Picnic to focus on Family Day Care Week

South West parents and children have been invited to an outdoor picnic hosted by the Australind-based Spirit of Play and Buggalugs Family Day Care centres.

The event has been planned to coincide with National Family Day Care Week and is set to get under way at 9.30am tomorrow at Thommo’s Community Garden.

Spirit of Play Family Day Care owner and educator Hollie Gilmore said she had not received a big response as yet but families do not always book prior to the event.

“We’ve done this once before a couple of years ago,” she said.

“A lot of people have a misconception about family day cares, what we do and our qualifications.”

Buggalugs Family Day Care owner and educator Debbie Barnett said she and other educators were mistaken for “glorified baby sitters” despite being qualified, trained and meeting the same standards as a normal day care centre.

“If you look around most family day cares and look around the rooms, you’ll see we’re kindy inspired and run kindy programs, just in a home environment,” she said.

More than 131,000 students are enrolled in family day care nationally, with this week’s theme of “every child is a star” set to be at the centre of celebrations around the country.

Family Day Care Australia chief executive officer Andrew Paterson said celebrating the uniqueness and diversity of family day care was at the heart of National Family Day Care Week and the institution itself.

On the day, children will be able to explore vegetable gardens, learn about worm farms, feed and pat horses, all of which will allow them to get back in touch with nature, according to Mrs Barnett.

“Everyone is free to bring their own picnic, blankets, and just come out,” Ms Gilmore said.

“We love it .. . it’s hard work doing what we do, but it’s well worth the effort.”