POLOKWANE – Share Joy principal Josephine Kagori has urged parents not to take foundation phase learning for granted.
She expressed that safety is a priority for parents, however, it is important that a child does not miss any of the stages in development as it can be detrimental to them later in their education. “Many parents keep their children at home out of fear; which is understandable. However, it is important that the children have a steady foundation. It is like building a house and without a proper foundation it becomes a problem,” she explained.
Kagori, who has a teaching background in anatomy and physiology, explained that children need to be in an environment where they can get mental stimulation and learn new things. She added that the effects of children who have missed certain stages in development can be obviously identified.
“If a child misses development at that time, it becomes very difficult for a child to be helped. The sooner a child is exposed to the learning environment, the sooner any problems can be identified and resolved before it becomes too late,” she said.
At the preschool age, which is between three to five years, children become more capable and their curiosity is stimulated because of the expansion of their world as a result of the new experiences and making new friends.
“This prepares them for the school age development where they gain independence and competence. A child’s self-confidence will be affected by the academic and social challenges presented in the school environment,” she concluded.
