The Parent-Child Mother Goose Program is a group program for parents and caregivers together with their babies and young children, focusing on the use of oral rhymes, songs, and stories together.

The goals of the program include;

• strengthening the parent-child bond
• building a supportive group where otherwise isolated parents can feel comfortable
• building parents' skills and confidence, which enable them to create positive family patterns during their children’s crucial early years
• providing children with healthy early experiences with language and communication

The program is based on the successful Canadian PCMGP. We understand the value in offering a playgroup that is all inclusive to the community and being involved with the families from as early as possible. This program is based on targeting families who may be at risk due to poor socio economic status, substance abuse or postnatal depression. This program has been designed to strengthen the relationship between the parent and child as well as establishing a supportive group where parents who might otherwise be isolated can feel comfortable. 

It is a playgroup with a different approach requiring no toys or equipment. Teaching is aimed specifically at the parents enabling them to learn rhymes and stories that they can use at other times with their children throughout their day. The program consists of one hour teaching rhyme, song and storytelling and half an hour either side of the teaching program is allowed for parents to get to know one another and share experiences whilst the children can have a play with toys.

RCH ECIS continues to be able to provide this FREE program to the community thanks to the generous support of the UBC and Waverley Auxiliary. 

We run these groups during the school terms in Moonee Ponds (Tuesdays) and Keilor East (Thursdays). This flyer provides more details about these sessions, including how to register.