playground playdates

coMMUNITY & FAMILY COnnections

Building a Stronger Santa Monica Community

We are excited to introduce the new Playground Playdates program! This program aims to welcome and support new families in Santa Monica’s schools. The informal playdates are an opportunity for preschool and TK-5 families to meet, connect and build lasting relationships, while also learning about community resources and supporting local advocacy efforts.

Our Playground Playdate blog post goes into more detail about the origin of the idea and some of the people who have worked on it.

GOALS

The Playground Playdates program goals include:

  1. Building Community: Strengthen connections among families, neighbors, and local schools.

  2. Advocacy: Encourage families to get involved in local early childhood education issues, such as writing letters to council members and advocating for better aftercare options.

  3. Resource Sharing: Parents and caregivers can exchange information, ask questions and gain insights about preschools, local elementary schools, aftercare programs and camps.

GET INVOLVED

We need volunteers, advocates and ambassadors from a diverse group of preschools and elementary schools to make this program successful. If you have questions or would like to learn more about our program, please reach out to Deb Burgin at deb@bahala.org.