Playgroups
Our playgroups offer a daily early learning programme led by trained mothers in their communities for children aged 2-5 to support their school readiness outcomes, with an emphasis on social and emotional learning through mindful play practices.
840 children daily
15 districts
60 Maatla Mamas
Key activities
Partnerships - playgroups are operated in partnership with village development committees (VDC) and district councils
Training - Maatla Mamas (which means “strong mothers” in Setswana) are nominated by the community and trained by LTP in early childhood education
Support - LTP provides ongoing support to the community playgroups in the form of weekly virtual check-ins, termly visits, and annual monitoring & evaluation
Key outcomes
Improved learning and developmental milestones for children
Economic upliftment through sustainable livelihoods for Mamas
Increased social and emotional development outcomes through mindful play
Why playgroups?
 1.
Partnership model with government and VDCs ensures community ownership and cost subsidies for sustainability
 2.
Access for the inaccessible. LTP playgroups make early learning feasible for communities cut off from economic opportunities, health, education or social services
 3.
Mindful play weaves social and emotional learning into the fabric of early learning in a culturally relevant way, promoting resilience, confidence and happy children
Impact
Results from The Assessment for Play-based Early Childhood Education show that 88% of children at LTP playgroups are meeting their learning and developmental milestones. 100% of our Maatla Mamas have been lifted above the poverty line.
My child spent 2 years at LTP and during that time, he learnt so much. He is now at Primary School. I am thankful for the exposure that Learn To Play has provided me with especially with activities like yoga and mindfulness as they offer numerous benefits to both parents and children. We are able to manage our emotions effectively, have less stress, and our children have less behavioural issues.
- Parent from our playgroup, Bontleng
The playgroup process
Community - Community consultations to establish why the community wants the playgroup, meet the community parents and stakeholders and introduce Learn To Play
Location - Guide the VDC and council to identify a suitable venue for the playgroup. Secure VDC commitment and sign agreement
Maatla Mamas - Village leadership and LTP interviews and selects 3 mamas for two weeks of ECD training in Gaborone
Development - Consult with the VDC and district council to ensure any maintenance or renovation works have been completed to meet licensing standards
Playgroup - Playgroup opens. Parents enrol their children to attend daily early learning sessions where they also receive a nutritious snack
Support - LTP provides Mamas weekly virtual support, termly site visits, conducts annual programme assessment and community focus group discussions
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