Going to playgroup is one of our favourite weekly activities. Our playgroup helped us greatly with settling into the area and keeping me (mostly) sane when I had two under two. It’s also through playgroup that I was introduced to the supportive Parramatta District Mums group and became part of ParraParents.
Below you’ll find information on what a playgroup is, the different types of playgroups around and how to find a playgroup. There is also a list of local playgroups recommended by local mums. The recommended playgroups are listed by day and can also be found in our What’s On Calendar.
|Â MONDAY | TUESDAY | WEDNESDAY | THURSDAY |Â FRIDAY |
What is a Playgroup?
A playgroup is a weekly get together of families with little ones who haven’t yet started school. The kids play in a safe environment, while parents/ carers supervise and socialise. They are held at a variety of community venues, normally just during school term, for a few hours. The playgroup activities can include music and singing, outdoor and indoor free play, art and craft, and morning tea. Most playgroups are run by the people who go to them and the more families get involved, the more enjoyable they are for everyone attending.
There is really no typical playgroup these days and they come in all shapes and sizes. The different combination of parents, kids, venue and how they operate makes each one unique. It’s important to take the time to find one that is right for you and also allow time to settle into a playgroup. In NSW, there are over 1,000 playgroup sessions, with more than 25,000 parents and children meeting, each week! And there must be at least 100 playgroup sessions in the Parramatta District each week…. so hopefully you can find one that suits.
Types of Playgroups
Playgroups can be broadly grouped into three types, depending on who they are organised through:
- Playgroup NSW: Most playgroups are run through Playgroup NSW. They are usually organised by the families attending and you sign up for a term. To attend, you must become a member of Playgroup NSW, which is now FREE! Membership covers your insurance and allows you to attend any Playgroup NSW playgroup (assuming they have space). You will then usually have to pay a term fee to the playgroup to cover hall hire, toys and supplies. Most Playgroup NSW playgroups are open to all families with children 0-5yrs. Some though are for specific age groups (like a babies playgroup) or groups of parents (like ones for grandparents).
- Local Churches: Most church playgroups are organised by volunteers from the church and you can usually just attend on a drop in, or week to week basis. Some are free and others ask for a gold coin donation or small weekly fee.
- Community organisations (like schools, cultural groups and government funded programs): These playgroups are normally supported playgroups, where a person is employed to organise and support the playgroup. They are usually free and you sign up for a term.
Finding a Playgroup
All playgroups run through Playgroup NSW are listed on their website and you can search for local playgroups by entering your suburb/ postcode and distance you are happy to travel.
Finding playgroups run by churches and community organisations is not so easy, as there isn’t one place where they are all listed. If you know of a local church or community organisation, you can check their website or contact them directly to see if they run a playgroup.
And to help find playgroups locally, we have started a Playgroup Directory for ones in and around the City of Parramatta.
Recommended Playgrounds
Below are local playgroups recommended by mums from the Parramatta District Mums Facebook group. The playgroups are listed by the day they run. And they can also be found in our What’s on Calendar.
|Â MONDAY | TUESDAY | WEDNESDAY | THURSDAY |Â FRIDAY | SATURDAY |
MONDAY
- Greystanes Groovers Playgroup (0-2yrs) | Nemesia Park Hall, Greystanes | 10:30am to 12:30pm
- Rydalmere Public School Playgroup (drop-in) | Rydalmere | 9:30am to 11:30am
- Northmead Uniting Church Cafe Play | Northmead | 9:15am to 11:45am
- Playgroup NSW Play Van (drop-in) | Telopea | 9am to 11am
- Gooden Drive Reserve Playgroup | Baulkham Hills | 10am to 12pm
- West Epping Playgroup | West Epping Uniting Church | 10am to 12pm
- Intergenerational Playgroup (3rd Monday of the month) | Woodberry Village, Winston Hills |
- Messy Playgroup | North Parramatta | 10am to 12pm
- Gardens Playgroup | Central Gardens, Merrylands |Â 10am to 12pm
- Super Smart Playgroup | Granville | 10am to 12pm
- West Ryde Wombats Playgroup | West Ryde | 9:30am to 11:30am
TUESDAY
- Koorana Playgroup | Don Moore Reserve, North Rocks | 9:30am to 11:30am
- St Mary’s Parish Playgroup | Rydalmere | 9:15am to 10:30am
- Northmead Anglican Playmorning | Northmead Anglican Church |Â 10am to 12pm
- Playgroup NSW Play Van (drop-in) | North Parramatta | 9am to 11am
- Tunes4Tots | West Pennant Hills | 10am to 12pm
- Toonie [email protected] | Toongabbie Anglican Church | 9:45am to 11:30am
- Balcombe Heights Estate Playgroup | Baulkham Hills | 9:30 to 11:30am
- Ryde Uniting Church Multicultural Playgroup | Ryde | 9:30am to 11:30am
- Meet and Greet – Early Parenting Support Group (0 to 12wks) | Telopea | 1pm to 2pm
- Northern Stars Playgroup | Baulkham Hills | 9am to 11am
- West Epping Playgroup | West Epping Uniting Church | 10am to 12pm
- Greystanes Groovers Playgroup | Nemesia Park Hall, Greystanes | 10am to 12pm
- Playtime Granville Community Baptist Church | Granville | 9:30am to 11:30am
- Holy Trinity Anglican Church Playgroup [Full] | Baulkham Hills | 10am to 12pm
- St John’s Anglican Church Playgroup | North Ryde | 9:30am to 11:30am
- Parramatta Baptist Church Playtime | Northmead | 10am to 12pm
- South Granville Supported Playgroup | South Granville | 9:30am to 11:30am
WEDNESDAY
- Magic of Storytelling (drop-in)| Anzac Park, West Ryde | 10am to 11:30am
- Little Green Fingers Garden Playgroup (bookings essential) | Rydalmere Public School | 9:30am to 11:30am
- Playgroup NSW Play Van (drop-in) | Harris Park | 9am to 11am
- Toongabbie East Public School Playgroup | Toongabbie | 9:15am to 11:15am
- Greystanes Groovers Playgroup | Nemesia Park Hall, Greystanes | 10am to 12pm
- North West Sydney Multiple Birth Association Playdays | Restore Church, Castle Hill | 10am to 12pm
- Messy Playgroup | North Parramatta | 10am to 12pm
- Hrashk (Armenian Language) Playgroup | Ryde | 10:30am to 12:30pm
- Meet and Greet – Early Parenting Support Group (0 to 12wks) | Pemulwuy | 10:30am to 12pm
- Granville South Public School Supported Playgroup | Guildford |Â 9:30am to 11:30am
- Parramatta St Pat’s Playgroup | Parramatta | 9:30am to 11:30am
- Merrylands Anglican Church Playtime | Merrylands | 10am to 11:30am
- Parramatta Baptist Church Playtime | Northmead | 10am to 12pm
- Telopea Public School Supported Playgroup | Telopea |Â 10am to 12pm
THURSDAY
- Mays Hill Munchkins | Jones Park Hall | 10am to 12pm
- River’s Edge Playgroup | Newington | 10am to 11:30am
- Playgroup NSW Play Van (drop-in) | Constitution Hill | 9am to 11am
- Greystanes Groovers Playgroup | Nemesia Park Hall, Greystanes | 10am to 12pm
- St Michael’s Meadowbank Playgroup | West Ryde | 9:30am to 11am
- Balcombe Heights Estate Playgroup | Baulkham Hills | 9:30 to 11:30am
- Bubbles Playgroup Parramatta (1st and 3rd Thursday of each month) | James Ruse Reserve | 10:30am to 11:30am
- West Epping Uniting Church Playgroup | Epping | 9:30am to 11:30am
- St Paul’s Anglican Playcircle | Don Moore Reserve, North Rocks | 9:45am to 11:45am
- Northern Stars Playgroup | Baulkham Hills | 9am to 11am
- Parramatta Baptist Church Playtime | Northmead | 10am to 12pm
- Holy Trinity Anglican Church Playgroup | Baulkham Hills |Â 10am to 12pm
Friday
- Playgroup NSW Play Van | Parramatta CBD | 9am to 11am
- Connect and Play | Telopea | 10am to 12pm
- North West Sydney Multiple Birth Association Playdays | Restore Church, Castle Hill | 10am to 12pm
- Hokey Pokey Playgroup| Northmead Uniting Church | 9.30am to 11.30am
- St Marks Anglican Church Playgroup | Granville | 10:30am to 12pm
- Northmead Uniting Church Cafe Play | Northmead | 9:15am to 11:45am
- Parramatta Baptist Church Playtime | Northmead | 10am to 12pm
- Mainly Music Playgroup | LifeWay Lutheran Church, Epping | 10am to 12pm
- Telopea Public School Supported Playgroup | Telopea |Â 10am to 12pm
- West Ryde Wombats Playgroup | West Ryde | 9:30am to 11:30am
Is your lovely playgroup missing from the list? Please comment below with details and we will add it to our directory.
Hi I wanted to add my playgroup
Toonie [email protected]
Toongabbie Anglican Church
945am-1130am
Can you tell me how I add a page to your website with all our details?
Hi Dimity, thank you for getting in touch and wanting to share information about your playgroup. Can you please email a photo or two and further details to [email protected]. Thanks, Kellie
St.barnabas Anglican church playgroup , 75 hawkesbury road westmead . 10am to 12pm on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday