The Play Movement launched a Siyadlala Siyafunda campaign that highlights the importance of learning through play on June 23 at Workshop 17 in Rosebank.
SiyaDlala SiyaFunda is a movement that encourages parents and caregivers to recognise the benefits of play for children.
Thuli Mkhwebane, campaign director of SiyaDlala SiyaFunda said, “The movement started in 2019 in Columbia, Rwanda, and Brazil, and today we are officially launching it in South Africa.”
She said the world had shifted dramatically over the past year with Covid-19, and never had children’s development and learning been so important. Parents, teachers, systems, and governments must rethink how children learn and play under these changing circumstances.
“We are excited to keep exploring not only immediate solutions to help parents and caregivers prioritise play for development, but also working with schools and decision makers to change our education systems and communities for the better.”
Mkhwebane added the initial phases of the campaign were dedicated to unpacking the importance of play by engaging the community, and it aimed to engage South Africans in dialogue, reigniting family joy, strengthening bonds, and handing down traditions.
“The second part of the campaign is the ‘Mzansi Playdate’, which will mobilise South Africans to take part in a national playdate. “Parents and caregivers will be encouraged to be proactively involved in play activities that drive learning and a heightened interaction with the world they live in.”
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