Learning Through Play: Empowering young mothers to build strong foundations for their children's education
At Pratham, we have long believed in the transformative power of play in early childhood development, so we are excited to share an inspiring movement that is gaining momentum across India where young mothers are embracing the magic of play to help their children build strong educational foundations.
The power of play in early childhood education
Play is not just a fun activity for children; it is a critical component of their learning and development. Through play, children explore the world around them, develop essential cognitive and motor skills, and learn to interact with others. For young children, play is a natural and effective way to acquire foundational skills that set the stage for future academic success.
Recognising this, Pratham has been at the forefront of promoting play-based learning. Our programmes emphasise the role of play in fostering creativity, problem-solving abilities, and social skills. By incorporating play into early childhood education, we are helping children develop a love for learning that will benefit them throughout their lives.
Mothers leading the way
One of the most exciting aspects of this initiative is the role of young mothers becoming active participants in their children’s education. They are learning how to use play-based techniques to engage their children and support their developmental needs. By turning everyday activities into learning opportunities, these mothers are making a significant impact on their children’s growth.
In a recent article written by Pratham’s CEO for Forbes India, Dr Banerji highlighted several success stories of mothers who have embraced this approach. These women have created playful and stimulating environments at home, using simple, everyday items to teach their children about colours, shapes, numbers, and more!
Government support for mother-led initiatives
The success of these mother-led initiatives has not gone unnoticed. State governments across India are recognising the value of play-based learning and are supporting Pratham’s efforts. By providing resources, training, and infrastructure, governments are helping to scale these initiatives and reach more families.
This support is crucial for sustaining and expanding the impact of play-based learning. It ensures that more children can benefit from this approach, regardless of their socio-economic background. The collaboration between Pratham, mothers, and state governments is creating a powerful synergy that is transforming early childhood education.
In Maharashtra, the state government has encouraged the formation of mothers’ community-based activity groups for the last two years as a key part of their National Initiative for Proficiency in Reading with Understanding and Numeracy effort. The education department in Madhya Pradesh has been conducting foundational literacy and numeracy melas that bring in parents, especially mothers and children, to participate in activity-based fairs. Whilst in Punjab, for several years, the pre-primary classes in government schools organise mothers’ activity workshops that teachers lead.
Learn more and get involved
The learning-through-play initiative is a testament to the power of community-driven solutions and the critical role of mothers in early education, ensuring that more children get the best start to their learning journeys.
Dr Banerji’s article offers a detailed look at the methodologies, successes, and future prospects of the learning-through-play movement and is a fantastic read for our Pratham UK supporters (like yourself!) to learn more about early childhood education, parental involvement, and innovative teaching strategies.
Read Dr Rukmini Banerji’s article here.
If you’d still like to join us in helping more children take transformative learning journeys with Pratham. Make your donation today and change a child’s life.