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Play
BRAC IED’s Early Childhood Development (ECD) and Centre for Play programme is dedicated to advocating the importance of play during early years’ learning.
Through research, model development and training, the program helps one comprehensively understand a child’s developmental domains: infant and early years’ stimulation, caregiver and parenting, play-based learning, and maternal health.
It is additionally a hub for early years’ learning in Bangladesh, operating in partnership with ECD networks home and abroad from both private and public sectors, including Bangladesh ECD Network (BEN).
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play
lab
To take the concept of play-based learning for positive ECD further, BRAC IED has collaborated with BRAC, BRAC International, and The LEGO Foundation to design the BRAC Play Model.
BRAC Play Labs are community-based, early learning centers that employ a high-quality, low-cost, play-based learning approach for children aged 1 to 5 years in low-resource settings, situated in Bangladesh, Uganda, and Tanzania.
The model follows a play-based curriculum, for developing social-emotional learning, self-regulation, language, playfulness, creativity, empathy and problem solving skills in children by following five components.
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Facilitation of Parent & Community Engagement
Parent & community engagement is an integral aspect of the play model. Parenting sessions are held every month and issues of discussion center on food & nutrition, sanitation, health & hygiene, child protection, early childhood, child care, etc. The sessions also focus on the importance of early years’ stimulation, and fostering a strong mother and child bond.
Low-Cost Play Materials
Utilizes age-appropriate play materials. Parents and community members participate in toy- making from low-cost, readily-available and recycled materials, imprinted with their mark of culture and uniqueness.
Facilitation of Parent & Community Engagement
Parent & community engagement is an integral aspect of the play model. Parenting sessions are held every month and issues of discussion center on food & nutrition, sanitation, health & hygiene, child protection, early childhood, child care, etc. The sessions also focus on the importance of early years’ stimulation, and fostering a strong mother and child bond.
Empowered Play Facilitators
Play Facilitators, empowered young women of the local community, conduct the play-based learning activities for the children attending the BRAC Play Labs. Play Facilitators are provided a basic training and monthly refresher courses by the BRAC IED team on issues integral to child development and play.
Alignment of Curriculum with Play Spaces
The spatial design of every Play Lab is uniquely formulated to encourage play. Knowing that physical space has the ability to support, scaffold, and facilitate learning in itself, the spaces are designed to enhance the child-friendly design in collaboration with local communities.
