Creating Opportunities for Early Childhood Development

CHP playgroup leader, Jeanne Bassis

Meet Jeanne Bassis, CHP Playgroup Leader

Jeanne Bassis has built a career helping children and adults experience play, an essential ingredient for a healthy life. Each week, Jeanne brings lightly structured and free play to two CHP playgroups: Mondays at TurnPark Art Space in West Stockbridge and Fridays at CHP Family Services in Great Barrington.

“Playgroups are for children, parents, and caregivers—everyone,” says Jeanne, who notes how playtime for people of all ages can be overshadowed by increasingly structured and screen-oriented lives.

“Children especially need play very early on: to become social people, to learn language and sharing, to experience music, movement and storytelling.”

Very young children, whose development depends on play, lost out on critical social playtime during the pandemic lockdown period. CHP playgroups can help children catch up, says Jeanne, who shifted her playgroups to the CHP YouTube channel during Covid.

Each month, as many as 35 playgroups are offered throughout South County, serving over 100 children and their families.

There’s free play time, cleanup time, and circle time for stories, games, and music. It doesn’t take long to get lost in the fun, and even grown-ups who wind up on the floor to play find themselves benefiting from the levity of spontaneous and creative playtime. Playgroups also build communities of support among adults raising children in the Berkshires.

“The playgroups have allowed me to network with other caregivers and build structure into our routine. We would be lost without all of the wonderful programming CHP offers,” shares one parent who regularly attends CHP playgroups.

Don’t just take our word for it! Play is so important for child development that it’s even recognized by the United Nations Commission on the Rights of the Child.

So, find a CHP playgroup for your child (and your inner child) and join us!

Want to adopt a playgroup?