The Institute of Early Childhood Development (IECD), a UNESCO Category Institute, has launched a groundbreaking initiative to support working parents in Seychelles. The SENSPA programme aims to equip parents with knowledge and tools to enhance their children’s educational development, promoting a healthy work-life balance.
The inaugural session, held on May 31st, 2024, was a huge success, featuring parents from Airtel Seychelles. The interactive session, led by experienced Early Childhood Educators from IECD/UNESCO C2I, covered essential topics such as early simulation, color sorting, numeracy, language, and storytelling. The activities demonstrated the importance of play in a child’s development and provided parents with practical strategies to support their children’s educational growth.
The SENSPA programme is a nationwide initiative aimed at bridging the gap between childcare and education. By providing working parents with resources and tools to support their children’s development, IECD aims to improve the overall readiness of children aged 3-4 years old for preschool and crèche.
Last year’s regional pre-learning activities reached over 100 parents, resulting in a significant increase in the readiness of children in this age group. The success of the programme can be attributed to the active engagement of parents in their children’s early childhood development.
IECD is now inviting other organizations to join the initiative and conduct similar sessions for their staff. The sessions will focus on early childhood literacy and numeracy, sensory activities using real materials, effective communication strategies through storytelling, and creating a conducive and child-friendly learning environment for children at home. Experienced Early Childhood Educators from IECD/UNESCO C2I will lead the sessions.
By partnering with IECD’s SENSPA program, organizations can empower their working parents to take an active role in their children’s educational development, promoting a healthier work-life balance and better outcomes for young children.
