Tiny toys, little hands and big smiles

As a mother of three, I know the magic toys bring to a home. Beyond the mess (the mess!) and the noise (oh, the noise!), they hold the power to captivate, to connect and to inspire. Here in Ontario, this belief shapes the kindergarten program, which uses a play-based curriculum as a foundation for learning, sparking creativity and innovation.

It has long been acknowledged that there is a strong link between play and learning for young children, especially in the areas of problem solving, language acquisition, literacy, and mathematics, as well as the development of social, physical, and emotional skills (NAEYC, 2009; Fullan, 2013; Ontario Ministry of Education, 2014c).

Research shows that play is more than fun; it’s essential for growth, supporting every aspect of a child’s development. And in Zimbabwe’s Muzarabani community, play even helps improve school attendance! Yet for many children there, especially the most vulnerable, toys and play materials remain out of reach.

In response, World Vision, with the generous support of Spin Master Toys, stepped in to bring joy to primary school Early Childhood Development (ECD) learners by providing them with toys for playtime. Their arrival changed the atmosphere, with children excited to come to school—even those who walk long distances now look forward to being there every day.

A teacher’s perspective

ECD teacher, Ticharwa, is grateful for the support, citing the improvement in both performance and attendance. “Most of our students seemed to have less interest in coming to school every day. Reading and writing alone were not enough to make them enjoy their everyday learning,” she says. “The toys we received help their development of fine motor skills and also help children develop socially. They are happy to have time to play after their daily work.”

The toys help bring lessons to life in topics like math, science and reading, along with the joy of active independent play and socializing between children. The confidence of children grows as they master challenging games, cooperate and strategize in group activities. Teachers say that the morale of schools has improved. “They are now able to play together, exchanging and sharing the toys,” says Ticharwa. “The children are also saying that their toys are beautiful.”

Gifts that make a difference

The toys in Muzarabani are just one example of how World Vision uses Gift-in-Kind (GIK) donations to change lives. From classrooms to clinics, these gifts help communities thrive and ensure children have the tools they need to learn and grow.

Since our partnership with Spin Master began in 2022, the company has donated over $3.2 million in toys and $522,000 to help break the cycle of poverty. In 2024 alone, Spin Master delivered 52,128 toys and toy packages to six countries —Burundi, El Salvador, Honduras, Sierra Leone, Zambia and Zimbabwe— reaching over 43,630 children. Today, children are drawn to safe, fun-filled spaces where their imaginations can run wild and friendships bloom. These toys nurture sensory and fine motor skills, encourage social connections and let children do what they do best—just be kids!

Written by Christina Cook with files from Michael Muzenda, Community Development Worker, World Vision Zimbabwe and in collaboration with Janise Somer, Church & Corporate Partnership Specialist, World Vision Canada.