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Families with a child under four are being encouraged to join virtual 'stay and play' sessions to encourage confidence in returning to more parent and child groups in person.
The BBC's Tiny Happy People is behind the initiative, which coincides with Mental Health Awareness Week, and hopes to gently show families who have been unable to take part in many activities with their babies and toddlers because of the pandemic, what to expect from playgroups that might be running in their area.
The corporation, which set up the Tiny Happy People project to help support children's language and development with tips, resources and information as well as royal backing from the Duchess of Cambridge, says the online events for families are 'much-needed'.
It is hoped they will encourage new mums and dads, many of which have been hugely isolated as new parents because of the restrictions of the pandemic, to have the confidence to begin thinking about the sorts of activities they may soon be ready to enjoy with their children as restrictions continue to ease and more places reopen.
Two stay and play events are being organised for those with a baby or toddler. The first is at 11am today (Friday) and again at 11am next Friday (May 21).
And there will be some celebrity faces amongst the parents joining in.
Presenter Rachel Riley and Strictly dancer Pasha Kovalev will join this morning with their baby Maven, before Geordie Shore’s Marnie Simpson and her baby Rox sit down with fellow parents next week in front of screens across the country next week.
Each session will be led on the screen by a qualified early years practitioner, with a musical theme including lots of songs and rhymes planned for this week's event and sensory play, and its benefits, the focus of next Friday's virtual activity.
Parents can attend the virtual stay and play sessions through the Tiny Happy People's facebook page.
For support, advice, events and all things to do with parenting in Kent, visit My Kent Family here.
