Mother of two, Tash Den Elzen developed a nature-based sensory playgroup for local parents during the peak of COVID-19.
When Sunshine Coast mum Tash Den Elzen had her daughter amid the first coronavirus outbreak, she had no idea how challenging the early days of motherhood would be.
“I found it hard to connect with other new mums; those newborn months were incredibly isolating. Plus, I didn’t have any extended family for support,” Tash says.
She started connecting with mums online and then, when her daughter was four months old, the lockdown lifted and the group started meeting in a local park in Caloundra, Sunshine Coast.
“Then, when my daughter was seven and a half months old, I fell pregnant again!” Tash says.
It’s a story that’s all too common—regardless of COVID-19. New mums are increasingly separated from their village and the shift to motherhood can be an incredibly isolating time.
Slow down and read a book at Sunshine Coast sensory playgroup.
We still need ‘the village’ for our children.
In the hope of providing safe space for mums and bubs to find a community, Tash created Gaia Sensory Play, a nature-based sensory playgroup.
“After spending those newborn days stuck at home all day, I really wanted to create a community where mums can get out of the house and connect,” she says.
“I am hoping to bring the village back to new parents, as it really does take a village to raise a child.”
Beginning with park meet-ups with friends, Tash’s sensory play sessions proved so popular that they now have a permanent home in the Baringa Community Centre at Caloundra. The group meets weekly, with bookings essential.
Working closely with two play therapists to design the sensory play sessions, Tash now has a series of gentle stations—each with a different sensory experience.
“All products are homemade, edible and natural,” she explains.
“The water station is dried citrus in water, and the paint is made from natural powders.
“We have these really beautiful treasure tubes. They are filled with various natural items such as bay leaves, citrus, fruit, cinnamon, gum nuts. The kids can open them, mix, explore, crunch and smell.”
sensory play exploration jars at Sunshine Coast sensory playgroup Gaia Play
A favourite with the kids is a homemade jelly consisting of gelatin and bone broth.
“They love to throw it around and squish it up,” Tash says. “Then we’ve got our ice station, with edible flowers and ice. We also create a slime from chia seeds in water.”
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