Claire: The Parent Who Learned to Play Again
In the heart of Uganda’s Nakivale settlement, where the dust paints everything a gentle amber, Claire sits in the shade on a woven mat surrounded by homemade toys. The laughter of her children fills the air—a sound that once irritated her but now brings joy to her heart. Her journey from stern parent to playful nurturer is a testament to how love can transform when given the right tools.
Just a year ago, things were very different. The stress of managing her busy banana plantation and an orchard was taking its toll, and she would bristle at the sound of her children playing. Her nine-year-old son, five-year-old twins, and toddler would retreat in fear of her stern voice and hard gaze.
“I had a hard heart,” Claire admits. “I was so strict and stern when it came to my kids. My children feared me because I used to shout at them. I did not have time to play with them.”
Joining the Play To Grow program and learning how to support her children’s learning and development through play changed everything. She brought tools and techniques she learned into her home and started building stronger relationships with her children. And when things were hard, the support she got from other parents in the group made her stress feel less heavy.
From Stern Discipline to Playful Parenting
In refugee-hosting communities like Nakivale settlement, many parents struggle with balancing daily survival needs and the developmental needs of their children.
With only 10% of Ugandan children between three and five enrolled in formal pre-primary education, parents become their children’s first and most important teachers—yet many lack the knowledge, skills, and emotional resources to create nurturing learning environments. Cultural norms still prioritize obedience over emotional connection and harsh discipline practices like yelling or corporal punishment are still widespread, leaving children vulnerable to both emotional and educational setbacks. Literacy activities are rare, and the power of play as an educational tool remains largely untapped.
Play To Grow was designed to help bridge this gap, equipping caregivers and parents like Claire with the skills, confidence, and community they need to nurture their children’s development through play, rather than punishment.
Before Play To Grow, Claire’s approach to parenting was strict and reactive, defined by exhaustion and rigidity. “I shouted constantly,” she admits. “My children hid from me.” Rules were enforced with sharp words and little explanation, and play felt like a distraction from more serious tasks.
In biweekly program sessions, Claire and other parents learned nine key parenting skills: letting children lead play, reflecting feelings, setting limits, giving choices, building self-esteem, encouraging effort, weaving literacy/numeracy into daily life, and following routines. Parents also participated in support group meetings where they shared experiences and practiced self-care techniques.
These sessions transformed how the parents connected with their children. In the program's first phase, the percentage of caregivers who reported positive parent-child relationships increased from 70% to 84% in Uganda. 87% of parents in the program now embrace responsive parenting, and 82% engage in playful activities weekly.
“I used to be very tough and my children would not come near me. But a lot has changed.” – Claire
The program helped Claire to learn about how to set boundaries for her children without harshness, and how to invite cooperation rather than demand obedience. She also discovered the power of routines: “My children know that when they wake up, they wash their face, then pray, and after praying they have breakfast, take a bath, and go to school. This has made my life easier.”
Most importantly, Claire learned to play. She now sits cross-legged with her children, counting bottle tops and playing dodgeball. She tells stories that improve their communication skills and sings songs that teach them multiple languages.
“Through storytelling, they know how to answer questions, and they know how to tell stories too,” Claire says with pride. “Storytelling has taught them to be alert because after the story, they know I will ask them questions, and they do not want to fail.”
Building Stronger Family Bonds Through Play
Claire's husband, Abdullah, has experienced a similar transformation. Once a traditional father who saw playing with children as “a waste of precious time,” he now joins in games and songs, teaching his children English, colours, and counting—all through play.
Claire has cleared her property of sharp stones and obstacles, creating a safe play space surrounded by a natural hedge of pencil cactus. The children play freely under the watchful eyes of their parents and the family’s elderly guard dog, Shep.
Claire and Abdullah are now advocates in their community, particularly for children with disabilities who are often marginalized. “In our society, children with disabilities are usually seen as useless,” Abdullah says. “But we have supported parents who have disabled children with information and counselling, and they now value them.”
A New Legacy of Love and Play
Claire’s days are still full, and she continues to manage her plantation and orchard while caring for her family.
As the sun sets over Nakivale settlement, casting long shadows across Claire’s well-kept compound, her children gather around her for one more story before bedtime. Her boys, once distant from their stern mother, now crowd closest to her. In the heart of Uganda, Claire has discovered what many forget in the rush of daily responsibilities: that the simple act of play can bridge generations and heal hearts, one game at a time.
The Play To Grow project is a parent education program that fosters social-emotional skills, early literacy, and numeracy in children aged three to six through responsive parenting and playful activities. It is funded by The LEGO Foundation.
