A Story of Change: The Power of Play in Action 🌱

A few months ago, Care for Education trained a group of Western Cape practitioners to become Play Box facilitators. Among them was Busi from ELRU, whose story beautifully illustrates how something as simple as play can create meaningful change – for practitioners, for children, and for entire learning environments.

Her journey is a powerful reminder that when practitioners are supported, confident, and equipped to use play intentionally, classrooms transform into spaces of joy, curiosity, and growth.

Read Busi’s story below – a wonderful testament to the lasting impact of playful learning in action. 💛

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Before joining the Centre Support Programme, many practitioners focused mainly on routine care and basic supervision of children, with limited understanding of how to create stimulating learning experiences. One such example is a practitioner from one of the Gugulethu centres, who initially struggled with planning and implementing structured learning activities. Her classroom was minimally organised, and learning resources were not effectively used to support children’s development.

Through regular mentorship and hands-on guidance from ELRU facilitators, she began to understand the importance of daily planning, setting up learning areas, and using play as a key tool for learning. With ongoing coaching, she gained confidence in facilitating group activities, storytelling, and creative play. Her classroom has since transformed into an engaging and organised learning space where children are now more curious, cooperative, and expressive.

The change is also visible in the children - they participate actively, communicate better, and show excitement in learning new things. The practitioner has expressed pride in her growth and appreciation for the support received, saying that the programme helped her see herself not just as a caregiver, but as a teacher who plays a vital role in each child’s development.

This story reflects the broader transformation across the programme: practitioners are growing in confidence, learning environments are improving, and children are benefitting from more enriching, play-based early learning experiences.