Play Box Postings: 5th Issue
Grafting a kids sports programme with Play Box. When the combination of approaches to playful learning makes sense and creates synergies.
Living Kids is a faith-based initiative. Living Kids combines Play Box and games in a training programme for ECD practitioners, principals, and parents in Mamelodi and Eersterus, townships to the east of Pretoria, and Skukuza, a rural town in Mpumalanga.
The combination of sports and Play Box made sense. Both approaches are playful. The founders described how they developed and introduced a training programme through ECD forums in the nearby townships. This programme was designed to playfully help children develop the range of skills that are critical for development. The sports programme was well-received.
During an interview with Living Kids, the effects of lockdown on children were explored. Children had missed the order and stability of schooling for eight months as the result of the measures to contain the COVID-19 spread. They had missed the routines and their inability to focus and work together was evident after they returned. Both the physical games that are part of Living Kids programme and the range of activities possible with Play Box provide the opportunity for a much-needed routine.
The training provided when lockdown restrictions were lifted had a significant impact on principals and teachers. Learning through play (LtP) lifted spirits and inspired them.
“We were bringing people together who had been apart for some time. Times were hard. We were all struggling. People were miserable without much hope. We had so much fun. There was laughter all the time as we went through the training." (Personal communication, 2021)
The combination of Play Box and sports is adding value to learning around Pretoria and Mpumalanga. Click here to read the full extract by Gareth Rossiter and more about the creativity of teachers during the lockdown period.
All photographs on this page by Rogan Ward (Zero2Five)
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