In Botswana, 93% of children under the age of 5 do not have access to early learning & fail to reach their potential in cognitive development. Poverty, poor health and nutrition and lack of early stimulation holds them back. Priyanka founded LTP with the vision to ensure that access to high-quality early childhood education, that prioritises happy and healthy children, is a right not a luxury.
LTP’s Mindful Way is central to every programme, taking a two-generational approach to ECE through Playgroups, Parent Playbox, and Educator Training. At the heart of all our programs is a commitment to nurturing the wellbeing of both children and caregivers through mindful practices and play-based learning.
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.
Parent Playbox
The Parent Playbox is a programme for caregivers and children aged 0-6 that equips them with resources, knowledge and confidence to engage in weekly play-based activities at home that foster early learning and family wellbeing.
The Mindful Way
LTP’s Mindful Way is Africa’s first mindful play programme with daily 15-minute SEL activities for children aged 3-6. The curriculum is designed to promote wellbeing.
LTP works in 11 communities with 550 children and 35 Maatla Mamas daily. To achieve universal access to ECE in Botswana, we now work with 2 local governments to create champion districts with universal access to ECE. Recognising that the scalability of our innovation lies in our Mindful Way training and curriculum, these districts will serve as the case study for how we can leverage Learn To Play’s Mindful Way training and curriculum to improve quality and increase access across the continent in conjunction with our Parent Playbox. We know that partnerships are key to creating change, so we have delivered educator training and the Parent Playbox to ECD organisations across the continent impacting 150 educators working with over 10,000 children and 270 playboxes reaching 800 family members.
For organisations who seek to strengthen their play-based programming, particularly in social & emotional development and mindful play, or have a guided approach to a home-based parenting programme that improves caregiver confidence for improved parent and child outcomes, Learn To Play offers training and a parenting solution for you. Contact us at priyanka@learntoplay.org to discuss your needs.
