The Carel du Toit Centre in KuGompo City brought children, families, and staff together for a morning of fun, laughter, and friendly competition during its annual sports day on Friday.
Hosted at the centre’s premises, the vibrant gathering provided eight children, 12 family members, and four staff members with an ideal opportunity to bond while celebrating the pupils’ abilities and milestones.
Charelle Prinsloo of the Carel du Toit Centre told the Go! on Monday the annual sports day has become a cornerstone of their calendar, reflecting the belief that early childhood learning and holistic development extend beyond the traditional classroom setting.
“We wanted to create a day where our children could simply have fun, be active, and celebrate their abilities, while giving families an opportunity to spend quality time together,” Prinsloo said.
The centre caters specifically to young children between the ages of two and six.
Prinsloo highlighted the importance of creating structured, supportive environments where children with hearing impairments can experience teamwork, active participation, and personal achievement.
The energetic morning kicked off with warm-up exercises involving both children and their parents, setting a lively tone before everyone completed a energetic race around the centre.
Participants then enthusiastically competed in a diverse lineup of classic novelty races. These included an egg-and-spoon race, sack race, jump-rope challenge, tyre-pushing race, and a three-legged race.
The playful setup allowed parents and siblings to cheer each other on from the sidelines.
The morning concluded on a relaxed note with a outdoor picnic.
Prinsloo said the children’s excitement was unmistakable throughout the morning, especially as relatives arrived.
“The children always have fun at sports day. Their faces light up when they see their family arriving at the centre,” she said.
Among the highlights was watching the children proudly show off their participation medals to family and friends following the races.
Beyond the games, the day gave parents a chance to observe their children’s progress and capabilities in an informal setting. Prinsloo stressed that parental involvement is vital for child development and that joint events strengthen the bridge between home and the centre.
“Most importantly, the children get to see their parents supporting, encouraging, and celebrating them. The outdoor games also helped nurture key social and emotional skills, such as taking turns, following instructions, teamwork, and perseverance.”
Importantly, the event promoted total inclusion by ensuring every child could participate in their own way and at their own rhythm.
“It teaches children that everyone can contribute, regardless of their individual abilities,” Prinsloo said.
The timing of the sports day carries added significance as September marks national Deaf Awareness Month. Prinsloo said awareness month offers a crucial platform to highlight early intervention, childhood hearing loss, and access to proper professional support.
The Carel du Toit Centre utilises the auditory-verbal method (AVM) to help deaf and hearing-impaired children build listening and spoken language skills. Many enrolled children rely on hearing aids or cochlear implants, supported directly by teachers, therapists, and families.
“For us, Deaf Awareness Month is about reminding our community that hearing loss does not have to limit a child’s future,” Prinsloo said, expressing gratitude to all community partners and volunteers who support the centre’s mission.
