Early Literacy Changes Everything: Building Blocks for Babies
The first 1000 days of a child’s life (birth – 2 years old) are critical in their development.
Written by: Bongeka of Thanda organisation
According to a Harvard study (2007), brain development occurs rapidly in the first few years of life, before formal schooling even begins, where over one million new neural connections are made every second. During these years, sensory pathways for early language skills and higher cognitive functions already begin to develop.
In rural KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, where most individuals are living on less than a dollar a day, there is limited access to learning and literacy opportunities for young children during this important foundational time in their development. Even Ground has two partners in this province which are focused on creating change with specially developed programs for the context in which they serve and together, they are supporting 424 babies in 2023.
Spotlight Intervention: Siyakwazi’s Baby Programme conducts frequent individual home visits that upskill guardians to communicate frequently with their babies and through laddering activities that build skills such as crossing the midline and hand-eye coordination. By teaching guardians how to engage with and stimulate their infants, Siyakwazi ensures that each baby gets on track for their developmental milestones.
Mafe is raising her granddaughter, Kim, and has been enrolled in a Baby Programme for 8 months with Even Ground partner, Siyakwazi. She tells us,
“It is not the first time raising a child, I have raised about 8 or 9 children, but now that I have been learning with Siyakwazi I have learnt a lot more… like what not to do with a child, how to speak to them and how to spend time with them, and play!
Yoh, what a lot I learnt in this space and time with Siyakwazi!”
Constant verbal communication with babies lays an essential foundation for Early Literacy, enabling them to start developing a sense of language through listening.
“One of the things that stood out for me that I have learnt is that it is important to speak to your child. For example, when you’re getting them dressed, speak to them and say “Please lift up your arm for me”. I have started doing that with Kim and I can see the difference, when I am dressing her and asking her to insert her arm and she does it. I say “Leg please” she lifts up her leg and even wearing her socks, she knows how to place her foot.”
Interaction that involves expression and play are also an important part of Early Literacy. Mafe says, “When a child is bathing, Siyakwazi encourages us to add toys in the water so the child can play and learn while doing that, and they say speaking to our children is also important. I used to bathe Kim, say nothing to her, take her out of the water and get her dressed without interacting with her, so I’ve really grown also and my mindset has changed.”
It’s never too early to start reading to a baby and Siyakwazi introduces books into homes at an early age, further strengthening the foundation in Early Literacy.
Mafe says, “She is very interactive when you hold a book and start reading. It is a contrast, because in my days books were only seen at school and that would be the last place you touch a book – school. You’ll only see a book the following morning when you go to school. Back then the reading culture was not in our homes.
If Siyakwazi did not exist, the community would be in very desperate need. In our community we are raising our children without knowing the essential basics of raising children. We as the community sometimes just take a child as is and don’t realise that we also have instil some skills for the child to grow up well.”
“Siyakwazi instils knowledge and helps us see how interacting with a child is important”
“My wish for my granddaughter is to grow up and love education.”