With so many young families making the move to Niverville, the need for playgroups and a place for parents to connect with each other has grown. This past spring, one local mom stepped up to fill that void, creating Niverville Happy Kidz Stay & Play.
After approaching the town for use of space, the playgroup was started in March 2018 by Crystal Woligroski, who saw an eager response from parents in both participation and volunteering.
“I was overwhelmed by the response of a few other moms in town who were waiting for a group to join,” says Woligroski. “From there, it has been a team effort with Maegan May and a few others that attended weekly and helped out and have donated toys and helped with the donations.”
Running on volunteers and donations, Happy Kidz has developed into a place where parents and caregivers can come and feel welcome. The free group is open to all kids from newborns to Kindergarteners. The room is set up with crafts, games, and a variety of play stations, including a baby-safe area. There’s also a small bouncer for the kids to play with while their caregivers help themselves to coffee, tea, and sanity-saving conversations.
The drop-in group currently runs on the first and third Thursdays of each month in the south end of the Niverville Arena from 9:30–11:30 a.m. Each week, the playgroup averages 40 to 60 kids and 30 to 40 adults.
One of the biggest draws of having a local playgroup is that it offers parents a space to get out of their home and connect with other parents while being able to keep their kids active and entertained.
“My goal when I started this group was to bring together young families, give them a casual place to meet up and start making lasting connections,” says Woligroski. “The town has grown so much and it is these community places that make it feel like home. Isolation in small towns can be tough if there are not resources for families to feel like they can access. Post-partum depression is so prevalent in our moms today, and if we can give them an outlet, then I feel we have accomplished our goal.”
Woligroski says that the group currently has six core volunteers, but they are always looking for more people to join the team. Volunteer positions are available for setup and teardown, as well as supervising crafts and play areas.
“The plan is to start slow and build up the volunteer base,” Woligrowski says of the plans to grow the group. “We plan on being open weekly after the winter break, unless the cold doesn’t let up, and when we have enough volunteers to open we will extend the days.”
Happy Kidz will be celebrating their kick-off on October 4 with a carnival-style event. Kids will be able to enjoy carnival games, do crafts, have their face painted, and indulge in some popcorn.
