An Assessment of Parental Involvement in the Supplementary Feeding Programme in Early Childhood Development in Rural Southern Africa

This conceptual discourse interrogates the contributions and challenges faced by parents in supporting the supplementary feeding programme at the Early Childhood Development (ECD) level in rural Southern Africa. This conceptual paper is a literature review study that relies on secondary data to draw the findings. The research hinges on Maslow's hierarchy of needs and Epstein's theory of overlapping spheres of influence. The study notes that parents play an important role in supporting the programme through activities such as the construction of cooking sheds, providing relish, fetching firewood, cleaning, and serving meals. Factors such as lack of knowledge, financial constraints, lack of cooperation, poor communication, and time constraints hinder their ability to make a sustained and effective contribution to the programme. The study recommends that parents be educated about the benefits of the supplementary feeding programme, empowered with various projects to improve their economic status, and encouraged to contribute to the programme. Another recommendation is that the school should build strong relationships with the corporate world, government, and non-governmental organisations so that they can work with parents to participate fully in the programme.