Project depicts that playing, moving are keys to better learning

To play, move, and learn – and to see a smile on the face of someone accomplishing something never done before. This describes the main objectives of a community engagement project hosted for its third time at the Sol Plaatje University (SPU) in Kimberley in the Northern Cape. As before, the SPU Inter-faculty Community Engagement Project coincides with the university’s annual Community Big Walk on 15 March on the campus.

Once again, Rambo the horse and his pony friends were the main attraction. Even Gemmie, the Gemsbok mascot of the SPU, showed up to enjoy a ride on horse-back.

Apart from children and adults enjoying an assisted pony or horse ride for free, a reading nook, stations to take part in indigenous games and to play a round of board games with friends were erected by lecturers of several faculties, with the help of students.

“We do it for a smile on a face, to assist people who want to achieve something they never done before,” said Dr Eleanor Addinall of the Faculty of Humanities.

Sulette Bruwer of the Faculty of Education says the project could not have been possible without the assistance of other lecturers and staff members of the university. They are also pleased with the response from students when asked for approximately 20 volunteers to assist at the different stations.

Holistic child development a prerequisite for learning

Research shows a definite relationship between the physical and cognitive development of a child throughout all stages, Addinall wrote in a project proposal that outlines the importance of holistic child development as a prerequisite for learning.

A growing body of research links cognitive development with good physical development, which includes the development of big and fine motoric skills. Big motoric skills include body awareness, balance, laterality, mid-line crossing, muscle tone, spatial orientation, rhythm and coordination, as well as direction. Fine motoric skills include reach, point, place, grasp, release, push, pull, shake, squeeze, tap and twist.

In this annual project, the physical and cognitive aspects of a child’s development are connected through games, horse riding, playing, reading, and more.

Bruwer says horse-riding is not only fun and therapeutic, but contributes to physical development. When offering these free rides, some people get on horse-back for the first time ever.

Rides are overseen by Bruwer, who has horsemanship skills and has used these animals for riding lessons for children before. She is supported by WO Abraham Basie of the police’s Mounted unit, and Addinall, who both have experience in equine assisted therapy.