Illawarra's annual business awards are only a week away but a business phenomenon being celebrated in advance is one established a year ago by Lagoon Seafood Restaurant marketing manager Jonni Nicolaou.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
On Monday, Mrs Nicolaou and others behind the monthly Toddlers' High Tea mornings at the Lagoon are expecting to attract a non-holiday record gathering.
The social activity has become so large it takes over the entire restaurant and could soon flow out onto the new deck being built.
In September close to 300 parents and children turned out during the school holidays for a morning of fun activity for kids and socialising and networking opportunities for their parents.
What Mrs Nicolaou started is now not only attracting interest from families in Wollongong and Shellharbour but more businesses and organisations who provide activities for children wanting to get involved.
During the recent school holidays The Big Fat Smile Team did what it has done so often since the initiative that was originally targeted at mums and bubs started late last year.
It ran a disco and other activities for children while parents relaxed and chatted over a high tea or coffee.
On Monday the team from Little Leonardo's Art Studio are providing the activities for children and Wollongong Science Centre and Planetarium is also keen to run science workshops for children at future events.
Little Leonardo's has a range of art activities planned for Monday and will be bringing along an art fairy host who will be wandering around with a paint-brush wand handing out small arty gifts for the children to take home while the rest of the Little Leonardo's team provide a range of art activities so the children get to do something they really want.
"We are going to have different art stations so the children can try different things," creative director Natalija Vocanec said.
"Our aim is for the children to be able to create a little art piece to take home. I decided to support this because it is just so fabulous for the community.
"I love what Jonni is doing in bringing so many parents together to touch base.
"It is unusual to have a situation like this where you actually have small children that can be entertained along with their parents as well in one place.
"Generally, activities that you both can do are separated. This is lovely that it is combined all-in-one place."
Stuart Creal and Amanda Travis, at the Science Centre, are planning science-based activities in February.
Monday's high tea runs from 9.30am-11.30am. Bookings are essential at: lagoonrestaurant.com.au and 4226 1677.
