Springvale Playcentre is celebrating a milestone birthday this August, with 50 years as a place for children and families to explore, create, run, get messy and grow.
When it opened in 1968 the Playcentre movement and its child-led learning was in its early stages in New Zealand. Started in the
post war years as a place for parents to meet other families, Playcentres provided a place for support and friendships where parents could join in the fun of their children's play.
For three generations a typical day at Playcentre includes activities like painting, play dough, carpentry, baking, dressing up, playing in the sandpit or on the swings. Some Springvale Playcentre families are parents who played there themselves as were pre-schoolers there.
To commemorate their 50th birthday, Springvale Playcentre hosts a week of events in August. They will hold an exhibition to share some of the stories of the hundreds of families who have been part of the last half century. And to look forward to the future, they are burying a time capsule with items from this year's families to be opened at the 100th birthday celebrations in 2068.
If you were previously a Playcentre kid or parent at Springvale and have photos or stories, they would love to hear from you. Email springvale@playcentre.org.nz or call Teresa on 021 715 490 to share your memories.
