Do More Foundation Empowers Nkomazi Parents

This month, the DO MORE FOUNDATION is shining a spotlight on the parents of Nkomazi and the important role they play in cultivating their young child’s love for reading with books that celebrate their language, culture and heritage.

Read and Play at Home is a multi-partner programme that emphasizes the importance of integrating locally relevant language and cultural context into early learning resources, specifically reading and picture books. It is underpinned by the belief that a child’s development is most successful when supported by a strong, collaborative relationship between parents and Early Childhood Development (ECD) centres.

Empowering parents as primary caregivers in early learning and development

A child’s early years (birth to five) are a critical period for development, and the influences of heritage, culture, and language play a significant role in shaping young minds. By actively engaging in their children’s linguistic foundation, parents can foster a sense of identity, belonging, and cognitive growth.

Jabu Mthembu-Dlamini, Community Programmes Lead at the DO MORE FOUNDATION’s Nkomazi office says: “Parents have a profound impact on their child’s early development by dedicating time each day to read with them. The Read and Play at Home programme supports this by incorporating the family’s primary and secondary languages and culturally relevant stories. This approach not only promotes cognitive and linguistic development but also strengthens identity, empathy, and academic success. Through such initiatives, parents can help their children flourish in a diverse and interconnected world.”

Since 2022, Read and Play at Home has reached 2235 parents in Nkomazi, providing them with the necessary training, support and resources to start their own reading corner at home. This has been the result of a collaboration between the DO MORE FOUNDATION (founded by RCL FOODS), Book Dash (supported by MySchool), Lulamaphiko and the Institute of Training and Education for Capacity-building (ITEC). The next programme target in Nkomazi is to reach 1574 parents in 2024.

Building strong connections between ECD practitioners, parents and young children

Eden Mabila, ECD practitioner in Nkomazi, explains how the Read and Play at Home programme has deepened involvement of parents in their children’s early learning: “Parents now see the value of being actively involved in their children’s education from an early age. They also understand their role in supporting literacy and learning at home, which has led to better engagement in classroom activities and more enthusiasm from children towards reading. This shift in parental involvement is laying a stronger foundation for children’s literacy development.”

Here’s how the Read and Play at Home programme empowers parents to support their child’s early learning and development:

• Training: Parents are trained in the importance of reading and interactive play, using resources provided by Book Dash and supported by Lulamaphiko and DO MORE.
• Book distribution: Parents who attend training receive three Book Dash books to start building their own bookshelf at home. Two books are in their own language, and one is wordless to allow parents to create stories with their children.
• Ongoing support: Parents are provided ongoing support, follow-up and feedback opportunities to encourage continued engagement and assess the impact on child development.

Enhancing ECD through heritage, culture and language

Nomthandazo Mashele, a parent participant in Read and Play at Home, has experienced several positive impacts from the programme: “My favourite Book Dash books are Toast and Lilanga Lelihle because my child can relate to the everyday experiences described in the books, like eating toast and playing with friends. My child now shares educational moments and initiates conversations about the stories we read together, extending this curiosity to other things they encounter in daily life, like the news and food advertisements. The Read and Play at Home programme has strengthened our relationship, opening new ways for them to connect. This shared learning experience has deepened our bond and broadened our communication.”

Here’s how parents can impact their child’s growth and development through incorporating heritage, culture and language into reading and playing:

• Cognitive and linguistic benefits: Storytelling and cultural narratives enrich vocabulary and comprehension skills, fostering a love for reading and learning.
• Social and emotional growth: A strong connection to their cultural heritage provides children with emotional security and a sense of continuity.
• Importance of reading and playing: Early reading experiences with parents prepare children for formal literacy instruction. Playtime with parents helps children develop social skills, self-control, and cognitive flexibility.

The Read and Play programme has also been rolled out in Worcester (Western Cape) and Pongola (KwaZulu-Natal), positively impacting 2100 and 2451 parents respectively since 2022.