A virtual playgroup established in place of suspended services has attracted more than 3,300 members since its launch last Wednesday, as South Australian parents do their best to maintain a sense of routine for children.

Key points: Membership numbers of the Playgroup At Home webpage are soaring

Membership numbers of the Playgroup At Home webpage are soaring It is a place where parents can share activities to help retain a sense of normality for children

It is a place where parents can share activities to help retain a sense of normality for children Children's entertainment and stories are streamed live into homes

About 110 playgroups from 142 supported by Playgroup SA have been suspended because of the coronavirus pandemic, with more expected to follow.

Playgroup SA chief executive Craig Bradbrook said it was important to continue offering "some kind of normality for children in such challenging times".

An outdoor painting activity has kept some children occupied while staying at home. ( Supplied: Playgroup SA )

"We think it's going to be absolutely crucial to have that routine for children, so they know they can tune in and feel like they are part of something, even though it's a virtual world," he said.

The organisation has set up a Playgroup At Home Facebook page, where it is live-streaming children's entertainers, a regular story time segment at 10:30am, and professional advice for parents about maintaining emotional wellbeing.

Parents have also been sharing the activities they have been undertaking with children at home, such as drawing, wood carving, craft ideas and "stuffed bear hunts".

"Since last Wednesday to Tuesday morning, we welcomed more than 3,300 members to the group, and there's some great social engagement happening from all of the families," Mr Bradbrook said.

"We're really looking at a grassroots kind of movement to keep playgroup alive.

"On Tuesday we're going to be welcoming Tony from Kool 4 Kids, so he'll be doing a 15 to 20-minute livestream session with singing and dancing for the kids.

"Hopefully we can huddle around the screen and get everyone involved."

The Facebook page may also be welcome news to parents, many of whom are working from home to isolate themselves from the spread of the virus and in need of ways to keep their housebound children occupied.

Parent Grace Stefanato said Playgroup SA had come up with a "great initiative to help guide parents at home".

"They are doing an amazing job," she said.

Craig Bradbrook last year overlooked the establishment of intergenerational playgroups. ( ABC Radio Adelaide: Malcolm Sutton )

A call for entertainers

Aptly enough, the page's surge is taking place during National Playgroup Week.

Playgroup Australia chief executive Fiona May said the week was about recognising the importance of bringing people together through social connections, "especially in light of the current global coronavirus pandemic and economic instability".

"While our major events have been postponed and many playgroups suspended temporarily, we are welcoming the endless opportunity for connection that technology offers our community," Ms May said in a statement.

Playgroup SA has been offering live-streamed story time to members. ( Facebook: Playgroup At Home )

Playgroup SA has put out a call for children's entertainers, who are encouraged to get in touch if they want to do some live streaming.

"We've also spoken to a graphic designer who might do a drawing activity for the kids," Mr Bradbrook said.

"But we've really welcomed the contribution that parents are making to each other to keep this village alive for children and providers.

The group has a number of rules people must agree to before they can join, including the need for parental consent before any photos of children are posted and respecting people's privacy.

"We ask that everyone keeps in mind their own privacy as well by not sharing where they live or anything like that," Mr Bradbrook said.

"We want to maintain a safe community online where we can share our ideas without giving away where we live."