River Downs Playcentre

About

River Downs Playcentre is a parent-run early childhood education co-operative based in Flagstaff, Hamilton, for children under six and their whanau.

Story

River Downs Playcentre is based in Flagstaff, North Hamilton.
We are an early childhood education centre for children aged from birth to six, and their families.
The centre is run by parents and whanau.
Sessions are focused on child-initiated play, giving our tamariki the choice to explore different activities, including 16 Areas of Play which are set up around centre (paint, play dough, clay, collage, junk play, manipulative play, sand, water, science and nature, outdoor and physical play, family play, music, story telling and reading books, blocks and carpentry).
Playcentre also emphasises the importance of parents and whanau as first and most important educators of their children.
Members have the opportunity to attend adult education workshops to develop their skills in working with children.
Together parents share all the responsibilities and roles of running the centre, and we are a community.
We encourage mixed-age play and interactions, which benefit babies, toddlers and pre-schoolers. We also offer special weekly X-Club sessions on Wednesday afternoon for older children (age 3.5 to 6-years-old).
River Downs also offers whanau sessions, graduate sessions and runs trips, camps, and special events for members.
If you would like to visit please call us on 07 854 3606.
Visitors can attend up to three sessions with their children to assess whether Playcentre is right for them. We look forward to seeing you at Playcentre!