The Consumer Council has expressed concern over the emerging service of playgroups.
There is at present no specific legislation governing the operation of playgroups for predominantly young children of pre-school age.
Under the circumstances, before enrolling your children with a playgroup, parents are urged to choose playgroups with due care.
The Consumer Council has studied this emerging paid service operated by private or non-government organisations or kindergartens.
The study does not cover playgroups operated free-of-charge by parents for their own children or by clubhouses of private housing estates for their residents.
Depending on the nature and activities of the playgroup, parents should ask to see the Certificate of Registration issued by the Social Welfare Department for a child care centre if the playgroup is engaged in mainly play activities for children under 3 without the presence of parents.
Alternatively, in the case of a playgroup of a certain size involving elements of education such as learning of foreign languages, music or art, parents should ask the operator to produce the Certificate for Registration issued by the Education Bureau for a school.
Further, parents are advised to read carefully the terms and conditions of the playgroups before committing their children to their care.
Attention should be paid in particular to what special arrangements for leave are in place in the event of a pandemic outbreak or inclement weather.
Operators of playgroups, on the other hand, are urged to set out these arrangements to cope with such emergency situation.
Parents will do well to ask around other parents for comments on the playgroup, and check with the operator the tutors' qualifications and the methods they use to facilitate children's learning.
They should also make an effort to personally attend "trial lesson" to observe whether the environment is safe and hygienic; whether the children have enough room and time to play, and whether the children are comfortable to be with the tutors, other children and parents.
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