| What: Do More Foundation – Mandela Day 67 Minutes of Play campaign To support the “67 Minutes of Play” Mandela Day campaign: click here. |
The Do More Foundation and Kids Collab are gathering together on the 2026 Mandela Day – July 18 – to bring the magic of outdoor play to young children in 675 ECD (Early Childhood Development) centres across South Africa.” Each ECD centre will receive “a Move & Play kit”, with “practical resources – colourful cones, balls, beanbags, chalk, and a parachute – that enrich group play for up to 50 children”. Amazing initiative! Read on for more. Info as supplied:
The DO MORE FOUNDATION and Kids Collab are coming together this Mandela Day [2026] to bring the magic of outdoor play to young children in 675 ECD centres across South Africa
Every child deserves the chance to run, jump, climb, balance, throw, catch and explore. Yet for many of the young children attending under-resourced early childhood development (ECD) centres in South Africa, access to quality outdoor play equipment and practitioner facilitation remains limited.
For this Mandela Day, the DO MORE FOUNDATION and Kids Collab have partnered for a “67 Minutes of Play” campaign. Its aims are twofold – to raise public awareness about the importance of outdoor play for young children’s development, and to bring the joy of movement to young children in 675 under-resourced ECD centres.
Each ECD centre will receive a Move & Play kit, which is packed with practical resources – colourful cones, balls, beanbags, chalk, and a parachute – that enrich group play for up to 50 children. ECD practitioners will be supported with printed guides, in-person training, and ongoing communication to help build children’s motor and cognitive skills through outdoor play.
From August, young children in these ECD centres will be exposed to active, engaging outdoor play experiences every day, rather than only on special occasions.
The benefits of incorporating play from the start of a child’s life
“Research consistently shows that children learn most effectively through play, building both knowledge and the skills they need in their everyday world. Play is a defining part of childhood and is recognised in both the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and South Africa’s National Integrated ECD Policy. These frameworks highlight the importance of play-based learning, which is brought to life in practice by caregivers and those working with young children.” Jessica Ronaasen, Advocacy and Innovation Manager at the DO MORE FOUNDATION.
The “67 Minutes of Play” campaign is modelled after Kids Collab’s Play Parks programme. It creates opportunities for children to participate in fun, professionally designed physical activity sessions that support growth and development through play. The programme uses engaging games and movement activities to help children develop the foundational skills needed for lifelong learning, health and wellbeing.
“Too often, play is viewed as a break from learning or a reward once the ‘real work’ is done. But for young children, play is learning. It is one of the primary ways they make sense of the world, develop relationships, solve problems, and build the foundations for future learning and wellbeing.”: Whitney Richardson, Director of Kids Collab.
Pairing resources with training ensures meaningful, sustained access
Equipment alone is not enough. For outdoor play to have lasting impact, practitioners and caregivers need the confidence and skills to facilitate meaningful play experiences. Along with distribution of the Move & Play kits to ECD centres, practitioners will be trained on practical strategies to guide and encourage play.
The DO MORE FOUNDATION’s collective action model “Everyone Gets to Play” is about bringing together all partners involved in creating conditions for young children to thrive. ECD practitioners and caregivers are a crucial part of this, which is why upskilling them in how to use new materials makes for a more effective learning environment, both inside and outside the classroom.
“ECD practitioners need to understand the purpose of each resource, how to use it appropriately, and how to integrate it into daily teaching activities. During training, we demonstrate learning outcomes for practitioners through fun because even adults learn through play. Once trained, they can use the play kit intentionally to develop language, cognitive, social-emotional, physical, and creative skills.” Dipo Mhlongo, National Programmes Trainer at the DO MORE FOUNDATION.
This will enable children to get the maximum developmental benefit from every game, obstacle course, relay race or imaginative outdoor adventure.
Partnership is needed to bring play to more young children
This is a collectively-owned and -powered ecosystem that brings together donors, ECD practitioners, parents, development organisations and local partners around a shared goal: helping young children thrive.
“We are proud of the growing collective of partners who are embedding play meaningfully into their work with young children and families. This shared commitment is strengthening how children are supported, with greater knowledge across both learning environments and everyday interactions.”
When we invest in play, we invest in healthy bodies, confident minds and brighter futures for South Africa’s next generation. When children have the space, tools and support to move, explore and discover, they are free to do what they do best – learn through play.
To support the “67 Minutes of Play” Mandela Day campaign, click here.
About
The DO MORE FOUNDATION (founded by RCL FOODS) is a proudly South African independent non-profit organisation with a vision and purpose to ‘create better tomorrows for the young children and families of South Africa’ through partnerships.
| The Do More Foundation on Social Media Website: www.domore.org.za Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/domore.org.za/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/domorefoundation/ X (Twitter): https://domore.org.za/ For more info visit: www.domore.org.za Kids Collab on Social Media Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kids.collab/ Facebook: https://web.facebook.com/Kids-Collab-102475214787073 |
❇ Sponsored feature. Images supplied.
