Our groups and activities

For a full timetable of the following activities, see what's on at Mill Hill.

Little Explorers

An opportunity for children to have fun with their mums, dads and carers. The group provides an opportunity for your child to experiment with messy play and cooking, explore different physical environments, have fun with glue and paint, and there is also storytelling, music and rhymes.

You will find that it is not only your child that benefits. Joining in with your child can be relaxing and enjoyable. Playing together can help you to understand your child’s feelings and concerns and also to learn about the things they are really good at.

Little Explorers is for 0-2 year olds on Mondays at 12.30pm-2.15pm at Mill Hill Children's Centre.

Springwood Baby and Toddler Group

Springwood Baby and Toddler Group has the same principles as Little Explorers and Outdoor Toddlers, although the ages are mixed in this group (0-5 years). This group is term time only on Thursdays 9.30am-11.15am at Springwood Community Hall, Springwood Avenue, Waterlooville.

A Place to Play

A Place to Play provides families with a friendly and informal place to:

meet with other parents/carers - including mums, dads, grandparents and childminders
spend quality time playing and exploring with your babies and young children
join in fun planned events and activities (which have included: Santa’s Grotto, Easter Bonnet Parade and a ‘FUDGE’ Day
breastfeed in a comfortable space
have a break from shopping
have a drink
chat with children’s centre staff about groups and activities or discuss any issues and concerns they may have
gather information on local activities and services
find out further information on issues including housing and job support.

A Place to Play is situated opposite St Georges Church in Hermitage House, Waterlooville PO7 7TU and is open Tuesday 1.00pm-4.00pm,and is FREE Wednesday 10.00am-12.00pm and Thursday 10.00am-12.00pm there is a Craft Session, which is £1 per family.

Adventure Babies (PEEP)

Being a parent is one of the most vital, and sometimes one of the most undervalued jobs in the world. We believe that you are your child’s first and most important educators.

Adventure Babies is a small group of parents coming together for 6 weeks to do activities with their children and talk about how they can encourage them using the ORIM framework (Opportunities, Recognition, Interaction and Modelling). Singing, stories and books to share are included with each session. Peep is about making the most of ordinary, every-day life with children.

This course concentrates on supporting the very early important relationships in a baby’s life. The first year is a very special time and babies are learning at a tremendous rate. Activities such as making a treasure basket, hand and foot prints and making a baby book are just some of the activities we do within the group.

We will also be incorporating some Baby Massage into the course each week, which helps with bonding and attachment and aids your baby's sleep and digestion.

Photographs of activities are taken and included into a small book that will help you build up your memories of this special time with your child. Useful tips and ideas are included for you to do things at home together.

Adventure Babies is for babies 10 weeks old to 6 months (pre walkers) and is held a few times in the year. Please call the centre to enquire about the next course and to book your place.

Baby Massage

After training with Peter Walker from the International School of Baby Massage we now run ongoing Developmental Baby Massage courses in partnership with Small Steps Children’s Centre. The course runs for four weeks for babies aged 10 weeks to 6 months approximately (prior to them being mobile). We are also able to offer an Introduction to Baby Massage in the home for babies prior to 10 weeks.

The benefits of massage for babies include:

relaxing baby’s belly, improving digestion and helping with constipation
stimulating baby’s circulation and strengthening the immune system
enhancing baby’s development and sensory awareness
helping baby to get to know parents more through their touch
helping to relieve anxieties, relaxing and comforting baby
Encouraging muscular co-ordination and joint mobility

The benefits for parents include:

deepening and strengthening the relationship between parent and baby
helping to develop parents confidence in handling their baby
helping parents to relax

Parents comments after attending the course:

“Enjoyed all of it, but in particular - different relaxing positions, advice about oil and socializing.”
“Educational. A fantastic experience!”
“Alice enjoyed interacting with other babies and I learnt a few helpful tips to calm Alice when she’s fretful.”

Please call the centre for dates of the next course and to book your place, there will be a £5 fee prior to starting the course.

Young Parents Group

A support group just for young parents at Mill Hill Children's Centre on the first and third Thursday of each month, 12.30-3pm. For details contact Tracy at the centre on 023 9224 0077.

Triple P - Positive Parenting Programme

Small changes make big differences. Triple P suggests simple routines and small changes that can make a big difference to your family. It helps you understand the way your family works and uses the things you already say, think, feel and do in new ways that:

create a stable, supportive and harmonious family
encourage behaviour you like
deal positively, consistently and decisively with problem behaviour
build positive relationships with your children, so that conflict can be resolved
plan ahead to avoid or manage potentially difficult situations
take care of yourself as a parent

While Triple P is almost always successful in improving child behaviour problems, more than half its emphasis is on developing positive attitudes, skills and behaviour. This helps prevent problems arising and fosters family relationships that encourage children to realize their full potential. Triple P has been developed and scientifically proven over 30 years by The University of Queensland Parent and Family Support Centre, with international collaboration. The system is widely in use throughout Australia and increasingly, throughout the world.

For more information on Triple P, details of the next course and to book your place, please contact Kim or Tracy on 023 9224 0077.

Early Support

Early Support puts the needs of families and young children first. It’s designed to ensure that all the services provided for families with young disabled children are well co-ordinated and responsive to their needs.

As soon as a child is identified as needing additional help, parents need to know that they can rely on others for information and help from health services, social services, education services, voluntary organisations and other families who have "been here before”.

What matters most to parents is that services talk to one another and that any help, treatment or therapy provided meets their child’s needs and is well-planned, in consultation with them.

Which is where Early Support comes in. The programme ensures that professionals are better informed about a family’s needs and requirements and how these can best be met.

For further information on Early Support please contact: Sharon Farrier, Early Support Co-ordinator for the Havant area on 023 9224 0077.

Employment support and guidance

Jobcentre Plus, is a free service providing advice for people who are looking for employment and or training for future employment.

Karen Thornton-Family Advisor for Job Centre Plus is available to drop in to see on a Tuesday morning or can be booked for appointments through Job Centre Plus, please call 0776 729 8849. Karen is at Mill Hill from 9.00am-5.00pm every Tuesday.

Karen will be available to give individual help and support in all areas relating to job training and work opportunities.

Come along for FREE advice.

English courses

English courses are run by South Downs College at Mill Hill Children’s Centre on Tuesdays 9.15am-11.45am. This is a free course and childcare can be provided.

Improve your spelling, punctuation, grammar, letter writing, form filling or CV preparation and much more. You can also work towards a national qualification.

To book a place on this course please contact Teresa on 023 9279 7959 or Kim at Mill Hill on 023 9224 0077.

Maths courses

Maths courses are run by South Downs College at Mill Hill Children’s Centre on Thursdays 12.15-2.15pm. This is a free course and childcare can be provided.

Brush up your skills on a variety of topics including numbers, measuring, data work, fractions, decimals, percentages, and you can work towards a national qualification.

To book a place on this course please contact Teresa on 023 9279 7959 or Kim at Mill Hill on 023 9224 0077.

Would you like help to quit smoking?

If so please speak to Kim, our Family Support Outreach Worker for advice and support. Kim can visit you in your home or at Mill Hill Children’s Centre at a time convenient to you and chat about giving up smoking. Kim can give you information on nicotine replacement products and other stop smoking medicines. You will also be able to use a carbon monoxide monitor to assess your level of addiction and monitor the fall in harmful carbon monoxide levels in your body.

Kim offers ongoing support and motivation to ensure you quit for life.

For further information, please call or text Kim on 07595 214671.

You can also get support from the NHS Free Smoking Helpline: 0800 022 4 332 (open seven days a week, 7am to 11pm).

Contact us

Visit us at Mill Road, Waterlooville PO7 7DB
Call us on 023 9224 0077
Email us at millhill.cc@hants.gov.uk
We are open 8am - 6pm Monday to Friday