When does an education begin?

It takes a village to raise a child, is an old African proverb that today holds great significance. Family, caregivers, teachers, schools, religious leaders, friends and community members are all involved in shaping a child into a valuable citizen. However, many people believe that the education of a child only begins when they are dropped off at school. When does an education begin?

New age experts will tell you that education begins before a baby is even born, while still in the mother’s womb. These experts encourage playing music, having conversations and reading stories to the unborn foetus. Studies have shown that these seemingly odd practices have positive effects on the intellectual development of the child.

But the sad reality is that not all parents invest this type of consideration into the development of their children’s education. And perhaps this is understandable. Most parents are too busy providing for basic needs like food and shelter. Or perhaps, they simply are not aware of the fact that they are indeed their children’s first teachers. Their first words, phrases, sentences; their first impressions, understandings, attitudes and their first reactions, interactions and toleration are developed and modelled on the people whom they have bonded with.

Before a child even enters the school gates for the first time, he/she has already established an attitude toward learning. And most times this attitude is negative. Too many children do not have the necessary social and verbal skills to take part in a lesson. And though teachers are equipped with the tools to overcome most of these hurdles, teaching a child to change their attitude toward learning proves to be a thorny task.

I watched a mother and her toddler at the supermarket the other day and was reminded of my days as a young mother. The little one rambled on about his toy car which he waved about in Mother’s face, and when he realised he wasn’t getting the desired attention, started asking Mother a series of questions. Mother did her best to provide answers, albeit short ones which did not quite satisfy the little one. It was obvious that Mother was in a rush and little one was making it difficult to complete the shopping. Eventually, Mother had had enough and told little one, “Just be quiet, will you!”

It’s something we probably all do. Life has become too busy and our need to get things done have taken precedence over our time with our children. In telling her child to be quiet, and if it becomes a habit to do so, Mother is essentially shutting her child down. Their curiosity is a learning tool. And the more this curiosity is fed, it stands to reason that the child would develop a hunger for learning.

If there is anything we teach our children, let it be that we teach them to value learning, to constantly ask questions and to avidly seek the answers. The success of an education depends on its roots, because education is more than mathematics and literacy – it’s an attitude.