Learning through Play has proven to be an effective approach to fostering positive, nurturing relationships between children, their families, and their communities. By encouraging collaboration between schools, local authorities, and parents, Learning Through Play (LtP) creates an environment where children can thrive through engaging, fun, and educational activities.

Recognizing the critical role of community involvement in this initiative, the PlayMatters Tanzania team organised a series of meetings in November to bringing together local government representatives, School Management Committees (SMCs), and parents to advocate for the integration of LtP in both school and home settings. This initiative is part of a broader strategy to build lasting partnerships that support children’s educational development. The key objectives of the engagement sessions included educating parents about how LtP supports children’s development, providing parents with examples of LtP activities they can incorporate at home, helping parents understand how to establish conducive environments for learning at home and encouraging parents to ensure children are enrolled at school, engaged, and complete their education.

Engaging parents in the learning process

A key component of this initiative was a meeting with parents in sessions aimed to provide parents with practical tools and insights on how to integrate LtP activities into their daily routines at home. By fostering a safe and stimulating environment for learning, parents can play an active role in their children’s educational journeys. During these meetings, PlayMatters education officers demonstrated various interactive games and activities that make learning enjoyable and impactful including number games that can help children practice mathematical skills and vowel sound games to teach literacy skills.

These demonstrations showcased the potential of LtP to make education both accessible and fun beyond the classroom. Reflecting on the experience, Hamisi, a parent and member of the School Management Committee, said, “I never knew learning could be this fun! Watching the demonstration of how engaging the mathematical games are, particularly in teaching addition, has shown me how much children can learn through play and perform well.”

Strengthening school-community relationships

The sessions also served to strengthen the bond between schools and communities, highlighting the benefits of a collaborative approach to children’s learning. PlayMatters emphasised the importance of school enrollment and encouraged parents and local leaders to ensure all children have access to education, stay in school, and complete their studies. By raising awareness about these critical issues, the initiative fosters a sense of shared responsibility, uniting schools, parents, and local authorities to support the well-being and success of every child.

Through these efforts, PlayMatters has empowered parents and communities to take active roles in their children’s education, fostering environments where learning is both meaningful and enjoyable. Over the three-week period, the initiative engaged 17 government education stakeholders, 122 school management committee members, and 876 parents.

These collaborative efforts demonstrate how Learning Through Play (LtP) is transforming educational outcomes and strengthening ties between schools and communities.