Address by Hon. Minister Octavia Alfred in observance of Early Childhood Development Month

As a result of this worldwide pandemic, we have had to change the way in which we offer early stimulation to our children in the Roving Caregivers programme. In the first model, the caregivers would go into the homes and do the stimulation activities with the children. With the new approach, we are now engaging the parents/guardians in doing the actual stimulation activities with the children. 

What opportunities that this has presented to us. We now have a better platform for greater bonding between our children and their parents/guardians; we now have the opportunity to enhance the parenting skills of our parents/guardians as their attention can now go beyond that of generally caring for the physical needs and will now include the cognitive development of their children. This also presents us with a greater opportunity for sustaining the early stimulation programme. Once trained, families can now carry out their stimulation exercises independently with their children.

All early childhood educators as well as parents now have better opportunities for self-development. Because the situation is worldwide more training institutions have made it possible to access programmes in early childhood development. You do not have to be physically present at the institution; you can do so by following online.   

There is now the opportunity for greater networking.  Both parents and guardians as well as early childhood educators are have better opportunities to be in touch with others not only in their locality, but around the globe.  There are countless numbers of forums for parents as well as forums for educators.  We need to embrace these opportunities, because we also know that opportunities lost can not be regained.