Support for Babies: Nurturing Development in the Early Years

In the tender years from birth to two years old, every smile, touch, and word carries immense significance. Siyakwazi has seen firsthand that many families are often unaware of a child’s innate ability to learn from such an early age. Through Siyakwazi’s Early Learning Programme, home visits – already 736 completed in 2024 for 150 enrolled babies (June 2024) – bring much-needed support directly to guardians, helping to nurture their child’s development.

Siyakwazi’s bi-annual assessments, completed in June, show exactly how the team is progressing in achieving the programme’s objectives and goals in 2024 so far. Out of 128 guardians assessed, a remarkable 96% have either improved or maintained their level of participation. This tool specifically measures guardian participation, highlighting their growing confidence to support their children’s development.

Guardians have given us feedback like: “I didn’t know that the child can learn at their age,” and “[…] before Siyakwazi’s programme, I thought my child was too young to learn these things.” Another guardian added: “I am ready to use the activities even if there is no Siyasiza [fieldworker] around.”

A Siyasiza recently shared a story about a family Siyakwazi supports, where a parent was initially very overprotective, limiting their baby’s opportunities to explore and play outside. With guidance and education, this parent gained the confidence to allow their baby to explore and play freely. This is just one example of the positive changes in guardians’ attitudes towards early learning. We believe these playful interactions are a lifeline, fostering an environment where both child and guardian can bond and thrive.

The team has also seen significant improvements in key developmental areas. The ‘Opportunities to Learn’ category, which includes activities like hand-eye coordination, language, and understanding cause and effect, showed the most progress. ‘Opportunities to Explore’, featuring construction, sensory stimulation, and music and rhythm activities, also saw great strides.

Improvements in these areas are essential, especially since they are often lacking at the start of the year. Introducing new learning concepts to guardians is a crucial first step. The activities shared in these areas can be a bit more abstract than what guardians are used to, which is why participation is initially low – guardians simply aren’t aware that they should be doing these things with their babies. This is where the resource baby bag truly shines, sparking the imagination of not only babies but also guardians, showing them fun and creative ways to play and learn together.

In Siyakwazi’s resource baby bags –  created by Siyakwazi’s Sewing Hub – Siyakwazi supplies families with engaging toys, books, and activities specifically designed to stimulate and develop a baby’s social skills, language, and motor abilities. Thanks to resources like threading beads, LEGO, and stacking cups, fine motor development improved by 174%, and construction-based activities by 163%.

Another exciting result is seeing an 82% improvement in language activities, achieved simply through access to books. One guardian shared: “Lately I have been reading her stories from her books. If it wasn’t for Siyakwazi, I would not know the importance of reading to her, and I am so grateful.” Another adds: “I notice that my child likes storytelling because she keeps quiet and focuses. At first, I didn’t have books, but since the storybooks arrived, she listens when I am reading.” Importantly, children who own books are 15 times more likely to read above the level expected for their age than those who don’t (National Literacy Trust, 2017).

But it’s more than just providing resources. Home visits offer guardians the chance to discuss their concerns with a trusted partner, whether it’s about their child’s development, health, or the financial challenges of raising a child. While addressing these issues isn’t a formal part of our programme, Siyakwazi strives to support families holistically. For example, we help out with nutrition by giving families eggs and fortified porridge, and recently we also offered hearing screenings.

After a parcel drop of fortified porridge, guardians expressed gratitude, recognising how poor nutrition can lead to stunted development – a reality for 27% of children in South Africa affected by malnourishment (UNICEF, 2021). One guardian noted: “I have seen a lot of difference in my child with the programme, especially the porridge; it has helped my child gain weight.”

Offering our first-ever hearing screening sessions was a huge milestone for Siyakwazi too. Early detection of hearing issues is crucial for improving speech and language development, cognitive growth, social integration, and even long-term academic success. With the support of a local audiologist, we have conducted 106 hearing screenings for babies to date. This proactive initiative aims to ensure the healthy development of these little ones – and of the 106 screened, 54 were referred for further assessment and treatment. 

With the support of Siyakwazi’s partners and donors, these interventions and interactions are creating nurturing environments that support holistic childhood development from infancy to toddlerhood.