ELEMENT OF PLAY® AT HOME
To support our children and families during the COVID-19 pandemic, WWO developed an activity-based curriculum for each of our countries to roll-out at home.
Activities were selected based on:
An understanding that most of our families have limited resources and few toys in the household
A desire to strengthen the relationship between parent and child through short (20 minutes) structured and quality activities
Selection of play-based learning activities that promote early childhood development, including language, listening, math and problem-solving skills
Maintaining a routine in times of crisis is vital for children. This program consists of 20-minute play sessions that parents/caregivers can do with their children at home using very basic items: a pencil, some paper, a box of crayons or a deck of cards.
Element of Play® is WWO’s trademarked program developed to bring about psychosocial change and rehabilitate communities in areas of extreme poverty and disaster. Adverse childhood experiences cause trauma in children which often causes them to miss critical developmental milestones and creates lasting negative consequences in their lives. These developmental delays produce a cumulative effect on their communities.
What differentiates EOP® is its theory of change. True change can only happen when a community can care for itself. The key to this program’s success is that, through teaching and training, a mutually beneficial relationship between children and adults is facilitated, positively impacting their health and well-being.
WWO’s Element of Play® program goals include:
A strengthened connection between parents/caregivers and children
Improved developmental outcomes for children
Improved psychosocial wellbeing for both children and adults