As part of the celebration of Mandela Day 2024, the DO MORE Foundation and Kids Collab joined forces to bring the joy of active outdoor play into the lives of young children in 675 Early Childhood Development (ECD) centers across South Africa.
The Problem of Access to Quality Play
Although every child deserves the opportunity to run, jump, climb, balance, throw, catch, and explore the world around them, many children attending under-resourced early childhood development centers in South Africa face limited access to equipment for quality outdoor play and specialist support.
The '67 Minutes of Play' Campaign
For this Mandela Day, the DO MORE Foundation and Kids Collab launched the '67 Minutes of Play' campaign. This initiative has a dual purpose: to raise public awareness about the importance of outdoor play for toddlers' development and to give children in 675 needy centers the opportunity to move and play.
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Each center will receive a 'Move & Play' kit, which includes practical materials such as colored cones, balls, bean bags, chalk, and a parachute. These resources will enrich group sessions for groups of up to 50 children. ECD specialists will receive support in the form of printed guides, on-site training, and ongoing communication, which will help develop children's motor and cognitive skills through outdoor play.
The Benefits of Early Play Sessions
Starting in August, children in these centers will receive active and engaging outdoor play experiences daily, not just during special events. Jessica Ronaasen, Advocacy and Innovation Manager at the DO MORE Foundation, notes that research consistently shows that children absorb material most effectively through play, developing knowledge and necessary life skills. Play is an integral part of childhood and is recognized both in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and in South Africa's National Integrated ECD Policy.
The '67 Minutes of Play' campaign is based on Kids Collab's Play Parks program. It creates conditions for children to participate in fun, professionally designed physical activity sessions that promote growth and development. The program uses engaging games and motor exercises to build foundational skills necessary for lifelong learning, health, and well-being.
Whitney Richardson, Director of Kids Collab, emphasizes that play is too often viewed as a break from learning or a reward after completing 'real work.' However, for young children, play is self-learning; it is one of the primary ways they make sense of the world, form relationships, solve problems, and lay the foundation for future development and well-being.
The Importance of Specialist Training
Simply providing equipment is not enough. For outdoor play to have a lasting impact, specialists and caregivers need the confidence and skills to conduct meaningful play sessions. In addition to distributing the 'Move & Play' kits, specialists will undergo training on practical strategies aimed at guiding and encouraging play.
The DO MORE Foundation's collective action model, 'Everyone Has the Right to Play,' aims to unite all partners involved in creating conditions for young children to thrive. Since ECD specialists and caregivers are key figures in this process, enhancing their skills in using new materials makes the educational environment more effective both inside and outside the classroom.
Dipo Mhlongo, National Program Trainer at the DO MORE Foundation, explains that ECD specialists must understand the purpose of each resource, know how to use it properly, and integrate it into daily educational activities. During training, the learning outcomes for specialists through play are demonstrated, as adults also learn through play. After training, they will be able to purposefully use the play kit to develop language, cognitive, socio-emotional, physical, and creative skills.
Partnership for Development Support
This system represents a shared ecosystem, owned and managed jointly, bringing together donors, ECD specialists, parents, development organizations, and local partners around a common goal—helping young children flourish. Stakeholders express pride in the growing community of partners who are integrating play into their work with children and families, strengthening child support through expanded knowledge in both the learning environment and daily interactions.
By investing in play, society invests in healthy bodies, sound minds, and a brighter future for the next generation of South Africa. When children have the space, tools, and support to move, explore, and discover, they are free to do what they do best—learn through play.
