THA LIFESTYLE
| FAMILY & PETS
A
n expectant mother
would read or sing to
her unborn child showing just
how early one could facilitate
the learning of their child.
Learning and development
continue in a more evident
form following birth; milestones
are achieved, physical and
mental development rigorously
monitored.
Every Child is Unique
One of the guiding principles of
the Early Years Framework in
the UK (ages 0 – 5) is accepting
that every child is unique.
This ‘uniqueness’ should be
celebrated and nurtured to
maximise their capabilities and
enhance their personality.
Comparison, therefore can often
lead to the discouragement of
parents concerning their child’s
abilities and achievements.
You are your child’s most
influential educator!
Until your child commences
formal education, you are your
child’s sole educator. Children
learn and pick up many skills such
as speech, motor skills and social
interaction from their parents or
caregivers. Therefore it is worth
making every second count!
Learning at this stage can be
quite broad and includes every
single interaction that takes
place between you and your
child.
Daily chores such as feeding,
bathing, dressing up, visiting the
outdoors, interaction with peers
and extended family members
may not seem important but
they are great opportunities
for your child to broaden their
understanding. Parents could
make use of these situations
to enrich the knowledge and
understanding of their young
children. For instance your child
may seem to be making a right
mess by ripping up some paper;
but in reality, he is broadening,
EDUCATION
BEGINS AT HOME!
However the urge for most
young parents to kick start
formal learning can be
quite strong given the highly
competitive nature that exists
in education among the migrant
community in the UK. To make
matters worse, parents tend
to compare their children’s
capabilities to that of others,
often wondering ‘Am I doing
enough?’ or ‘Is my child behind?’
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This could also lead to low self
esteem amongst the children
themselves when their parents
are constantly comparing them
with their peers.
If any concerns do arise about
their child’s social, physical or
psychological growth, parents/
guardians should always seek
professional help first.
Ann Ariyaratnam
Early Years Practitioner
his understanding of how things
work, how he could manipulate
his limbs to create changes,
working on his hand/eye
coordination and is indulging in an
invaluable leaning experience!