Toys and Learning Materials Made By Parents for Children in Kenya

Article Link: http://exchangepress.com/article/toys-and-learning-materials-made-by-parents-for-children-in-kenya/5016149/

FOR AN EXTENDED PDF of this article, click here: http://www.childcareexchange.com/resources/view_article.php?article_id=5016102 Material development for both learning and play are a key component in the Early Childhood Care and Development program (ECCD). This is based on the fact that play and learning materials have a significant role in a child’s growth and development. Such materials include swings, dolls, balls, and others. Christian Children’s Fund Kenya has, through its early childhood development projects, encouraged development of play and learning materials using locally available resources within the community as a way of early stimulation for development. Play occupies a significant amount of time in a child’s life. It is because of this fact that most of the home based and institutional ECCD centers are equipped with child friendly playing materials relevant to their immediate community. Objectives for play and learning material development include: to enhance socialization, to promote team work, and to appreciate and preserve cultural values that contribute to the resilience in children. Materials are produced in ECCD centers by caregivers, parents, volunteer parents, pre-school teachers, ECCD center committee members, and local leaders. Building on the cultural strengths For example, pastoralist communities have admirable child rearing practices through the loipi model, which CCF-Kenya helped the community ...