ASIDLALE

Asidlale is a 24 week programme for Grade R learners, that takes the development of the whole child into consideration – physical, intellectual, social, emotional and creative. When these aspects are developed properly, children are far more ready to face the formal schooling of Grade 1.

Each ‘Asidlale’ session begins with a short introductory activity which is usually language based. The children are then divided into their groups for the main part of the programme. Each week an activity is designed to fit each of the following developmental areas - gross motor, fine motor, sensory, intellectual and creative. At the end of the session, the children come together for a brief round-up. Each session lasts for 1 ½ hours.

The educator is given some ideas and suggestions for her/him to continue the programme with the learners during the week in order to help them develop in the necessary skills.

The Asidlale programme has expanded to crèches, so the programme has been adapted from the grade R programme to the level of the crèches. It focuses on the same principals as the grade R programme and particularly on the developmental stages of early childhood.

This is proving to be a most beneficial and enjoyable programme, and one which we hope will be able to be implemented in more Grade R classes and Crèches in Sweetwaters. Our dream of being able to train up educators in the local schools, in order that they might run this programme with their own classes, is beginning to come true. Our challenge is still to fund the equipment and the manpower to monitor educators and learners, and their progress made using this programme. Many educators in these schools do not understand the value of play for young children, and so much training is needed in this regard.