sensory Garden Playgroup, Lawson
Thursday
Heatherbrae Play & Chat, Lawson 9:30 AM – 3 PM
Friday
Heatherbrae Play & Chat, Lawson 9:30 AM – 12.30 PM
Wattle Glow Playgroup, Hazelbrook 9:30 AM – 11:30 AM
MOCS Playgroup Parenting Young 10 AM – 12:30 PM
Sensory Garden Playgroup, Lawson
Saturday
Heatherbrae Dads and Kids Playgroup, Lawson 10 AM – 12:00 PM
Upper Blue Mountains
Monday
Connect Play & Chat, North Katoomba 9:30 AM – 11:30 AM
Katoomba Lighthouse Church Sip n Play 9:30 AM – 11:30 AM
Thrive Services Playgroup, Blackheath Public School 9:30 AM – 11 AM
Playtime, Leura Uniting Church 10 AM – 12 PM
Tuesday
Connect Play & Chat, Katoomba 9:30 AM – 11:30 AM
MOCS Playgroup, Wilson Park, Wentworth Falls 9 AM – 11 AM
Connect Play & Chat, North Katoomba 9:30 AM – 11:30 AM
Wednesday
Playtime, Blackheath Baptist Church 10 AM – 12 PM
Babytime, Katoomba Library 10 AM – 10:30 AM
Storytime, Katoomba Library 11 AM – 11:45 AM
Thursday
Belong Blue Mountains Katoomba Playgroup 10 AM – 12 AM
Connect Play & Chat, Katoomba 9:30 AM – 11:30 AM
Mainly Music, Blackheath 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM
Playtime, Wentworth Falls 10 AM – 11:30 AM
Katoomba Kids Playtime 10 AM – 11:30 AM
Other
Little Kindlings (Kindlehill) Playgroup 9:30 AM – 11:30 AM
Wildground
Sensory Garden Playgroup, Lawson
Lithgow
Monday to Thursday
Lithgow Information and Neighbourhood Centre (LINC) (Mon – Thurs), Mainly Music (Thurs 10 AM), Noah’s Ark Playgroup (Mondays 10 AM – 12 PM), Noah’s Ark Babies Playgroup (Mondays 9:30 AM – 11:30 AM).
The Benefits Of Attending Playgroup
Playgroups provide a safe environment where children can play with similar aged children on a regular basis. Playgroups also have a range of positive effects on parents and caregivers which are likely to translate into better outcomes for children, such as reduced social isolation, improved parenting skills and self-confidence, increased knowledge of relevant community services, and a greater awareness of their child’s needs (Gregory, T. et.al, Telethon Kids Institute, 2016, p. 2).
Creative and unstructured learning through play is essential to the development of young children, helping them explore and understand their world. According to research by the Telethon Kids Institute, the benefits of playgroup are seen across all domains of child development: physical, social, emotional, language and cognitive development and communication.
Playgroups are also an excellent way to connect with other Mums in our local Blue Mountains community and for children to meet new local friends. Often children make friends at their local playgroup who end up going to the same Kindergarten. Having already made social connections with children at playgroup assists greatly in children’s readiness for school and their security in the first year of school.
Read more about the benefits of playgroup at https://www.playgroupnsw.org.au/AboutUs/Whatisaplaygroup
Thank you To Our Blue Mountains Playgroup Coordinators
Despite all of the developmental benefits of attending playgroups, only 36% of children attend playgroups prior to starting school in Australia (Gregory, T. et.al, Telethon Kids Institute, 2016). Due to the strong sense of community that we enjoy in the Blue Mountains and the variety of playgroups available through community centres and churches, it is highly likely that most children in the Blue Mountains experience playgroup at some point before they attend Kindergarten.
Our playgroup organisers throughout the Blue Mountains are to be commended for the planning and effort that it takes to organise and facilitate a playgroup. They truly have a heart for our children and we are grateful. Thank you to you all!
Contact Us
If we have missed any playgroups, or important details, if you notice any playgroup information that has changed or if you know of a new playgroup that has started, please keep us in the loop by emailing us at team@bluemountainsmums.com. We strive to provide the most up-to-date details for everyone. Details were collated and correct from the date of publication in June 2022.
To give families with young children and babies an extra incentive to start going to playgroup, Playgroup NSW are offering FREE five year Playgroup NSW membership to all families with children up to five years.
Reference:
Gregory, T., Harman-Smith, Y., Sincovich, A., Wilson, A., & Brinkman, S. (2016). It takes a village to raise a child: The influence and impact of playgroups across Australia. Telethon Kids Institute, South Australia.
