Early Childhood Development Exhibition – October 2013
Funded by the Department of Social Development, KET was tasked with initiating a series of parenting information events and development workshops. The focus of these exhibitions was to center on the benefits of Early Childhood Development to a child’s foundation years and how parents are able to support their children’s development in the home. The intent was also to expose parents whose children currently do not attend preschool, to the value of an ECD education.
The KET affiliated preschools serving each area had an exhibition in the same area. Hornlee Library displayed artwork from 4 preschools (Bitou, Chalkey Talkey, Happy Faces and Willow Tree); Masifunde Library displayed artwork from 13 preschools (Bongani, Concordia, Ethembeni, Gugulethu, Ilingalom Afrika, Isiseko, Judah Square, Magdaleentjies, Noluthando, Paula Witney, Siyafunda, Sunrise, Wonderland) and Rheenendal Community Centre displayed artwork from 4 preschools (Humpty Dumpty, Happy Families and Rheenendal Grade R classes).
Each preschool chose a theme that they wanted to present. The art works were varied, and well presented by the preschools, which made a special effort to display beautiful pictures and models, using many different techniques. Each preschool was given a pack of art materials, including paint and strong glue, which was relevant to the chosen theme. One artwork was required from each child at each preschool.
A roster of learners was drawn up so that learners from each preschool had a morning or afternoon shift to do “work” at each venue. Suitable (mostly unsupervised) activities for the preschool learners were: play dough, drawing and colouring, box constructions, collage, mathematical blocks, bingo, Afrikaans and Xhosa library books, cars to use on the new carpet race tracks. Outdoor activities were bubbles, step-n-catch, beanbags, giant dominoes, and sponge soccer balls.
Having the preschool children onsite added a lovely lively dimension to the exhibition. Parents could watch children in action, learning through play. Teachers that attended also leant how children can learn valuable preschool lessons by following self-chosen activities and working independently. Many of the children had not done box constructions before. They certainly loved it!
187 adults attended and we were glad to have reached them. It was wonderful to see how proud our teachers were of their class’ creations. They all have lots of new ideas already for future activities. Thanks goes to Lesley Satchel and the KET team who supported this new initiative fully and helped so much with the setting up, displaying, dismantling and returning all the art works to the preschools where they originated. These exhibitions are to be followed up by further parenting workshops to be conducted within each of the main geographical areas to further assist parents with techniques and methods on how best to support the development of their children within the home.