Smurfiland Baby and Toddler Centre

Smurfies having fun making their mother's day projects 🩷

https://youtu.be/-1PVlhym-cs?si=NGQ_-Mnnh_LmSxKU

Must watch video for parents.

On a personal note, I would like to add an important perspective to this discussion. When a younger child, for example a 5½-year-old, starts Grade 1 alongside children who are already 6½ years old, they may notice that they struggle with certain tasks that their older peers manage more easily. Over time, this can negatively affect the younger child’s confidence and self-belief, leading them to feel that they are “not clever” or “not capable.”
These feelings can have a lasting impact throughout their school career, influencing their academic performance, confidence, and willingness to take on challenges. In the long term, this may even affect aspects of their adult life and future success.
I would therefore like to encourage parents to consider starting their children in Grade 1 in the year they turn 7, rather than earlier. In many cases, giving a child that additional year of emotional, social, and cognitive development can contribute significantly to their confidence, academic success, and overall well-being throughout their lives.
Thank you for taking the time to read and consider this perspective. 🙏

Making Sense | Are South African Children Starting School Too Early? When should a child start school?New research into Grade 1 readiness is challenging long-held assumptions about early school entry in South Africa. In this e...