Play is one of the most powerful tools for learning in the early years of a child’s life. Through play, children develop creativity, communication skills, emotional intelligence, social awareness, and problem-solving abilities that lay the foundation for lifelong learning and success. Recognising the importance of play-based learning, the Early Childhood Commission (ECC), with pivotal support from the CHASE Fund, continues to expand its national Re-Imagining Play: Play in the Early Years programme to benefit children across Jamaica.

The initiative aims to transform how play is understood and integrated within early childhood education by providing practical resources, training, and support to Early Childhood Institutions (ECIs) islandwide.

In January 2025, the CHASE Fund provided $4.5 million to support the procurement, assembly, and distribution of 70 play kits to ECIs across Jamaica. By February 2026, all targeted institutions had successfully received their kits, with the final distribution coinciding with Global Play Day.