Young parents will meet each week to make friends and pick up some tips thanks to a playgroup now running at headspace.
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headspace Orange are three weeks in to Playtime, a support group for parents under 25-years-of-age.
Mums and dads are invited to join the Thursday group, which is facilitated by the Community Engagement Officer at headspace Sharna Lord.
Ms Lord said young parents have reported feeling on the outer at mainstream playgroups because of their age.
They don't feel they had much in common with other parents because they lead different lifestyles. They wanted to make friends closer to their age.
- Sharna Lord
She said headspace want to provide a safe space for young parents of preschoolers, to socialise and share information.
"We just found they don't feel they had much in common with other parents because they lead different lifestyles. They wanted to make friends closer to their age," she said.
With the help of volunteers from various fields, Ms Lord will take the group through education and social workshops to equip parents with some expert tips.
The attendees of the last three weeks helped put a program together based on topics they said they would find useful.
Nutritionists, occupational therapists, speech therapists and clinicians will likely visit in the future.
"All our ideas have come from them. It's not just being spoken to either," Ms Lord said.
"We'll look at running meditation and yoga, workshops on making healthy snacks, looking at new hobbies and smartphone photography workshops."
While parents undergo the workshops, headspace clinicians will be on side to help entertain children with crafts and games.
Numbers for the group will be capped at around 10, in order to facilitate more intimate learning.
Ms Lord said at the end of the ten weeks she hopes participants will have the confidence to begin attending mainstream playgroups.
Parent group is free on Thursdays 9.30-11.30am.
For more information or to enroll a child in Playtime @ headspace call 6369 9300 or email sharna.lord@marathonhealth.com.au
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