The Hunter’s biggest children and family expo is coming to Charlestown on May 20, connecting families to valuable information and services that support their young children’s learning and development.
You’re Kidding Me Expo has been designed to improve access to health and education services for families across the Hunter Region, connecting them to more than 50 workshops, resources and valuable services all in one place.
Held at The Place Charlestown Community Centre on Friday, May 20, the You’re Kidding Me Expo will run from 9.30 am to 12.30 pm.
Lake Macquarie City Council Community Planner Children and Families, Jessica Salvador, said the expo was jam-packed and had something for everyone.
“When families are connected and supported in their community, they flourish,” Salvador said.
“We’ve designed workshops and stalls to be diverse, enjoyable and informative so parents and their children aged five and under can get the most out of every experience.”
Early Start Speech Pathologist, Michelle Batey, said her team would host a stall offering 15-minute speech assessments.
“We’ll be looking at how kids play and interact, respond to instructions and how they form sentences to see if they’re developing on the right track,” Batey said.
“A free stall like this is incredibly valuable for parents, given there can be long wait lists for this type of service elsewhere.
“And early intervention is key if you want speech issues mended quickly.”
Director at Julie Logan Music, Julie Fawcett, said her team would host a workshop using music to connect families in a fun and active way.
“We want families to realise the positive impacts music can have on young kids,” Fawcett said.
“Research shows that music stands alone as the single activity that lights up so many parts of the brain at once, building the integration of the left and right sides of the brain and IQ.”
Other expo activities include free car safety checks, a reptile show and workshops on improving a baby’s sleep.
Lake Macquarie City Community Partnerships manager, Andrew Bryant, encouraged families from across the Hunter to attend the event.
“We’re really proud to host an event like this which gives all families free access to valuable parenting resources,” Bryant said.
“It gives parents the opportunity to ask local experts about their child’s development and build support networks.
“It’s also a fun day out for children with lots of kids activities on offer.”
Workshops are free, but bookings are essential.
Maia O’Connor