At every playgroup meeting, the day begins with children sitting around the table and playing with the dough and then baking it.

And it is this emphasis on basic skills and natural living that Playgroup leader Joe believes sets their playgroup apart.

"All the families get to know each other and it is a really friendly environment," Joe said.

Playgroups at Harmony are based out of Steiner Early Childhood programs, where the focus is on learning through doing.

"Steiner playgroups nourish and nurture the head, heart and hands of the child," Joe said.

Children develop motor skills through games, playing with blocks of wood, craft, digging, and making and baking organic bread.

"The children sit around the table and play with the dough and then they bake it," she said.

"The children also develop their motor skills through fingers games like two little birds," Joe said.

The children have a set time where they play without their parents guiding them, which teaches them valuable social skills.

"The children figure out social things on their own, there isn't a lot of conflict and they learn to co-operate together."

"They watch the co-operation between the adults and pick up on it."

While the children play, the parents keep busy with various crafts, such as making calico bread bags for the children to take their bread home, seasonal crafts like egg dying at Easter time wooden gnomes at midwinter, and blossom garlands at spring time.

Each Wednesday morning [or afternoon for the second group] parents and their children arrive and sit in a circle and sing good morning songs.

This is followed by story time where the children are told stories which reflect the season and experience the season in a creative way using colours.

Kylie Wilson, a long term-parent of the Playgroup and a state school teacher runs the afternoon Playgroup.

"What I have experienced from the Harmony Playgroup is a weekly strengthening of what matters, what works, and what feels good to create. It just gives so much to parents and children.

"Playgroup is not just beneficial for the children, it is for parents too," Kylie said.

"This time together offers a golden time where children happily play, allowing parents to interact, connect and build friendships over a pot of steaming chai tea," she said.

Another difference between the Harmony Playgroup and other groups is that all toys in the playroom are handmade with wool, fleece and cloth; Joe said these stimulate the senses.

"It is a natural and creative environment, and it is relaxing too for the parents, it is a good influence on the kids because the parents are relaxed," Joe said.

Shirley Bell, who has been working with Steiner Early Childhood Education for 20 years, said: "using natural materials for toys allows the child to enter into open ended, self directed play which is the main part of the morning and helps develop social skills and self expression."

If you are interested in attending a playgroup at Harmony, contact Joanna on 4872 3999.