An introduction to Friends Groups.
What are Friends Groups?
Friends Groups are groups of students (4-5 students per group) from the same class that the teacher puts together. Friends Groups provide an opportunity for these children and their families to get to know each other better.
Why is Birralee organising Friends Groups?
At Birralee, we have decided, after consultation with the Parents’ Committee, to introduce Friends Groups so the children and parents can get to know each other better.
We have noticed in recent years that children play less and less at each other’s homes and more and more online after school. We see that this trend has an effect on the classroom environment, as well as on the children’s social skills and their ability to initiate and continue play during playtimes.
Research also shows that the better the children and parents know each other, the easier it is to prevent and talk together when conflicts arise between the children. The less conflicts and bullying, - the more energy the children can spend on learning.
How are the Friends Groups organised?
The Teacher will let you know in which Friends Group your child is placed. Each parent should take a turn to suggest a playdate (these should happen around once per month). After Christmas, the groups will be reorganised so that your child will have more opportunities to mix with other children.
How long does a Friends Group gathering last?
A Friends Group gathering normally lasts between 1-2 hours (e.g. from 15.30-17.00). It can either be organised straight after school/ASP or at a different date/time. Some Friends Groups also meet at the weekend. It is common that the parent who is collecting their child comes a little bit early and stays for a cup of coffee/tea to socialise with the other parents before going home (e.g. from 16.30-17.00).
What can we do at a Friends Group gathering?
A Friends Group gathering is not a birthday party! You don’t have to prepare or arrange food and if you do, keep it simple! Some biscuits or fruit and some juice/water is more than enough.
The most important thing is that the children play together. At the start of a get-together it might be a good idea for the parents to organise an activity. Later on, the children can probably come up with some activities themselves.
Inside you can, for example: draw, play board games, play hide and seek. Outside you can play different ball games, frisbee, go to a playground together, jump rope.
If you can not have the gathering at home, then try to have it outside (playground, park, garden, beach etc.).If you find it difficult to know what is fun or suitable for the group, then ask the children or any other parents in the group. As mentioned before, Friends Groups are nothing like a birthday party, so places like Rush, Pirbadet, the cinema and bowling should be avoided.
What do I need to prepare before the group gathering at my home?
Create a group (email, messenger, what’s app) with the other parents. The only thing you have to do is send a message to the other parents in the Friends Group with the date and time of the meeting (preferably at least one week before the meeting). Please make sure to let the organising parents know if your child can not make the gathering.
Opting out?
As a school we can not obligate parents to organise Friends Groups in their own time. However, for the reasons mentioned above, we strongly urge all families to participate. Please contact your class teacher if you want your child to be excluded from the Friends Group programme.
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