Early education

JOHANNESBURG - Play is an essential building block for the development of children for a positive, lifelong impact, but what is the role of parents, caregivers, schools and decision makers in fostering that?  These, and more, are the questions that the South Africa National Conference on Play-Based Learning sought to unpack.   Celebrating its 10…

A wayward pass sends chickens running for cover as the soccer game at the Luthando Day Care centre in Shongweni spills out across the grass. The day of play, led by the ‘Power of Play’ facilitators, hasn’t yet started and already some of the older children of the one to six-year-old group need no invitation to get going.  A group of women wearing…, Building it up., UNICEF/UNI519957/Lauren Rautenbach Two young children and a youth walk while balancing lego blocks on their heads. UNI520242, Striking the balance., UNICEF/UNI520242/Lauren Rautenbach A little girl wearing an peachy coloured dress and leggings jumps in the air with her stretched up and joyous expression on her face. UNI520054, Skipping to the beat., UNICEF/UNI520054/Lauren Rautenbach A baby girl sitting on a yellow table holds onto a red plastic cup with pebbles in it. UNI519984, Babies playing too., UNICEF/UNI519984/Lauren Rautenbach A pile of colourful bottlecaps are spread out on a green table. A little arm is visible, picking up a cap. UNI520071, Recyclable household items like bottle caps are a great way for children to learn colour sorting and emergent numeracy while working on hand muscle strength., UNICEF/UNI520071/Lauren Rautenbach A little concentrates on closing a plastic water bottle with some dried beans inside. UNI520144, Household items can make great shakers and toys to include in play too., UNICEF/UNI520144/Lauren Rautenbach A women wearing a yellow Power of Play t-shirt holds up an open picture book for a group children sitting on the floor in front of her to see. UNI519911, Story time, important for building vocabulary, memory and inquisitiveness., UNICEF/UNI519911/Lauren Rautenbach A little girl sits on the ground crossed-legged, leaning forward and looking at pebbles in a chalk-drawn square. Her dad in next to her giving her advice. UNI520250, Traditional games like ‘amagende’ were an important part of the day's activities and are highlighted by the ‘Power of Play’ campaign as being great ways for children to learn through play., UNICEF/UNI520250/Lauren Rautenbach A little boy and girl play hopscotch with two woman watching them. UNI519892, Coordination, balance and communication are learnt by children learn through play., UNICEF/UNI519892/Lauren Rautenbach A ball made from plastic strips flies through the air from the outstretched arms of a little boy smiling happily. UNI519871, Catching, throwing, finger and arm muscle strength and hand-eye coordination are some of the skills children learn through play. Play is what you make of it!, UNICEF/UNI519871/Lauren Rautenbach A little builds a tower with empty tin cans while his mother reaches out to assist him. Two young children and a youth walk while balancing lego blocks on their heads. A little girl wearing an peachy coloured dress and leggings jumps in the air with her stretched up and joyous expression on her face. A baby girl…

The Department of Basic Education with the support of UNICEF has recognised the importance of play for early childhood care and education. This study aims to understand what parents’ knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAPs) are with regards to play in early learning – based on current knowledge that interactions between parent and child in the…

The purpose of this study is to identify indicators for geographical targeting in the roll out of the National Parenting Parental/Primary Caregiver Capacity Building Training Programme (NPP). The first six years of a child’s life lay the groundwork for subsequent health, personality development and intellectual growth. During this period, children…

PRETORIA, 24 January 2024 – “Today is the sixth International Day of Education and is celebrated under the theme  ‘learning for lasting peace’. “It’s an apt theme, in a world where conflict, climate shocks and inequality threaten our very existence. So, while we put out fires and work to reduce the impact of multiple crises on children, we must…

PRETORIA, 16 JANUARY 2024 – Recommended for every child, and their parents is the slogan behind UNICEF’s 5-week campaign, supported by the LEGO Foundation, that launches today and aims to reach more than 2 million parents across South Africa with the #PowerOfPlay message. Impressing on parents that they are their children’s first teachers, the…

When children play, they’re learning lessons that last a lifetime. The brain thrives on experiences that establish new neural connections and pathways and play is the best way for infants and young children to pursue their natural curiosity, learn and grow.   As humans, our ability to problem-solve, deal with physical and emotional challenges,…, Play makes the whole family happier, Research shows that families who play regularly are happier, healthier and less stressed. There is no “one way” to play. And when you look at household objects through a child’s eyes, anything can be a plaything – so play your way and give your child the best start in life!  Play isn’t another thing to do, it’s another way of doing things.  , Play ideas for every moment, Did you know? Just 15 minutes of play with your baby can spark millions of brain connections.

PRETORIA, 26 May 2023 – The number of households who reported having zero access to books at home reached 43%, according to a new study released ahead of World Play Day on 28 May. Some 58% of caregivers surveyed noted that they have books available, but only 32% use them regularly, and storytelling is rarely used in play and learning with their…

Across the province of KwaZulu-Natal, thousands of families who were affected by the devastating April floods are housed in community halls while recovery efforts continue. Among these families are thousands of children who are vulnerable to learning losses, post-disaster trauma and little stimulation because of the circumstances they find…, More photos to view, children-watching-puppet-show ZAF-1W8A7125, A little girl enjoys a puppet show put on by a fellow resident inside the Nazareth Hall., UNICEF South Africa/2022/Matangira Young-girl ZAF-1W8A7190, A young girl inspects some of the play and learning materials that were distributed at Nazareth Hall., UNICEF South Africa/2022/Matangira parents-and-caregivers ZAF-1W8A7141, Parents and caregivers housed inside the Nazareth Hall in Pinetown, KwaZulu-Natal, received play and learning materials for their children aged 0 – 9 years., UNICEF South Africa/2022/Matangira distributing-boxes-of-play-and-learning ZAF-1W8A7136, UNICEF South Africa Education Officer, Lungile Mdluli, helps distribute boxes of play and learning materials inside the Nazareth Hall in Pinetown, KwaZulu-Natal., UNICEF South Africa/2022/Matangira puppet-show-for-residents ZAF-1W8A7128, A resident inside the Nazareth Hall, uses some of the toys distributed by Impande after a demonstration to put on a puppet show., UNICEF South Africa/2022/Matangira child-inspecting-toy ZAF-1W8A7173, Residents inside the Nazareth Hall receive their play and learning materials., UNICEF South Africa/2022/Matangira teacher-demonstrating-toys ZAF-1W8A7010, Nosipho Gumede from Impande gives a demonstration to parents and caregivers inside the Nazareth Hall in Pinetown, KwaZulu-Natal., UNICEF South Africa/2022/Matangira child-and-mother-looking-at-toys ZAF-1W8A7047, A child and her mother play with some toys given to them., UNICEF South Africa/2022/Matangira demonstration-on-using-play-and-learn-materials ZAF-1W8A7074, Nosipho Gumede and Mbali Ndlovu from Impande give a demonstration to parents and caregivers inside the Nazareth Hall in Pinetown, KwaZulu-Natal., UNICEF South Africa/2022/Matangira handing-over-paly-and-learn-boxes ZAF-1W8A7099, UNICEF South Africa Education Officer Lungile Mdluli hands out the materials., UNICEF South Africa/2022/Matangira children-watching-puppet-show Young-girl parents-and-caregivers distributing-boxes-of-play-and-learning puppet-show-for-residents child-inspecting-toy teacher-demonstrating-toys child-and-mother-looking-at-toys demonstration-on-using-play-and-learn-materials handing-over-paly-and-learn-boxes

At Cenyu Public School in Stutterheim in the Eastern Cape, being the first stop on a child’s basic education journey is a responsibility teacher Xoliswa Kweleta takes seriously and prides herself in. As a Grade 1 teacher, she believes in the importance of early learning as the building blocks to ensuring that children in her class eventually reach…, Photos and videos to view, girl-play-with-lego ZAF-1W8A6709, A young girl at Cenyu Public School in Stutterheim, Eastern Cape, uses the LEGO six bricks as part of the Foundation Phase Initiative., UNICEF South Africa/2022/Matangira teacher-using-lego-bricks ZAF-1W8A6727, A teacher at Cenyu Public School in Stutterheim, Eastern Cape, uses the LEGO six bricks to teach new concepts in the classroom., UNICEF South Africa/2022/Matangira teacher-using-lego-bricks ZAF-1W8A6723, A teacher using the LEGO six bricks as part of the Foundation Phase Initiative at Cenyu Public School in Stutterheim, Eastern Cape,, UNICEF South Africa/2022/Matangira children-play-outside ZAF-1W8A6770, Learners playing ouside at Cenyu Public School in Stutterheim, Eastern Cape, useing the LEGO six bricks., UNICEF South Africa/2022/Matangira teacher-and-children ZAF-1W8A6790, Children at Cenyu Public School in Stutterheim, Eastern Cape watching their teacher demonstrating a new concept using Six bricks., UNICEF/South Africa/2022/Matangira children-play-outside ZAF-1W8A6762, Children playing outside at Cenyu Public School in Stutterheim, Eastern Cape., UNICEF South Africa/2022/Matangira teacher-lego ZAF-DSCF0011, Anashti Taljaard, Grade 3 teacher at Hermana Primary School in Ladybrand, Free State., UNICEF South Africa/2022/Lefrere children-play-lego ZAF-DSCF0030, Children in the foundation phase play with LEGO bricks in their classroom as part of the Foundation Phase Initiative., UNICEF South Africa/2022/Lefrere children-in-classroom ZAF-DSCF0035, Children in the foundation phase play with LEGO bricks in their classroom as part of the Foundation Phase Initiative., UNICEF South Africa/2022/Lefrere girl-play-with-lego teacher-using-lego-bricks teacher-using-lego-bricks children-play-outside teacher-and-children children-play-outside teacher-lego children-play-lego children-in-classroom

Learning to read is foundational to every child’s schooling journey and thereafter, yet too many children in South Africa are still being left behind. In 2021, the North West Province Department of Education, UNICEF and the Danish Hempel Foundation rolled out the Early Grade Reading Programme (EGRP) in Grades 1 to 3 in schools across the province…

Lisa Ramela has always known that she would one day help mould future leaders and positively impact the lives of children. She therefore embraced the suggestion from her sister to establish an early childhood development (ECD) centre. Lisa is the owner and principal of Rainbow Kids Daycare which is located in Atteridgeville, west of Pretoria. Many…