Families' day held each Saturday

Woy Woy South Public School opened its doors on Saturday, May 4, for its first Peninsula Families Day.

The Peninsula Families Days will be held each Saturday until July 6 and provide a range of free family activities.

The program is a Peninsula community of schools project hosted by Woy Woy South Public School for Ettalong, Umina, Woy Woy and Empire Bay Public Schools, St John the Baptist Catholic School and Brisbane Water Secondary College.

Families with children of all ages from bubs to teens are welcome to come along and enjoy the activities.

"The idea is parents participate in the activities with their children and all children must be accompanied," said Department of Education and Communities Priority Schools Program partnership officer Mr Liz McMinn.

"It will be good old fashioned fun with storytelling and ball games and other activities every Saturday," she said.

Activities include drumming sessions, storytelling, ball games and bush dancing.

"These activities will be great for all families, especially single parents who may find it helpful to build networks with other families while playing or dancing with their children," said Ms McMinn.

"It will also particularly support parents who have fortnightly access to children who are unable to participate in organised sport due to family arrangements.

"Families don't have to commit to any number of weeks, they just turn up for any or all activity sessions they wish to attend.

"All activities are fantastic for child development with storytelling helping talking and listening skills while growing the imagination, games, dance and drumming all impact on gross motor skills, instructional and cognitive learning and they are also all just good old fashioned fun.

"Parenting tip sessions will also be offered during the 10 weeks, one especially for dads, and one for couples who may not be able to attend parenting sessions on weekdays due to work commitments or commuting, she said.

Media Release, 7 May 2013

Liz McMinn, Department of Education and Communities