Initiative stimulates positive parenting in Phalombe

In the eyes of Velina Mathewe, parents or guardians must actively engage with their under-five children to stimulate their intellectual growth and provoke their curiosity.

Mathewe observes a notable difference between her two children. While her firstborn is five years old and less demanding, her second child, Mirriam, who is two years old, exhibits a playful nature and constantly seeks her mother's attention.

But, as Mathewe recalls, her elder daughter, Hadasa, was less demanding at Mirriam's age, highlighting each child's unique needs and characteristics.

"When Hadasa was at the same age as Mirriam, there were times when she wouldn't respond to my instructions, making me anxious whether she would ever speak. However, as she continues to grow alongside her younger sibling, we can notice positive behavior changes. She has become more self-assured, although not to the same degree as Mirriam," explains Mathewe, who comes from Mukwala Village in Traditional Authority Mkhumba in Phalombe.

Emma John, from the same village, has had similar experiences. She has three children — aged 12, 9 and one.

Her focus is on preparing her youngest child for her educational journey at the community-based childcare centre (CBCC) by, among other things, offering her a balanced diet to ensure she develops healthily.

"My primary goal is to provide her with an environment where she can grow physically and intellectually. Furthermore, I engage her in various activities, such as singing songs and playing chipapapa, to stimulate her thinking abilities. Additionally, I take her to church, fostering her spiritual development and overall growth," John states.

The two women's experiences highlight the importance of parental interaction in meeting the specific needs and stimulating the development of each child.

The Hunger Project is implementing, with financial support from KFW through UNICEF Malawi, the Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) Project, whose stated goal is to prevent stunting in children.

However, Esther Nyundo, the Field Nutrition Officer for Phalombe at Hunger Project, highlights that the mere focus on preventing stunting is only practical if intellectual development is also addressed.

"We want to ensure that the target child is nutritious in all walks of life. We can't say we want to prevent stunting, yet they are not performing well in school. It means there is a gap. They have to undergo all these stages of child growth and development," Nyundo explains.

Accordingly, in 2022, the SUN project launched the early stimulation in positive parenting module, which includes an intervention to assist parents and caregivers in ensuring that their children meet age-appropriate developmental goals and exhibit appropriate behavior.

"This module lists five stages a child is expected to showcase, what they should perform or how they should do it at each age. For instance, we expect a three-month-old baby to be responsive," she says.

The module highlights that children can typically follow basic instructions by the time they reach two years old. For instance, when their name is called, they should be able to recognise their name. Additionally, if they are asked to stand up, they should be able to follow the instructions correctly.

"It's essential for parents to be aligned to this because it also improves the child's health, especially the mental capacity. This module is essential to all parents because it can help them establish whether their child has problems or not.

Witnessing Mirriam's comparably outstanding performance at her age, Mathewe, a beneficiary of the SUN project, is truly inspired. Mirriam's success can be attributed to Mathewe's newfound understanding of child-rearing, enabling children to develop intellectually and physically.

"Once a child begins to crawl, engaging with them is important. When they're playing masanje, make sure to join in on the fun. This helps them develop various skills at a young age, including language skills, and enhances their intellectual growth. It's fascinating to witness how quickly they progress in their linguistic abilities. I've personally observed this remarkable development in Mirriam," Mathewe says.

It is early days, but Nyundo draws a lot of positives from its implementation so far.

"The parents are now aware about how their children are supposed to behave according to their age," she says.