Wednesday 23 October 2013

A SKIP visit to SPACE Point Howard

 I experienced a wave of nostalgia as we parked the car and climbed the path to the Point
Howard Playcentre. Thirty six years ago I was the supervisor at this centre. Pat Watson,
from Barnardos, and I were there today to observe a SPACE session. We’d listened to the
SPACE team, attended a SPACE hui, heard parents talking about what SPACE is and
how it works. I thought I had a pretty good picture in my mind. In that thirty-six year
gap my work was mostly involved in education, the early childhood sector, primary, and
adults, in particular, parents in playgroups. I was well qualified to envisage a Playcentre
session for babies.

But I was wrong. I hadn’t anticipated the circle of attentive babies, with no distractions
from older siblings. I swear those babies were listening to every word the presenter
uttered. They seemed to be waiting for the next item on the programme – the song, the
game – whatever. They turned to each other and reached out for baby communication
and a little play. They smiled in recognition when their name was sung. They were
happy, watchful, and responsive. If anyone needed feeding, or cuddling, or soothing,
they got it. There were no disruptions, nor disturbances. Babies’ needs were met and the
programme continued. And for the mothers? I watched the power of the connections
being made. Each woman shared a story connected to the topic. A couple of stories were
sad or troubled. Support and friendship were there, and I had no doubt would continue
for them if they needed it.

I could talk about all the good community development, parent education, child
enrichment reasons for SKIP to support the SPACE programme. I could explore the way
SPACE sessions promote attachment, and the way the repetition within the programme
reinforces patterns for healthy brain development. I could explain the laying down of a
foundation which enables SKIP’s six things children need to grow up to be happy,
capable adults – 1) Love and warmth - as parents are encouraged and supported, as they
sit face to face with their baby, as they hold and soothe any baby who needs it 2) talking
and listening – between adults, between adults and babies, between babies 3) guidance
and understanding – a carefully constructed programme where wise support is evident
and demonstrated in every way 4) limits and boundaries – where acceptable and
appropriate behaviour is encouraged and nurtured and unacceptable and inappropriate
behaviour is gently discouraged 5) consistency and consequences – where recognisable
activities happen in order, with similar outcomes, and 6) a structured, secure world –
where support is constant, and activity is safe.

But what I’ll always remember was that the atmosphere in that room was like nothing
else I’d ever experienced, and I became aware that thirty six years after my first foray
into the magical world of children, I knew that Playcentre was leading the way yet again
nourishing the crucial connections between parents and parents and children.

Lorraine Tarrant – SKIP Team Leader