International Save the Children Alliance 1 How do children learn? - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

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International Save the Children Alliance

TOYS AND LEARNING MATERIALS FOR ECCD. Experience with Save the Children supported programme

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How do children learn? PLAY!!!!!!!!

– Play is a universal process. – Play is an optimal experience to encourage all seven identified intelligences (Theory of multiple intelligences by Howard Gardner -1983)

• Vocabulary, grammar, and the ability to sustain conversational exchanges.
• Music through chants, clapping games, and play with musical instruments.
• Logical mathematical skills as they play with blocks, counting, comparing, and

predicting as they build their constructions.

• Visual spatial skills through art activities, visual matching, and making visual

signs.

• Bodily-kinesthetic learning through climbing, running, catching a ball, and

playing a variety of sports (fine and gross motor skills).

• Personal intelligence in thematic play as children become aware of their

feelings, thoughts, likes and dislikes.

• Social skills as children play and try out social roles, learn to see the world

through other people's perspectives, and use language for negotiation and problem solving.

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PLAY AND LEARN USING LOCAL MATERIALS

• INDOOR PLAY AND

LEARNING. – Initially Save the Children started with purchase of plastic toys from Chinese industry to equip 4 pilot centres supported since 2009 in Rubaya (Gicumbi). – Identification of local artists in Kigali and Gahini who can make a variety of toys and learning materials in wood adapted to the age of children and to the Rwandan context (abaci, building blocks, diamond shapes…): around 30 models

Children using wooden toys and learning materials in class.

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PLAY AND LEARN USING LOCAL MATERIALS

• OUTDOOR PLAY AND

LEARNING. – Save the Children started providing metal playground equipment in the 4 pilot ECCD centres of Rubaya in 2009 – Challenges related to metal materials: community members are unable to maintain and repair them because it requires soldering in rural areas without power supply. – Development of playground materials in locally available materials (wood, old tyres…) that communities can maintain using local skills (carpentry, construction).

Children playing on the “ wooden house” and developing the gross motor skills. Metal playground equipment

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PLAY AND LEARN USING LOCAL MATERIALS

7 MODELS OF PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT IN LOCAL MATERIALS

• 1. Train

2.Set of tyres

• 4. Suspended bridge
• 3. Wooden house
• 5. seesaw
• 6. Swing
• 7. slide

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COLLECTION AND USE OF LOCALLY AVAILABLE MATERIALS WITH PARENTS INVOLVEMENT

• Materials that are sometimes

considered as useless can be excellent learning materials for children (bottle tops, plastic bottles, boxes, etc.)

Creative activities testing with children using locally collected materials.

• A toolkit for Creative

Activities developed as guidance for caregivers and parents on collection and use

• f locally available materials.
• Training sessions with

caregivers and parents on use

• f the Creative Activities

Toolkit and collection of locally available materials

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THANK YOU!