Fun with our online family support group meetings

Despite social distancing measures, we are continuing to find ways of supporting our family groups.

We have set up group chats for our Royston and Buntingford groups to share information and ideas about how to manage during this difficult time.

We are also holding online family support group weekly meetings using Zoom, for the parents, children and volunteers to get together, catch up and share news.

It has been lovely to receive comments and photos of how the children have been keeping busy, so please do continue to share them with us.

Here’s a little look at what we’ve been getting up to over the past few weeks…

Royston Family Group

In one video session, we discussed local places to bring the children, such as where is safe for them to walk and run around to burn off excess energy and get that all-important exercise and fresh air.

Our Home-Start bear has been a big part of helping the children with activities in the video meetings. The bear has helped with a scavenger hunt, in which children had to find items of a particular colour around the house and show them to their friends on screen.

In one of the weekly meetings, we finished off the session with a Thomas the Tank Engine storybook and an action song, which the children enjoyed thoroughly.

We also recently had a St George’s day theme where we focused on reusing and recycling household items.

We made simple flags using a pencil as a flagpole. Empty plastic bottles were put to good use also, by creating a skittles set suitable for indoor or outdoor use, and to avoid smashing anything indoors, we rolled up a sock to make a soft ball.

Our homemade paper planes yielded mixed results. One of our lovely volunteers will be filming a paper plane tutorial, later on, to remind our families how to make one.

Here’s a look at how one family got on:

We also have plans to video someone reading a story, which is part of our aim to be able to share activities with all our families, ensuring no-one misses out even if they can’t attend the session.

Buntingford Family Group

Our Buntingford family support group has also benefited from the weekly video meetings, helping the families and volunteers get together each week. It has been a great way to keep the support going for families who are missing that ‘human’ contact during this lockdown period.

We’ve been using this time to catch up on each other’s news and to discuss areas of extra support that might be available.

During one of our recent weekly meetings, we got the children involved with a scavenger hunt, which again turned out to be very popular. We finished off that session by reading The Very Hungry Caterpillar storybook and joined in singing a song together.

Following the success of the first meeting, we enjoyed a longer session the following week, which allowed time for more games and activities, as well as a chance to catch up on each others’ news.

We found ways of turning recycled materials into educational games, including paper aeroplanes which are safe to use indoors and out.

Home-Start bear’s shopping game was a fun way to develop language, counting and memory skills for little ones, with options to make it harder or easier according to the age and abilities of the children. There was lots of participation and interaction which was a delight to see. 

We rounded off that session with a song and a story chosen by the children.

It is great that we have been able to use these video meetings to stay connected with our families and we look forward to each new week, planning what to discuss and what fun activities that the children can get involved in.

We know from the feedback families have given us that these groups mean a lot to them and have brought to them some comfort. But, if we are to continue to bring these services to them, we really do need your help.

You can support us by texting HOMESTARTCUPPA to 70085 to donate £3 or SAVEHOMESTART to 70085 to set up a monthly donation.

Thank you,

The Home-Start Team

Share This:
Tweet Post Share

Latest news

Double Your Impact: Support Local Families with The Big Give Christmas Challenge

This Christmas, Home-Start Royston, Buntingford & South Cambridgeshire is taking part in The Big Give Christmas Challenge 2024 – an incredible opportunity to DOUBLE your...

Read more

TTP plc and Home-Start: Creating lasting memories for families at Standalone Farm

Thanks to TTP plc’s support, 22 families enjoyed a memorable summer day at Standalone Farm, filled with fun, connection, and lasting memories. We’re so grateful for their generosity and being their 2024 Charity of the Year.

Read more

Raising a Deaf Child: Finding Support

Our guest blog author and local mum Tess continues to share her journey of raising a beautiful little boy who is severely/profoundly deaf. Following her...

Read more

Sign up to receive regular email updates

For more information about how we store your information, please read our privacy policy. You can unsubscribe at any time by clicking the link at the bottom of our emails. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.