Saturday, September 28, 2013

Sharing is Caring


When you are a caring person, you should share your skills, positive attitudes, emotions, and physical resources with each other.  Its one of the major human characteristics, that when we want to care about someone, we share our learning and resources.  
In a similar ways, the early age of children’s life is critical in teaching children to develop their caring and sharing attitudes. Therefore, the following small tips need to be considered by parents and caregivers;
·        Avoid controlling behavior so children can explore their surroundings, e.g. touch, feel, think, observe, and practice to differentiate between good and bad themselves   
·        Allow children to have access to their requirements so they know what they have and what need. What to share with friends, siblings and family members and also what and how to borrow from them in a graceful manner
·         Let children play with siblings and friends to develop friendships  so they can enhance their sharing and caring skills  

Sharing own belongings demonstrates the positive attitudes of children towards others, whom they care.  It’s a two way process. So parents and caregivers need to encourage their children to share their belongings with others and borrow from them in a nice way. It will enable children to learn social skills and social skills come with good nurturing in a sharing and caring environment. 

Sunday, September 15, 2013


Cultural Integration in ECD

Tradition and cultural valuaes are heavily embeded in developing countries because they have praticed those traditional norms, values and cultural believes for centuries. Therefore, they feel ownered if any insitution or National/ International Non Proffit Organizations (N/INGOs) tries to incorporate those norms into thier programs.
In order, to be a successful Early Chilhood Development (ECD) inatiators, one might need to follow the following simple but important guidelines;
 
1- Carryout a needs assement task to understand the contexual needs and trational or cultural practice before iniating the program
 
2- Reflect on those needs and try to link those cultural valuaes and practices with the ECD plans to make the content more contextual pratice based
 
3- Demosntrate creativity in incorpurating the cultural practices in the new generation to win the local hearts
 
4- Always refelct back on its constructive and areas for improvement to have an action research cyclical approach
 
5- Document and keep records in wrriting, phtographs and videos
 
6- Publish simple success stories and make fliers to share with visitors, parents and local communities
 
 
7- Particiapte in national and international conferences to share information with bigger audience for a professional eye view to refine the program
 
When this happens, the ECD program would be more specific, focused, relevant according to the contextual needs and cultural values. it will enable the local communties to particpate in the program. Moreover, it will create an acceptance within the local communities. Ultimately, it will make the foundation of ECD stronger and powerful for the change process in the next generation.