Stay and play or play and chat : comparing roles and purposes in case studies of English and Australian supported playgroups

There are an increasing number of international sociocultural studies exploring how variances of practice and environment impact upon childhoods. This article is intended to inform the process of selecting settings for comparative study by reflecting on two separate studies of groups which initially appear to be examples of similar services models. The article considers the extent to which Australian Supported Playgroups and English Parent-Toddler groups might be similar activities by considering the purposes of the groups from parent's and practitioners' perspectives. In particular, it examines the aspects of interaction, play and talk within the groups through the lenses of cultural-historical activity theory and the ecological perspective. Comparison of the two study groups suggest a dual focus in the Australian supported playgroups with an emphasis on parent 'chat' and children's play. The findings show that whilst these groups are similar in some aspects to English parent-toddler groups, there are important differences that require consideration when selecting sample groups for further study.