A special play session for dads and their children has been launched at Bath & North East Somerset Council’s Keynsham Children’s Centre.
The Dads’ Stay and Play group meets on the second Saturday of the month, between 10am and 12noon, at the Children’s Centre, on West View Road. The next session will be held on Saturday 11 February, with another one on Saturday 10 March 2012.
These sessions are open to any dads or male carers with children under 11 years, and include fun activities like painting, games and crafts.
Councillor Nathan Hartley (Lib-Dem, Peasedown), Deputy Leader of Council and Cabinet Member for Early Years, Children and Youth, said: “Bath & North East Somerset Council is encouraging dads to come along to play with their children. The sessions are great opportunity for the children to play and make friends, and also for the dads to meet up.
“Improving the life chances of children and young people is a priority for the Council, and our Children’s Centre services are there to support families and help ensure that children get a good early start in life.”
Chris Bolshaw, Keynsham Children’s Centre Co-ordinator, said: “The new sessions have come about as a result of research carried out for the Council. They talked to some of the men who use the centre who said they would really like to have a group aimed specifically at dads and their children. Of course all our activities are open to any parent, it’s just this group will be just for dads.”
The new Dads’ Stay and Play runs at the same time as the centre’s regular monthly stay and play session, which is open to any family with children under 11.
Niki Smith, from Barnardo’s South West, which runs the Dads’ sessions added: “We know that fathers play an important role in their children’s lives, and having an opportunity to play together brings positive benefits for their children.”
Keynsham Children’s Centre offers a range of services to families with children including a young parents’ group, babies group, post natal support and ante natal support, messy play sessions, child-minding group and Citizens’ Advice Bureau drop in sessions. Families can come along to the centre, or support can also be provided in the home.
The Children’s Centre is open 9am to 5pm Monday to Thursday and 9am to 4pm on Fridays. It is one of 11 children’s centres across Bath and North East Somerset. There are also centres at Keynsham, Midsomer Norton, Radstock, Paulton, Peasedown St John and Bath.
You can find out more about activities at the centre on the website http://www.bathnes.gov.uk/KeynshamandChewValleychildren.
Alternatively you can call Chew Valley Children’s Centre on 01225 395400 or email [email protected].
For information on wider support for children and families available across the area contact Bath & North East Somerset Council’s Family Information Service on 0800 073 1214, [email protected] or visit http://www.bathnes.gov.uk/fis.
Children’s centres are a partnership between Bath & North East Somerset Council, the community and many other local professional and voluntary organisations including local schools and nurseries, the NHS, Citizens’ Advice Bureau, Job Centre Plus and voluntary organisations including First Steps, Barnardo’s and Southside.
