Playgroups give children, parents and caregivers a chance to socialise with their peers. The benefits are both hidden and obvious
There is no shortage of playgroups in Hong Kong. At last count, 731 playgroups were registered and licensed by the Education and Manpower Services Bureau.
Take into account additional activity, church, charity and specialised groups that fall into other categories and you are looking at double these numbers.
The challenge is to decide what is best for the children, or just as importantly, for the parents.
The importance of interaction among new parents and children is emphasised in research done on childhood education, pre-school education and the psycho-social well-being of children.
Recent research by the Finnish Ministry of Social Affairs and Health has established that babies, even as young as three weeks, benefit enormously in terms of social and educational development from having access to play with other children in organised pre-school environments.
