It’s Child Stimulation Month in Belize!

March is Child Stimulation Month in Belize. The aim is to remind Belizeans of the importance of early childhood education. Early childhood stimulation (ECS) is crucial since it facilitates the interaction between young children and their caregivers.

Each year, the Belize Ministry of Education, Culture and Technology (MoECST) hosts activities for children to spread awareness about Child Stimulation Month. Some activities include parades, Career Day, and Parent/Grandparent Read Aloud Day. The theme for this year is ‘We are strong, learning, and growing’.

What is child stimulation?

Child stimulation involves parents and other guardians being responsive to their children’s physical and emotional needs from birth. Activities include playing with and talking to children before they can respond verbally and introducing them to words, numbers, and simple concepts. Stimulation encourages parents to provide their children with opportunities to ensure they are learning before entering the classroom.

Benefits of early childhood stimulation.

Early stimulation during the first years of a child’s life can help the learning process in subsequent stages of schooling. Some of the noticeable benefits include:

• Early detection of learning disorders.
• Awakening of children’s curiosity and observation skills.
• Improvement in brain development and function.
• Noticeable development of emotional bonds.
• Stimulation of the sensory, physical, and social learning process.

Through the systematic and sequential application of techniques and activities in the early years, stimulation can help maximise the development of physical, emotional, and cognitive skills.

Most public and private schools have already participated in parades and are preparing for other activities listed on the Child Stimulation Month programme shared by the MoECST.

Sources: Breaking Belize News, Inter-Agency Network for Education in Emergencies, and Amandala.