More fun for Goomalling babies and toddlers

REACH grant success

Together the Goomalling Gumnuts Childcare Centre, Goomalling Toy Library and Goomalling Playgroup were successful in obtaining a Rural Early Childhood (REACH) grant to provide more resources for families who use Goomalling's early childhood services.

The REACH program was established by the Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal (FRRR) with the support of the Vincent Fairfax Family Foundation (VFFF) in response to the need for an independent and flexible source of funding for groups such as community based pre-schools or kindergartens, not-for-profit long day or occasional care centres, playgroups, neighbourhood houses and toy libraries.

The families, volunteers and staff of Gumnuts, the Toy Library and Playgroup are very grateful to the Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal and Vincent Fairfax Family Foundation for their generous support, and look forward to providing the children with new resources to play and learn with.

The Goomalling Toy Library, Goomalling Playgroup, Storytime at the Library, and the Goomalling Gumnuts Childcare Centre warmly welcome visitors and new members.

Kinder Gym

Joanna Buegge, Goomalling's Be Active Coordinator, is seeking expressions of interest in relation to starting a Kinder Gym in Goomalling from February 2010. To get the Kinder Gym started, Jo has offered to run the program for six weeks then will hand the program over to volunteers to continue.

The Kinder Gym program focuses on building motor skills, balance, coordination, body and spatial awareness, social skills, rhythm and beat. Kinder Gym provides a fun routine of different exercises and challenges where children can play, learn and move in a social environment. The program helps children build the foundations of independence and risk taking within the safe boundaries of parental support, and starts building the network of the brain's neurological pathways that establish the 'wiring' system that is needed for life skills to take them well into adulthood. It's also a great opportunity for parents to build friendships with others in the community.

Please note that the Kinder Gym won’t happen without community support, so expressions of interest are needed as soon as possible. Please contact Jo on 9629 1101 or avonbeactive@goomalling.wa.gov.au to find out more.