ECD Sessions for Expectants, New Parents, and Care Givers : A Non Negotiable Deal - (Pakistan's Context) NJ. Hirani

1000 critical days in a child's life begin from conception to age two when maximum development occurs. The need for parental education programs starts even before the child is born. ECD Prenatal sessions and sessions for parents and children aged 0-3 years aim to transform our society and future.  

Introduction:

Imagine holding your newborn baby for the first time, his fingers curled up around your finger, his eyes wide with wonder, listen to his first cry, and try to look at his first smile at you, How amazing is this feeling? All the parents and caregivers have the incredible opportunity to shape and nurture a precious life from the beginning. In this blog, I welcome you to embark on a journey of discovery and growth as we explore the pathways of ECD leading to a brighter human future and the bitter reality of ignorance.

Early childhood education lays a foundation for a child's social, emotional, physical, and cognitive development in the later years. It is because, during the early stages, a child's brain undergoes a critical period where maximum learning and growth occur, the best practices of parents and caregivers, and ECE educators play a vital role in nurturing the developing little brain into a brilliant intellect. Remember, in Pakistan's context, most of the children are at home till they begin proper schooling, this leads to nonnegotiable arrangements to educate parents, families, and caregivers to be well aware of the researched, impactful Early Childhood Educational practices. 

A group of expectant parents completed their prenatal sessions related to Early Childhood Development

Crucial phase in Brain Development at Early Period: Often Overlooked by Parents:

Research indicates that the most crucial human brain development occurs in the womb and the first few years of life. This period witnesses rapid growth and development of senses such as sight, hearing, feeling, cognition, and language. The diagram above signifies the importance of this window of opportunity. However, my experience as a trainer of expectant parents and a prenatal program manager reveals concerning trends. Many individuals fail to recognize the importance of this knowledge. Observing reluctance among people to attend Early Childhood Development sessions is baffling. Some believe they already possess sufficient experience and knowledge from previous experiences hence they do not need to know about the new practices and theories. Unfortunately, this disregard for the research and the opportunity to learn is prevalent, with many viewing ECD sessions as unnecessary expenditures of time and money. Several reasons that take parents to negotiate to practice ECE strategies are discussed below. 

Traditional Beliefs

In Pakistan, where the extended family system prevails, cultural norms often hinder parents or caregivers from embracing beneficial practices such as interacting with the babies while in the womb, breastfeeding colostrum to the newborn, continuing exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months, and engaging in storytelling or singing poems during pregnancy or infancy these are considered lofty ideas and are often negated due to misconceptions, myths, and beliefs.  

Limited Awareness:

During the prenatal sessions that I conduct, parents often express a desire for awareness sessions targeting the grandparents of infants. They report that grandparents sometimes discourage mothers from implementing Early Childhood Development practices, insisting that formal education should only begin when the child begins schooling. Any effort in developing a child's language or social skills at infancy is taken as a futile attempt to gain attention. This mindset may lead parents to prioritize other activities over ECD practices. Consequently, parents may prioritize alternative methods over ECD practices. 

Cost and Accessibility to ECD:

The cost of ECD centers may be very high in urban areas where there is an understanding of ECD while in rural areas accessibility to ECD, and availability of ECD centers are great negotiators for promoting ECD. 

ECD Activities and their impact on child Development:

1- Activities that include sensory play, art projects, science experiments, and building blocks promote exploration, creativity, and understanding of early science. 

2- Singing poems, telling stories, and communicating in different languages develop a child's understanding of different contexts and comprehension. Listening to stories also helps children become imaginative and focused. 

3- The cooperative learning method of group projects engages children in invaluable social skills of self and social awareness, social responsiveness, and problem-solving as a team.  

4- Using material in the early years to explore mathematical and science concepts makes the young minds exploratory and prepares them for schooling.

5- The importance of mental health with Yoga, meditation, and relaxing exercises, for expectant parents and infants' parents, help reduce stress and engage their thoughts and energy. 

 6- Creating a bond with the new commer, before and after the birth, through interacting, feeling, singing, and reciting gets stronger. The infant feels safe and happy with the parent and the caregiver makes him/ her more confident and ready to learn. 

7- Activities fostering health and nutrition for parents and children lead to a healthy body and mind, necessary for educational, personal, or social activities. 

   
Rolling a ball to your child - good for hand-eye coordination, social and emotional development, learning play rules of taking turns, concepts associated with ball color, structure, movement, etc.

Storytelling sessions for infants and parents, instilling language skills, and social/environmental concepts, developing listening skills and love for reading 


Mystery basket- Parent-child activity- It holds multiple learning opportunities such as things not visible may still exist, language skills related to hidden objects, and fine motor skills while being tactile and activated with sensory material



This hand-eye coordination activity helps learn concepts of colors, shapes, and numbers- It aids the development of fine motor skills, and above all like many other activities, this activity also gives a chance to develop bonding with the parents.

Social and Emotional Development

As babies develop in their mother's womb, they can hear, feel, and respond through movement. At this stage, they can understand their mother's mood and state of emotions which eventually helps the babies develop social and emotional understanding. 

Working in school for more than 20 years, I have witnessed adolescents' social issues turning into fights, loneliness, bullying, and sometimes depression. The worst part is children show such social and emotional problems from the beginning are often overlooked and not handled effectively by parents and teachers due to a lack of skills and knowledge. These children also get its effects later in their lives. They find it difficult to develop trust in friends and families and so the harmony is missing. Research shows that the origin of these social and emotional issues traced back to fetal development and early years. (Karr-Morse and Wiley 1997)

ECD helps children get better at social and emotional skills through a nurturing environment and early interaction with teachers, parents, and caregivers. (Myers, 1992; Young, 1997).

Bonding with the child leads to a happy and healthy mind nurturing inside a womb

Mother and Father, both equally play their role in child development and growth as they attend the ECD sessions and apply the learned knowledge and skills of parenting in daily routine.

Practical Tips for Expectant Parents:

Pregnancy is a time for preparation and celebrations, As expectant parents, and I mean mother and father both, undergo several physical, mental, and emotional changes, It is imperative to take crucial steps to optimize this invaluable time. Parents should read and discuss their concerns to gain a better understanding of fetal development and get rid of old baseless myths and beliefs that might hinder the development process. 

The cornerstone for fetal development lies in,

• Ensuring the mother's adequate nutritional intake and providing any medical assistance required before and after the birth.
• Cultivating a nurturing environment.
• Engaging in positive and loving interactions with the unborn baby.
• Providing linguistic simulation through poems and stories.
• Maintaining a harmonious emotional balance as the baby can perceive the mother's emotions.
• Embracing positive mental health practices such as meditation, mindfulness, and reciting religious chants for internal peace.

Be a part of this blog: 

I invite you to be an active participant in this blog by sharing your experiences related to ECD as parents, caregivers, or victims of neglect at any point during your childhood and how that impacted your development and growth.  

Conclusion:

As we conclude the exploration of the realm of Early Childhood Education and its profound impact on shaping young minds, it is evident that the journey of parenthood begins long before the child's first cry. From conception, parents and caregivers hold the power to cultivate an environment rich in love, learning, and growth. 

However, our journey does not end here, Despite the undeniable importance of Early Childhood Education, Societal barriers and misconceptions often reprimand its implementation, depriving countless children of the opportunity to thrive. Yet amidst these challenges, lies a beacon of hope. With the collective power of community engagement and shared knowledge, we can pave the way for a brighter future for the next generation. 

So I invite you in this ongoing dialogue, Share your stories, ask your questions, and together let's champion the cause of Early Childhood Education as our children deserve nothing less. 

"If we change the beginning of the story, We change the whole story" - Raffi Cavoukian

By: Naureen Hirani  

Reference:

Why is Early childhood education important? (American Public University)

https://www.apu.apus.edu/area-of-study/education/resources/why-is-early-childhood-education-important-for-children/

Human Brain Development - image:

https://breininactie.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/UNADJUSTEDNONRAW_thumb_55bd.jpg

The Emotional Development of the Baby in the Womb:

https://www.hellomotherhood.com/the-emotional-development-of-the-baby-in-the-womb-12212638.html

Early Childhood Education: Issues and Developments:

Grotewell, P. G., & Burton, Y. R. (2008). Early childhood education: Issues and developments. Nova Publishers.