This project developed a weekly parent and toddler group at a local community centre at Paston Farm in Freston, Peterborough. Participants are engaged in a range of activities based around toddler playtime, arts and crafts, storytelling and singing.
Who
Aimed at parents of pre-school children who are socially isolated. Puddle Ducks is run by Paston Farm Community Foundation Charitable Incorporated Organisation.
What
A weekly parent and toddler group with activities based around toddler playtime, arts and crafts, storytelling and singing.
Where
Paston Farm, Peterborough
When
2020-2022
Puddle Ducks - parents and tots group aimed to reduce social isolation experienced by parents of pre-school children and increase confidence and wellbeing. Participants can also shape the project by feeding ideas to the project manager and by leading sessions.
The activities were held at a charity-run community centre in the local area that was accessible to parents with young children. When the first Covid-19 lockdown was announced the project was unable to maintain the level of volunteers needed to move activities online or deliver door to door activity packs.
Instead, the project got feedback from participants about how they would like to move forward. Participants requested more sensory and educational toys so that when the project re-opened they would be equipped with the resources to deliver more sensory based activities.
The project re-opened at the end of the final Covid-19 lockdown providing opportunities for parents and toddlers to again take part in in-person activities.
Thanks to People’s Health Trust, our grown-ups and children get to hang out in a space that’s just for them, and it’s so rewarding watching those newcomers, all shy and unsure, find their feet (and their mouths!), having fun and making friends.
Louise Roe
Paston Farm Centre Development Manager