By Monica Gibson

FUN for the body as well as the brain is on offer for imaginative youngsters at a busy Barrhead nursery.

The McCready Family Centre caters for babies and children between the ages of six weeks to three years.

And, when the Barrhead News paid a visit, youngsters were having a ball in the sandpits and on the slides, as well as the outdoor learning space.

There are also two playrooms – ‘busy bees,’ for tiny tots, and ‘rainbows,’ for kids aged two to three.

Staff at the centre aim to encourage a happy and positive partnership between home and the nursery, with an open-door policy extended to parents and carers.

This involves them supporting children’s activities such as reading stories, games, arts and crafts or a short walk to the local library.

This year, the nursery has started a ‘babes in the woods’ initiative which sees staff taking small groups of children to the local woods on a weekly basis and allowing them to explore the environment, risk assessing for themselves while being supervised by staff members.

Also in the pipeline is a messy treasure hunt, with children and adults alike invited to take part.

A spokesperson for the centre said: “Our family day is an excellent opportunity for parents and children to have some quality learning time together, with support from the staff, taking part in a variety of activities that promote parent and child bonding time, learning and development and social and emotional skills.”

The centre is also looking for volunteers to join its Parents’ Committee.

If you are keen to get involved or would like more information, send an email to mccreadyfamilycentre@ea.e-renfrew.sch.uk.