On Monday's at Sebastopol Primary School's Playgroup Hub, a group of parents and young children come together to develop Spanish language skills through play.
It is one of seven playgroups run at the site each week, including a Japanese playgroup and the Me and My Dad program that will be supported through fundraising from Ballarat's biggest fun run, Run For A Cause.
Spanish Playgroup leader Araceli Zumaglini began the program six months ago and has been joined by up to five families during the weekly sessions.
"I saw there was a need for it, especially for me and my kids," Ms Zumaglini said.
"My husband is Australian and he doesn't speak Spanish. I wanted to speak Spanish to my kids but needed someone else in the community to help me.
"I thought someone else out there might have needed help too because it is really hard when it is just one parent talking their children in Spanish when everyone else in their world speaks English."
One mother who attends the playgroup with her children is Mexican and one father who attends with his daughter is from Spain, while some parents do not speak Spanish but want their children to be exposed to other languages and cultures.
When The Courier visited the Spanish Playgroup on Monday, Ms Zumaglini was reading a book to the children in Spanish before dancing and singing Spanish children's songs together.
Mother Jane Thomson said she and her husband speak a small amount of Spanish from their travels in South America, but they wanted their children Marley, 3, and Willow, 1, to grow up speaking different languages and exposed to different cultures.
"Marley walks around the house now speaking Spanish and singing the songs. She can count to ten in Spanish too," Ms Thomson said.
As a charity partner for Ballarat Foundation's Run For A Cause, Playgroup Victoria is hoping to raise funds to create an outdoor play area for the young children at the Sebastopol Primary School Playgroup Hub.
Watch the Ballarat Foundation's Run For A Cause promotional video below.
Playgroup Victoria says being located inside the primary school helps children see the school as a safe place to learn and play which takes the fear out of the unknown and builds their confidence for when it is their turn to go to school.
RELATED COVERAGE: Award-winning play group offers supportive role for dads
Run For A Cause will be held on November 17, with a focus on supporting early childhood development and school readiness.
Eureka Mums, Eureka Community Kindergarten Association, the Ballarat Toy Library, Ballarat Community Health, Uniting Ballarat and Ballarat Reads have also been selected as charity partners for the event.
Visit run4ac.org/ for more information and to register.
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Rochelle Kirkham
Rochelle covers court and has a particular interest in social issues including homelessness, food security and family violence.
Rochelle covers court and has a particular interest in social issues including homelessness, food security and family violence.
