Week highlights many faces of parents centres

Emma Currie enjoys some time in the sandpit with son Eli (4).  Photo by Gerard O'Brien.
Emma Currie enjoys some time in the sandpit with son Eli (4). Photo by Gerard O'Brien.
Parents Centres Week is usually in June, Emma Currie says.

''But it's too cold here in June,'' Ms Currie said, laughing, ''so we do it in May''.

The week is celebrated by parents centres nationwide, including the one in Mosgiel, where Ms Currie is president.

''It's to raise awareness of what the parents centres stand for,'' she said.

At Taieri Parents Centre, that meant opening up activities for free that usually cost money, or were only for paying members, Ms Currie said. The Taieri Parents Centre organises a range of activities year-round.

''We do play groups, coffee groups, music and movement groups, parent education sessions, hot topic nights, and from first aid to child development to cake decorating to how to put on make-up to budgeting.''

''[We do] childbirth education, which is what we're best known for. We offer them six times a year,'' she said.

''It's free, funded by the district health board.''

Ms Currie became involved with the centre after doing a childbirth class in 2010.

''I met a great bunch of people through the natal class ... and I love helping in the community and love volunteering,'' she said.

''I love what [the parents centres] stand for.''

In Mosgiel, Parents Centre Week runs from May 2-9.

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