ECDmobi is a low cost, easy to use app to support parents and primary caregivers of babies and children under four years to facilitate learning through play at home, through easy-to-understand activities. ECDmobi provides a virtual support programme and can be downloaded on Playstore and iStore. The app is not meant to replace an ECD programme, but to help equip caregivers on different activities that they can do with their children at home to stimulate the child and make the transition from home to ECD centres/programmes/school easier.
ECDmobi has the potential to stimulate early learning and development and facilitate better child health through the enhancement of good nutrition and feeding practices. The application increases parental knowledge and skills and supports parents in following and stimulating their child’s development. The app assists young children to engage with new technology to increase early literacy and advance play. In addition, the training and capacity development in the ECD sector is supported.
Play is fundamental to cognitive, physical, and socio-emotional development, it also helps children develop executive functioning associated with working memory, and self-regulation. The skills (critical thinking, analysing, problem solving, socialising) that your child learns when playing prepares them for the 21st Century. Play is one effective tool to help children cope with adverse situations. Between the ages of birth to three years, the brain increases 80% of its adult size and 90% of it at age 5 and stimulation during this time is essential for your child. Playing with your child leads to positive academic outcomes, resilience, confidence and reduces stress. Reading and telling stories to your child helps them with language development. Parents are the first point of contact in providing early learning and stimulation to their children:
- Play is actively engaged: When children play, they begin to make sense of the world around them and they use existing knowledge to make sense of new experiences
- Play is interactive: The constant trial and error that happens during play helps children with resilience and problem solving.
- Play is socially interactive: Children communicate, they collaborate, they negotiate and build relationships whilst playing
- Play is meaningful: When children play they connect new ideas to what they know
- Play is joyful: Play may lead to feelings of joy, and the psychological wellbeing of children
The ECDmobi app provides you with weekly activities for you and your child and is a fun way for parents and caregivers to engage with their babies in the comfort of their homes. Download the app now and get parenting tips on the go!