| 24 July 2010
Recently Kidzone After School Care in Federal NSW was threatened with closure. The issue was lack of funding and fluctuating enrolment numbers—it certainly wasn’t the quality of this service, which has been well recognised since it first began more than 15 years ago. After school care really is a vital resource in any community, as every working parent would understand... but the value of this type of care goes way beyond a fundamental need for working parents, and some may not realise this.
The Federal and surrounding community was instrumental in finding ways to save the threatened Kidzone service. A group of local parents and grandparents quickly joined together in Federal Park to share ideas and formulate practical ways to keep this important resource available to the children in our community. Spirit was strong, and this combined with an anonymous donation of $2000 to the service (THANK YOU whoever you are) not only saved Kidzone but helped to enriched it. New enrolments came in once people knew award-winning artist Svea Bjornsson was the current coordinator. Then there was the help from council’s offer of a demountable, which will be fantastic and provide a perfect ‘kid zone’ creative space.
Kidzone After School Care is particularly privileged to have an award-winning local artist (and mother of two, as the current coordinator. Svea Bjornsson has won Shearwater’s Wearable Arts many times and she feels honoured to facilitate these sessions for school age children, to be able to share her wealth of experience and talents.
“Children are our NOW of Community,
Doors to Infinite Futures NOWS,
Experience NOW,
Smile and Play with the Children.”
Svea Bjornsson
Svea is currently embarking on a creative project with the children, a sculptural installation titled Mad Hatters Tea Party in the Park, and the Kidzone Kids will enter this into the Warwick Jumpers and Jazz in July competition. The $200 prize money for the winning community group will be most appreciated by the children, and if they win they will choose something new for Kidzone.
• “I like Kidzone because it is creative. Making hats is fun.” Kayla 81/2yrs
• “I like Kidzone because of the bikes.” Jude 91/2yrs
• “Kidzone is fun because of all of it.” Neisha 8yrs
• “Kidzone is exciting, you can express yourself.” Mali 101/2yrs
• “Kidzone is fabulous because of all the creativity to do.” Mishika 101/2yrs
My own experience as a coordinator for Kidzone after school care in 2004/2005 gave me the opportunity to witness the far-reaching benefits that this type of service provides. Many children do need this service because their parent, or both parents work and there is no one home to care for them after school. There are also children who really benefit from the safe and nurturing social environment that an after school care program can provide. Some are without siblings or live remotely and have no children to interact with after school. Many just love the extended time to play and be creative with other kids.
Watching a blend of local children from different schools unify through cooking a shared afternoon tea, coming together to play or independently engage a craft activity is refreshing, and this service helps to strengthen a community spirit within our young people. The informal group dynamic encourages a sense of belonging in that time between school and home, and many children enjoy being involved with planning their activities, which is so wonderful to see.
After school care is valued as a transitional bridge between the organised structure of a school day, and the familiarity and identity a family can bestow upon a child.
Time spent at after school care allows school-age children to unwind from their day in a safe and nurturing environment... to read, relax, to play, and then there’s also the chance to focus on arts and crafts and other activities… and in Kidzone’s case this is a real creative adventure, thanks to Svea Bjornsson.
If you can, help keep this service operating and support through donations, bikes, material, art supplies, sports equipment or anything else a group of school aged children can explore. Please contact Annie (director) or Svea (coordinator of Kidzone) at Federal Community Children’s Centre on 0266884 371.
