Parenting

PRETORIA, 25 April 2024 – Thirty years since the dawn of democracy in South Africa and ahead of the latest national elections, when citizens will again exercise their right to vote, UNICEF South Africa releases its ‘ Time to PROTECT and PRIORITIZE Manifesto for Every Child in South Africa 2024: Time to PROTECT and PRIORITIZE children ’ . The ‘…

The ‘cyan blue carpet’ is awash with representatives from academia, civil society, the corporate sector and young people, as the audience gathers for the UNICEF produced ‘Sand Castles’ film premiere at the Ster-Kinekor V&A Waterfront cinema in Cape Town. The film, produced in South Africa by Rooftop Productions but for a global audience, is a…

“Safety is not only the absence of violence but the presence of love,” says Benjamin Perks, UNICEF’s global parenting advocacy lead. He’s speaking at UNICEF South Africa’s first CEO Network Meeting for 2024, addressing a room full of leading business minds from across the Cape Town area. The dialogue focused on the importance of universal…

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…

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…

In the face of their own mental health challenges, Eleanor, a journalist, and Robin, a major crimes detective, always knew parenting wouldn't be easy.  Eleanor, diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder and Generalized Anxiety Disorder, has been living with these conditions since childhood. Meanwhile, Robin experiences Post-Traumatic Stress…, The power of parenting , Every child deserves to grow up in a loving, nurturing and safe environment.  But providing nurturing care takes time and resources – things that many parents and caregivers don’t have.   UNICEF believes every parent and caregiver should receive the support they need to give their children the best possible start in life. Caregivers who receive…

In 2019, UNICEF and the United Nations Population Fund, with funding from the Government of Canada, began the implementation of a programme called "Empowering Women and Girls to Realise their Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) in South Africa" in the Alfred Nzo District in the Eastern Cape and the uThukela District in KwaZulu-Natal…

We all want what's best for our children, but being a parent isn't always easy. That's why UNICEF Parenting brings together some of the world’s leading experts to support you with helpful tips, insights and facts. Science-backed information you can trust to help give your child the best start in life!, I'm interested in..., Child development Child care Health and well-being Food and nutrition Protection and law Parenting stories, In the spotlight, Child development, From child development stages to the latest expert tips on the topic. Your child’s environment and experiences shape how happy, healthy and smart they will grow up to be. From pregnancy to preschool, here’s how you can make every moment count., Child care, Expert parenting tips on everything from handling big conversations to getting the most out of play. With every hug and every conversation, you can help your child grow in so many ways. We’ll guide you through ways to play with your child, strengthen your bond and navigate big topics., Health and wellbeing, Science-backed information for looking after your family’s health. Every parent wishes for their child to grow up happy and healthy. Find out how to support your child’s physical and mental health., Food and nutrition, Learn how to set your child on a path to healthy habits for life. Healthy eating habits count from the very start. Here’s how to fuel your child’s development and prepare the ground for lasting health., Protection and law, Learn about supporting children exposed to violence, exploitation and abuse. Every parent wishes for their child to grow up safe and happy. Find out how to support children when they are exposed to bullying, violence, exploitation, trauma and abuse. , Parenting stories, The power of parenting

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.

“How to stay healthy and safe after a flood” is an easy-to-use guide providing important information and tips for protecting yourself and your family after a flood. Topics include how to avoid sickness, help children cope after a disaster, keep food and water safe and how to fight the spread of germs and disease. The guide is available for…

24 November 2022 – The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the difficulty in reaching caregivers through in-person programmes, due to financial and human resource constraints. To address these challenges, a digital chatbot adaptation of the in-person Parenting for Lifelong Health programme was developed, with the aim to provide universal access to…

ECDmobi is a low cost, easy to use app to support parents and primary caregivers of babies and children under four years to facilitate learning through play at home, through easy to understand activities.  Play is part of being a child – it’s fun and much needed from birth for children’s optimal development and learning. ECDmobi provides a virtual…