Pathways to Scale for Playful Parenting Programs

Group Submission Type: Formal Panel Session

Proposal

Play is transformative for children – it allows them to creatively develop their imagination, dexterity, and physical, cognitive, and emotional strength. Parents have a vested interest in the future and wellbeing of their children. As primary caregivers, parents are naturally and uniquely positioned to provide their children playful learning experiences as a child’s first and lasting playmate. Initial research shows that playful parenting works (LEGO Foundation, 2019) . However, more robust evidence is needed to help successfully bring playful parenting programs to scale.

Calls for scaling up successfully tested parenting interventions have multiplied over the past several years. Many acknowledge that experimental parenting interventions are of limited value unless they have larger policy and programmatic impact. While there has been progress, there is still little practical guidance on how to proceed with scaling up parenting interventions.

Scaling up of parenting interventions has also become a central theme in the global ECD agenda. Scaling up is defined as “deliberate efforts to increase the impact of parenting innovations successfully tested in pilot or experimental projects so as to reach and benefit more individuals and to foster policy and programme development on a lasting basis”(Simmons et. Al, 2007). “Successfully tested” highlights parenting interventions that are backed by locally generated evidence of programmatic effectiveness and feasibility obtained through pilot demonstration. “Successful” means the parenting intervention is realistic to carry out, relevant and worthwhile; and the intervention has real and beneficial impact on children, families/communities, and the workforce. “Deliberate efforts” mark the scaling up process as a guided strategy that involves the plans and actions necessary to establish parenting programs in policy and service delivery.
The Playful Parenting Initiative works to address this global call for evidence on scale up. The consortium is composed of five playful parenting programs implemented by Save the Children in Bhutan, ChildFund International in Guatemala, Boston College in Rwanda, and UNICEF in Serbia and Zambia, all working towards a common agenda: moving playful parenting programs to scale. The Playful Parenting Initiative’s research partner, FHI 360, leads implementation research across programs to generate the evidence on ‘what works’ for effectively scaling of playful parenting and the impact it has on caregivers, service providers, and children. The research partner and implementing partners of the Playful Parenting Initiative work in concert to ground programming and decisions around scale in a rich evidence base, continuously propelled by a community of learning and collaboration.

This panel will bring together the research partner and implementing partners across the Playful Parenting Initiative to discuss initial findings on best practices for scaling playful parenting programs, programmatic adaptations made during the learning process, and the importance of a learning community in making significant changes to achieve scale. The panel will provide an opportunity to showcase the multi-country, multi-institution partnership and highlight promising findings within the first year of the research.


This panel is being planned for a virtual delivery format. We will start off by presenting the Playful Parenting Initiative and placing it within the context of other ongoing global conversations on the importance of play in parenting approaches with an introduction from the LEGO Foundation. Each organization will then provide presentation of their programs.

Following this, we will split into two breakout sessions to allow for a more comprehensive deep dive of the individual programs, scaling methodology, and research underpinning each program. Presenters include FHI 360, Save the Children, ChildFund International, Boston College, and UNICEF Serbia, with the LEGO Foundation serving as chair.

Sub Unit

• Early Childhood Development SIG

Chair

• Jill Popp, LEGO Foundation

Individual Presentations

• ChildFund’s Juega Conmigo (Come Play With Me) Project in Guatemala: Program Design and Year 1 Implementation Experiences - Sandra Sandoval, Child Fund Guatemala; Darcy Strouse, ChildFund International; Cassandra Scarpino, ChildFund International

• Scaling up Playful Parenting in Serbia - Mila Vukovic Jovanovic, UNICEF

• Testing an Implementation Strategy for Scaling Out Evidence-Based ECD Home-Visiting in Rwanda: Successes, Challenges, and Lessons Learned - Jordan Farrar, Boston College; Jean Marie Havugimana, FXBX Rwanda

• Prescription to Play: Scaling Play through Bhutan’s Ministry of Health - Karma Dyenka, Save the Children; Lauren Pisani, Save the Children; Sara Dang, Save the Children; Kinley Wangmo, Save the Children; Tshetrim Tobgay, Save the Children

• Pathways to Scale for Global Playful Parenting Innovations - Carina Omoeva, FHI 360; Frances Aboud, McGill University; Kerri Proulx, Consultant