The new group, which meets weekly at St Columba's Primary School, features wooden toys and a sustainability focus.

Group coordinator Jane McLeod, who runs a business hiring and selling wooden toys, answered a call-out from the school who were keen to start up a playgroup.

"Plastic toys never break down and kids get sick of toys easily so they do get disposed of. Wooden toys have a timeless quality and can be passed down through generations so they're better for the environment," she said. 

"Wooden toys have to be more interactive as the child has got to put some of themselves in to it."

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With son Ari, Ms McLeod and a host of other families with children aged from nine weeks to five enjoy the weekly playgroup, with proceeds going back to St Columbas to help fund the sustainability programs the school runs.

Eco Kids were among dozens of playgroups across Ballarat who celebrated National Playgroup Week last week.

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