Introduction

Say and Play is a unique, easy-to-understand early childhood development tool that enables adults to provide psycho-social support to children ages three to six years old.  To do so, Say and Play helps children express themselves naturally through pictures, stories and games, and helps adults to listen to young children and mobilize change in their communities for a healthier environment for young children.

While many early child development materials promote children’s intellectual and physical development, few give children the opportunity to express their hopes, fears and experiences. The Say and Play methodology actively engages young children, and guides adults to learn from and take action for young children.

Though Say and Play involves children from three to six years old, it also addresses the needs of newborn to three year olds by providing guidelines for parents and caregivers.

Say and Play addresses the following topics:

1.    What do children need to grow?
2.    Helping young children with their problems
3.    Children on their own
4.    When the caregiver is sick
5.    Talking to children about death
6.    Our hopes
7.    Caring for children

The full Say and Play package consists of a manual, six colorful A3 size pictures, one A2 size poster, a set of eleven playing cards, all packaged into a carrying bag. For easy download, however, only the manual is available on this website, but it contains the pictures, posters and playing cards within its pages.

Background

Say and Play was created in response to the cry for a tool that helps adults support the psychosocial needs of young children, and would not exist without formative research and extensive community involvement to ensure the tool targeted those most in need in the most appropriate way. PCI began the Say and Play development process with a rapid assessment to evaluate services for orphan and vulnerable children (OVC) under-7 years old in Zambia and found that, although services such as health, nutrition and child protection are being provided, psychosocial support is overlooked due to insufficient training and understanding in how to work with this age group. While older OVC are reached with psychosocial support services through primary school and trained home-based caregivers, OVC under-7 are often underserved and unable to benefit from such services until primary school, by which time the psychosocial damage may be extensive.

A formative assessment to inform the design and implementation strategies of appropriate psychosocial support for OVC under-7 in Zambia established that early childhood development (ECD) teachers and home-based care (HBC) caregivers are the ideal persons to provide these services. PCI began working with Dr. Jonathan Brakarsh, author of the Journey of Life series and a child psychologist living and working Zimbabwe, to develop a tool that would be easy for teachers and caregivers to use, help children open up through fun and interactive activities, and mobilize communities to better support the psychosocial needs of young children.

PCI held three focus group discussions with 15 ECD teachers and HBC caregivers to identify relevant topics and then conducted two brainstorming discussion forums with local implementing partners to critically review suggested formats. The result of these discussions led to the initial drafts of Say and Play, which were pilot tested with ECD teachers, HBC caregivers and community action group members. Seven ECD teachers from seven community ECD centers pilot tested Say and Play on children aged 3-7 years old, providing information that further tailored the activities, stories, questions and pictures to young children. Nine HBC caregivers from seven HBC organizations pilot tested in their communities, with families and groups of children, ensuring the questions and activities are appropriate for a community setting. Seven school heads and teachers pilot tested Say and Play on community action groups such as Neighborhood Watch Committees, Women’s Groups and Parent Community School Committees, helping adapt questions for adults to include an aspect of community mobilization. In total, Say and Play was pilot tested on over 100 children and adults. After pilot testing, Say and Play went through a technical review process with local and international child experts that further refined the tool to ensure that stories, questions and games effectively address the psychosocial needs of young children.

PCI continuously worked hand-in-hand with early childhood development teachers, home based care caregivers, parent community school committee members and community action groups to create a user-friendly tool. Throughout pilot testing, ECD teachers and HBC caregivers reported that they learned new things about children they work with every day; parents and guardians listened to the thoughts of young children about, at times, rarely discussed topics such as death or sexual abuse; and children enjoyed the games and finally had their voices heard. Say and Play strengthens communication between adults and young children, and relies on the expertise of children to know what they want.

Currently, Say and Play is being used in HIV clinics while children and their caregivers are waiting to see the doctor; in early childhood development centers to identify children in distress and link them to needed services; by home-based care teams to assess family relationships and strengthen them; and in areas affected by conflict and violence. Say and Play enables field workers to assess the support children require, to provide the children with information that strengthens their resilience, with the outcome that the children can now take action and better control over their lives despite an uncertain future.

Say and Play is a unique tool based on the universal experiences of children, relying on the fact that all children know best about their own likes and dislikes. As adults, we must learn to listen to children more often, and Say and Play provides an opportunity to do so.

He can be contacted at brakarsh@yoafrica.com or brakaim@hotmail.com.

Testimonials

‘Say and Play tool has helped me recognize my roles as a parent and has guidelines which help me with the needs of children which are not bought by money but given through love.’
Linda Kondowe, Parent

‘Say and Play is a hidden gold in papers. It has helped me talk to children who are in distress using steps that are in the tool. It is user friendly. It has helped children share their problems and fears after knowing that other children also go through similar problems. Thank you PCI, you have touched a lot of children’s lives.’
Jane Kaoma, Sunday School Teacher

‘Say and Play tool has helped me work with a lot of families in our communities. Most parents didn’t care about the welfare of their children. After having sessions with them, most of them are able to communicate and help their children with day to day lives. Say and Play is easy to use with guidelines that are simple to follow. Both parents and children are also able to use in different situations. Say and Play tool has helped parents to create a world in which every child is educated, protected, respected, valued [and] given an opportunity to share their views and grow up to turn the tide of poverty and abuse.’
Twasiesther Nyenyembe, PCI Field Monitor
Lusaka, Zambia

‘Say and Play has helped me a lot dealing with children, especially when a child has gone [through] any form of abuse at school, church or home.’
Mutale Mwila, Caregiver

Contact Information

For questions or comments related to Say and Play, please email PCI at info@pcizambia.co.zm, and be sure to include ‘Say and Play’ in the subject line.

Your comments and experiences on using Say and Play are welcome, and will help us continue making sure that Say and Play benefits as many young children as possible.