INSIGHT
Playleader - more than a magazine!
- Diana Turner tells the story behind Playleader magazine, with the 50th issue now out
As a
playgroup leader, busy doctor's wife, and mother of four young children
I received many invitations to evening meetings. But by the end of
a busy day, the lack of time, energy, and a babysitter always meant
I stayed at home with the family.
Nevertheless I longed to be in touch with other Christian leaders
of playgroups and toddler groups, and believed there must be others
who felt the same need. That prompted me to say, at the end of an
article in the Pre-school Learning Alliance magazine Under-Five
Contact in November 1984:
"Finally, may I ask if any playgroup people would welcome Christian
contact with others? I know my own dependence on God in this work,
and I believe in the value of prayer. Anyone who agrees that it would
be of value to have a Christian fellowship through which we could
keep in touch might like to write to me and share ideas."
I was surprised when 40 people replied! But by then a collapsed disc,
a severed muscle and a trapped sciatic nerve had grounded me! The
enforced rest meant there was time to answer my letters from Anglicans,
Baptists, Methodists, Pentecostals, Roman Catholics and United Reformed
Christians. They wrote from England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales,
from multiracial inner cities and remote outlying villages. Some were
well supported, other were lonely. All longed for Christian fellowship
with leaders of other groups.
"Our playgroup is run by the Baptist church, and is as much a
part of the church's work as the Sunday School", a lady from
Buckinghamshire wrote. "It is not particularly Christian in format,
but in our attitude to the children and their parents."
A person in Somerset said: "I agree with you about the value
of prayer. I prayed for a chance to start a playgroup and we have
been running since September".
A playgroup leader in Gwent shared, "Some of the mothers have
moved here from Coventry, Birmingham and other places, and they are
very lonely. They have found new friends now and have been received
into our village life. Thanks be to God!"
A letter from Bradford said: "I am working in a multiracial setting.
it's a combined mother and toddler group, playgroup and crËche
enabling some mothers to go to English classes. I feel the need for
support as you do, and an exchange of views would be valuable."
One leader said: "I didn't realise the pressures these young
Mums endure nowadays - if I did things in my own strength I would
collapse under the strain. It has really been an eye-opener, and I
just thank the Lord daily for the peace and assurance he gives me."
A mother shared: "I'm scribbling this - desperately tired as
Number Three has ear trouble and NEVER sleeps well. Perhaps the fact
I'm taking trouble to stagger through writing this is an indication
it IS valuable to share playgroup experiences with other Christian
mums!"
The potential of playgroups and toddler groups was especially evident
in a letter from Northern Ireland from a playgroup leader in a troubled
area of Belfast. She shared that Roman Catholic and Protestant children
- and their parents - were meeting and playing together. She added:
"We have many a talk with a mum and dad, and pray that these
links in what we believe are sort of chains will, backed by our prayers,
ultimately bring others to faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. A great
many committed Christians involve themselves in the playgroup here
... The dependence on God of those of us who are Christians working
in the playgroups of Northern Ireland is very real to us. We could
not go on without inspiration from his word to keep us going, and
the opportunities to witness to our faith and share God's word with
other."
Having learned so much we prayed to know the way forward. The answer
came at a Christian Medical conference while my husband was chatting
with Dr Anne Townsend. As soon as he mentioned my article in Under
Five Contact and the letters I had received Anne said: "Tell
her to write for Family magazine (now Families Together!).
I did, and 150 more letters arrived!
In September 1985 we published the first issue of Playleader.
Commenting on it, The Church of England Newspaper suggested:
"There may be other leaders of playgroups and mother and toddler
clubs who would value means of Christian fellowship and encouragement
related to their work with youngsters."
Now Playleader
reaches playgroups, pre-schools, teachers in church, state and private
nursery classes, leaders of parent and toddler groups and Sunday schools,
parents, grandparents, clergy and convents. To me Playleader
is a huge extended Christian family stretching nationwide and beyond.
From the start we have always emphasised and affirmed the value of
Christian family life.
Playleader spreads mainly by word of mouth. After Anna Stirrat
moved north from Cambridge she requested three more copies for pre-school
leaders in Doncaster. In Milton Keynes, the local PLA branch phoned
Margaret Godfrey to say somebody had read her article and wanted to
contact her.
Margaret was bewildered until she remembered her letter in Playleader
49. Eventually a lady phoned her to explain she had seen Playleader
while on holiday in Wales, and because she lives in Milton Keynes,
a friend suggested she should get in touch with Margaret. Now they
value each other's friendship.
When Mary Andrews wrote to tell me that Basingstoke Christian Pre-schools
and Toddler groups are thinking of setting up a network and she would
be grateful to learn of any similar venture I sent her Irene Wyatt's
address. Some years ago Irene set up Leeds Link to enable Christians
to meet to pray and share about their pre-school group. Kath Prior
began a similar venture in Eastbourne. Now there is the new 'Playtime'
initiative.
Care for the Family through Playtime newsletter plans to set
up regional meetings to support Parent and Toddler groups in each
area. To find out more, write to Lynn Jack at Care for The Family,
PO Box 488, Cardiff CF15 7YY.
Who knows what lies ahead?
Diana Turner
www.playleader.freeuk.com
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