Should you place your child in an ECD centre or rather keep your little darling at home

Children are sociable little people and they enjoy, thrive on and learn from other children. In an ECD centre children are grouped together according to age and the programme is structured to suit their developmental stage. Activities and resources are also pitched at a level to challenge them and allow them to experience success. Children also learn best from other children and they learn through play, and playing with other children helps them to develop in totality i.e. social, emotional, physical and cognitively.

In an ECD centre the teacher is qualified to work with small children and also knows to observe them and knows when a child needs additional support and when they need yo be referred to a specialist. The daily programme is planned in such a way that active and less active activities alternate each other to release energy and to get them to start concentrating for short periods of time.

A good ECD centre will have a prescribed menu and will serve a healthy balanced diet suitable for the young child's needs. The first few months in an ECD centre could be difficult as your child might suffer numerous infections but even this could be seen in a positive light, with every infection the body is building more and more antibodies.

So yes, go for it! Book a place in that ECD centre near your home and become involved in the running of your child's first school.

By: Riette Els, ECD Manager

Discipline at home

As a parent you have to understand that discipline starts at home. Your children look to you for guidance and direction, you are the voice that counts. It is not fair to expect teachers to instill a strong sense of discipline in your children. They are simply there to reinforce the discipline ideals taught at home.

Children have to be taught that rules are important and that they have to be followed. As a parent you can start by making you child understand, respect and follow all figures of authority in their lives. Your authority is important, you must not blur the lines of parent and friend with your child. They need to understand that they can trust you with important information but that ultimately you are the parent.

Teachers can easily pin point those learners who have no discipline at home because these are the unruly ones in the classroom. These children do not understand that their behaviour disturbs other children. As a parent you must do all you can to ensure that you are not enabling your child with the wrong kind of freedom that will become a problem at school.

Ideas from: www.allaboutparenting.org/child-discipline.htm

Your role as a parent in your child's learning process

As a parent you have to be involved in your child's learning experience. Be aware of what your child is being taught in school. This can only be achieved by talking to your child and attending school meetings. Make sure you are taking the time to go through your child's school books. This will also assist you in knowing where your child is struggling so you can take steps in getting the appropriate assistance for your child.

Being a parent usually means your life is hectic between kids, work and running your household successfully but this can never mean that you should not fulfill your role as the primary educator in your child's life. As most parents know, it's not enough to simply buy toys, you have to invest in educational experiences and material for children to engage with. Purchase educational games that you can play with your children, this is a great way for you to spend time with your kids and be active in their learning process. When you spend quality time with your children why not spend it at the museum, or visiting an important heritage site or even walking in a historical section of town? All of this can be important learning experiences.

There is no excuse for a lack of parental involvement. As a parent it is your responsibility to know everything about your child, if you are not happy with what you know take the necessary steps to rectify the problem. Make sure you know your children's teachers and the progress you child is making.

Ideas from: www.articlesbase.com