Why do we need a belly-button?
By Barbara Kolucki and Olga Grebennikova Have you ever asked a group of preschool children why they need a belly-button? If the answer is "yes", then the chances are good that you have heard similar responses like those from a group of young children from Kyrgyzstan who were asked this question during the week of 19 – 23 November 2007. One child said “it is to keep all my food from falling out of my stomach”, another one argued that the belly-button is “to talk with my baby sister in my mother’s tummy” and yet another little philosopher who scratched her head while thinking about an answer replied: “Because nature made it this way – we just need it!”
At the training session, we saw girls and boys solving problems, being creative, imagining, taking turns, learning about body parts – walking the walk of the CRC. During this one week, UNICEF brought together a group of 60 people, many who had never met each other before. Early childhood development experts worked together with artists, graphic designers, radio and television producers, directors, animators, musicians, composers and singers to create some of the most innovative media young children in the country have seen to date. An international consultant, Barbara Kolucki, exposed this unique mix of participants to the latest research on early childhood development and how it translates into media for and with young children. The participants reviewed books, television and animation programs from every continent and discussed content, production formats and the best way to make them present to Kyrgyz children. Producing media for children on sensitive topics relating to HIV/AIDS, disability, death, children’s fears and abuse was also discussed. The participants were divided into groups and each had a different production assignment. The consultant worked with each group refining scripts, production, editing, format, etc. Even if the topic included a sensitive subject, the group needed to continually “think like a child”, adapt to the needs and language of a child and resist being too message-oriented. The result was several innovative and sensitive media for children including an animation spot helping children to overcome fear of doctors and another one teaching them the value of diversity. Two live-action TV spots helped children to learn body parts and proper hygiene. Two radio-spots drew attention to the skills of children with disabilities. Several illustrated and photo-based books, music, songs and poems were also developed. What happens next? This workshop was not a one-off event. It is part of an overarching strategy to reach infants, young children, their families and other caregivers. The strategy includes reaching children – but also their parents and all adults to see the potential of infants and young children and to interact with and support them in new ways. So - to get back to the initial "belly-button question" - it is never as simple as asking why we need a belly button. In asking this simple question, we think like a child, think of the needs of the child and work together with the child to ensure that she or he, disabled or not, rural or urban, poor or rich, is encouraged to ask this question, answer this question and wet their appetite for life-long learning.
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