Jamaica | EARLY CHILDHOOD COMMISSION

Happy Independence Day! Jamaica is Resilient and Strong!

Posted on August 10, 2020 by The ECC Blog Spot

Jamaica is 58! On August 6, 1962, the Union Jack was lowered and the colours of black, green and gold were hoisted in honour of our newly independent country. As a newly independent country, we have had to weather the storms, to come out stronger and more resilient on the other side. We have been through hurricanes, earthquakes, economic hardships, and political upheavals but we have persevered and kept up our representation of brand Jamaica, through our music, food, fashion, sports, and our role as leaders on the global stage. Jamaica was the first country to impose a trade embargo on the apartheid regime in South Africa[1], leading other nations through the United Nations to follow suit[2]. Following his release from prison, Nelson Mandela visited Jamaica in 1991[3], a symbolic recognition of Jamaica’s strength and leadership. Additionally, Jamaica stands as the leader in the Caribbean for early childhood development as the Early Childhood Commission was established by an Act of Parliament and through its mandate, the Commission has set globally recognised standards for the operation of early childhood institutions and the care and education of children 0 to 6 years old.

The outbreak of COVID-19 has reminded us of our resilience and strength. As a nation, we have rallied around and supported the government in its efforts to contain the spread of the disease, we have reached out to our families and friends to make sure they are doing well, our healthcare and frontline workers have made tremendous sacrifices to keep us safe and healthy, we have adjusted our lives and abided by the rules to maintain our social distance and wear our masks when we leave our homes, we have taken up the mantle of home-schooling our children while working from home, we have gone grocery shopping for our elders who had to stay home, and we have recognised that love conquers all, gratitude is a must and kindness goes a long way. We were also reminded that we cannot and should not take our health, lives and loved ones for granted. No doubt COVID-19 will pass but for the time being, we have to learn to live with it. As we have done in the past and will continue to do, as we celebrate 58 years of independence, we will remain resilient and strong!

Wherever you are in this world, as a Jamaican, join us as we celebrate Jamaica 58!

[1] http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/Jamaica-hailed-for-role-in-anti-apartheid-fight_15633822

[2] https://www.loopjamaica.com/content/jamaica-helps-south-africa-celebrate-25-years-freedom

[3] https://jis.gov.jm/government/visits/nelson-mandela/

Beating the Heat this Summer

Posted on July 15, 2020 by The ECC Blog Spot

Summer is officially here and that means longer and hotter days! While Jamaica is blessed with year-round beautiful weather with lots of sunshine and blue skies, our summers are typically very hot. If you live in urban areas away from the coast like Kingston, parts of Portmore and Spanish Town, then you know the temperatures we are dealing with during the summer months. Keeping yourself and your children cool this summer will be a challenge, but don’t fear! Here are a few tips to help!

Clothing

Let your children wear light and loose-fitting clothes. Cotton and linen are two great fabrics for summer as they are considered breathable because they allow air to circulate[1] and heat to leave the body[2]. As little children are very active, natural fabrics like cotton and linen can soak up sweat and help children to stay cool.[3]

Hydration

Keep your children hydrated by providing them with lots of water to drink. If your children drink juices, please ensure you follow the nutritional guidelines for sugar intake.

Beaches and Rivers

Don’t we all love a day at the beach? Now that beaches and rivers have reopened, taking your little ones for a day at the beach or river is always a great way to beat the heat. A day at the beach or river is a longstanding Jamaican family tradition and taking a dip in the cool waters during a hot day is one of the best ways to spend a summer’s day. Jamaica is blessed with lots of beautiful rivers and beaches which are only a few minutes’ walk or a short drive away no matter where in the country you are. If you have the opportunity to take a beach trip this summer, please ensure that you do not leave your children unattended in or near water and that you follow all the COVID protocols and guidelines set out by the Government[4].

Time for Nature

While it might seem counter-productive to spend a lot of time outdoors during the summer months, it can be a good way to beat the heat. If like many Jamaican families you have a backyard with trees and shaded area, spending time in the shade on a warm summer’s day is a great way to cool down and enjoy nature. Young children are curious about the world around them, taking them outdoors to enjoy the summer breeze can also be an opportunity to teach them about nature. While you are taking in the cool breeze in your backyard, why not take the time to teach your children about the insects that live in your garden, the various plants spotted around the place and the different types of fruit trees that grow in your backyard.

Skin Protection

With summer here and all the fun that comes with it, parents should consider sun protection tips that will protect their little ones from some of the damaging effects of the sun. Here are a few:

Try to avoid being outdoors while the sun is at its hottest during the day, this is generally considered to be between 10 am and 4 pm
While outdoors, consider making your children wear long-sleeve clothing and brimmed hats to protect their skin from the sun
If you use or plan to use sun protectants, check with your child’s paediatrician for guidance on the best options and always read the labels and follow the directions for application of such products

Summer is here, so enjoy it and stay cool!

[1] https://www.stitchfix.com/women/blog/fashion-tips/guide-breathable-summer-fabrics/

[2] https://www.mulberryscleaners.com/blog/stay-cool-4-best-fabrics-summer/#:~:text=Cotton%20is%20one%20the%20best,for%20you%20to%20stay%20cool.

[3] https://www.elle.com/uk/fashion/what-to-wear/a22069616/best-worst-fabrics-summer-sweat/

[4] https://jis.gov.jm/beaches-and-rivers-open-june-7/

Connect Positivity…Think!

Posted on May 27, 2020 by The ECC Blog Spot

I recently had the pleasure of looking up to the sky and seeing not one, not two, not three but eight kites flying! I was immediately a child again, marvelling at all the beautiful kites flying in the clear blue sky. I have such fond memories from childhood of kite season, around April and May, when the neighbourhood children were busy designing and creating their kites. I remember the excitement I felt watching my brother and his friends fly their kites, comparing whose kite was bigger and prettier and whose kite could fly the highest. So, you can imagine my delight that day when I saw eight kites flying high in the sky. Of course, this delight was at the beauty of the kites but also, seeing the kites was in and of itself a great thing.

Not to sound like an oldie but goodie, but kite sightings have been rare in recent years. Think about it, when was the last time you saw kites flying? And how many did you see?

Those kites in the sky signalled to me that in this pandemic, our children were still playing. And that, they were also engaged in executive planning in the creation and design of these kites. I also would like to think that some of them got help from the adults in the family with sourcing materials, help to design and strategies on how to successfully mount their kites. They also probably needed permission to go to the ball field or go on the housetop to fly their kites. One thing for certain though, is that the flying kites represent something bigger: our children are connecting to positivity. If these kites are flying in Kingston, there are probably more kites flying all over the country.

Kite flying is a past time that is fun, interactive, involves learning and achieving a number of skills. This is also true for many games and play activities that children and parents are engaged in this crisis. During the recent curfews, I regularly heard the familiar sound of dice on a Ludi board and Dominoes being slammed on tables in my neighbourhood. Like the children flying kites, families were connecting to positivity during the restrictions with games at home, drawing on old but familiar ways of enjoying family time and the lockdown.

While we do not need an outbreak of COVID-19 to remind us that we need to invest in more positive interactions with our families and children, being together at home has given us extra time to increase those positive interactions. The outbreak has removed some of the trappings of modern life, like, time spent commuting to and being at work, doing school runs and using the weekends to catch up on chores, to allow us to connect and increase our positive interactions.

We know from research the importance of positive and responsive interaction to children’s development. We see it in our own lives that positive interactions in childhood have had a meaningful impact on us. Positive interactions like playtime, reading together, talking, cuddles, warmth and understanding are ingredients for optimum child development. Parents engaging in positive activities like playing games at home, talking and reading together will help our children during this time of crisis and also increase their resilience for whatever else the future might hold.

As we continue to celebrate our children during Child’s Month, let us think about all the different ways we can connect positivity in our daily lives!

Using Play to Support Your Child with Autism

Posted on April 29, 2020 by The ECC Blog Spot

Autism month continues here on the ECC’s Blog!

With schools closed due to the outbreak of COVID-19, many parents are now supporting their children’s learning with home-schooling activities. This is no different for parents whose children are on the autism spectrum. While we understand the challenges some parents of typically developing children are now facing with working from home and home-schooling their children at the same time. Parents of children with atypical development, such as children with autism, might be experiencing an especially challenging time. One way to deal with the challenges is to incorporate play in your daily routine with your children.

Why is Play so Important?

Play is an important aspect of your child’s development and should be incorporated into learning activities because play makes learning fun! Through play, children learn about themselves, others and the world around them.[1] Play helps children develop important skills that they will need in life, such skills are, academic, social, thinking, communication, resolving conflicts and problem-solving skills.[2]

Children with autism benefit from play like other children. Incorporating play in everyday activities can help your child with autism develop important skills. Because children with autism do not have typical development like their peers, they sometimes need more guidance to learn new skills and play offers that opportunity to parents. Through play, parents can learn with their children, understand their children better and know the best ways to support their children’s development.

Tips for Play with Children with Autism

Get Involved

Structured or guided play is a great way to support your child with autism. Structured play is when adults guide the play activities for children. They become involved by providing the rules of play, providing resources for play and letting children know when play starts and ends.[3] Although adults are involved in play, they should be careful to guide play but not take it over. This means that, as you plan structured play with your child, you should let your child’s interests and passions guide your plans for the play activity.

Involve Activities that Promote Social Skills

Autism is a disorder that affects social skills. Social skills are the rules and abilities that guide our daily social interactions.[4] Humans are social beings, which means, we come into this world pre-wired for social interaction. During our development, our relationships and interactions with the people in our lives teach us how to behave and respond in a variety of social settings. This learning is based on experience and some social rules are taught to us directly, like, how to behave in public or at a formal gathering. Social rules learnt through experience usually involve our ability to read body language, facial expression, recognise and understand emotions. Most people have the ability to “pick up” social cues from interactions[5], however, children with autism do not have this natural ability and need to be taught directly. Combining guided play with activities to promote social skills could be beneficial to your child with autism.

Some examples of these play activities are:

Games that involve turn-taking – parents can play games of back-and-forth that teach turning-taking with toy cars, trucks, balls, etc.
Games to teach children to recognise emotions – parents can do art with their children by drawing or painting faces with different emotions. During these activities, parents can talk to their children about the various emotions, what situations can bring about these emotions and how to appropriately express them.
Games that re-create certain social situations – walking your child through various situations they may encounter outside the family setting is a great way to help your child develop his or her social skills. Parents can create play activities that focus on different scenarios like meeting someone for the first time, asking a friend at school to play, etc. Getting siblings and other family members on board with these play activities not only enhances the fun but it extends the number of people your child can interact with, which is similar to the real-life social situations they may face outside the home.

The suggestions above are not limited but they can be a starting point for parents who are looking for creative ways to support their children with autism. It is key to remember that play is at the foundation of these activities, so, they should be fun for both you and your children. Also, let your children with autism guide how you structure these play activities by getting to know their interests and passions.

[1] https://pathways.org/topics-of-development/play/

[2] https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/the_power_of_play_part_1_stages_of_play

[3] https://raisingchildren.net.au/autism/school-play-work/play-learning/structured-play-asd

[4] https://www.autismspeaks.org/social-skills-and-autism

[5] https://www.autismspeaks.org/social-skills-and-autism

What is Autism?

Posted on April 15, 2020 by The ECC Blog Spot

April is Autism Awareness Month. Today’s blog is here to provide some basic information about autism. Like many countries globally, Jamaica is not immune to persons being diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).

What is Autism?

Autism is a developmental disorder that is characterised by challenges with social skills, verbal and non-verbal communication and repetitive behaviours. [1] A developmental disorder can be described as a condition that begins in infancy or childhood that damages or delays the functions of the central nervous system.[2] Being a developmental disorder means that autism begins in childhood and stays with a person throughout his or her life.

Autism Spectrum Disorder is an umbrella term for conditions such as autism, childhood disintegrative disorder and Asperger syndrome.[3] The various behaviour types and conditions associated with ASD range from the mild to severe. Children with autism have their unique strengths and challenges. While some children on the autism spectrum can carry on daily functions like their peers who do not have autism, such as self-care and practising personal hygiene, some children on the more severe end of the spectrum cannot and often need support to carry out these functions.[4] Autism affects the way children learn, their social skills and problem-solving skills.[5] Autism is often characterised by the way it affects the social skills.

Research shows that some social skills affected by autism include, reading facial expression, understanding social cues, reading body language and identifying emotions. In recent years, research into autism has significantly helped us to understand more about the disorder and has provided parents with the information that they need the most. Research has also led to advocacy from children, adults and families with autism to raise awareness about the disorder and initiatives such as the World Autism Awareness Day that we celebrated on 2^nd April, 2020, is one such example.

What are the signs of Autism?

So, now that you know a little about ASD, what are the signs of autism that you should be looking for as your baby develops? Research shows autism can be diagnosed as early as 18 months.[6] Early intervention is key to proper management of the disorder. However, for early intervention to take place, autism must be detected early. Here are some early signs of autism according to Autism Speaks[7]:

By 6 months

There are few or little big smiles, or other warm, joyful or engaging expressions
There is very little eye contact from the baby

By 9 months

There is little or no interaction with the baby that involves sharing of sounds, smiles and facial expression

By 12 months

There is little or no babbling, gestures such as pointing, showing, reaching or waving
The child shows little or no response to his or her name

By 16 months

The child has little or no words

By 24 months

The child utters very few or no meaningful, two-word phrases. This does not include imitating others or repeating what other people have said

By any age

The child has lost any speech that he or she had already, any babbling or social skills
The child avoids eye contact
The child prefers to always be alone
The child has difficulty understanding other people’s feelings
The child has a delay in his or her language development
The child always repeats certain words or phrases
The child does not like changes in his or her routine
The child’s interest is restricted to a few things
The child repeats behaviours like flapping the arms, rocking, spinning, etc.
The child has an unusually intense reaction to sounds, smells, tastes, textures, light, colours, etc.

If you are concerned about your child’s development, please speak to your child’s health care provider to get all the information and support you need.

[1] https://www.autismspeaks.org/what-autism

[2] Autism spectrum disorder & other developmental disorders: From raising awareness to building capacity, World Health Organisation, Geneva, Switzerland, 16-18 September 2013

[3] Autism spectrum disorder & other developmental disorders: From raising awareness to building capacity, World Health Organisation, Geneva, Switzerland, 16-18 September 2013

[4] https://www.autismspeaks.org/what-autism

[5] https://www.autismspeaks.org/what-autism

[6] https://www.autismspeaks.org/what-autism

[7] https://www.autismspeaks.org/signs-autism

World Autism Awareness Day 2020!

Posted on April 2, 2020 by The ECC Blog Spot

Today, 2^nd April is World Autism Awareness Day. Here at the ECC, we would like to share our support for all our children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and their families. We acknowledge your joys and sorrows, strengths and challenges, your journey, every success, every achieved milestone, every eye contact, every smile, every new task learnt and every new change accepted! Join us today as we celebrate our children with ASD and their families and continue to raise awareness about Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Autism Awareness Month continues here on the ECC Blog. Stay tuned!

Black History Month Early Childhood Pioneer

Posted on February 12, 2020 by The ECC Blog Spot

To celebrate Black History Month, we would like to celebrate an early childhood pioneer.

Rev. Henry Ward was truly an early childhood pioneer. Henry Ward was born on the 28th of May, 1879 in the district of Golden Grove, St. Ann. He was a Presbyterian Minister, teacher and headmaster. Having attended Clapham Primary School and St. Georges Primary School, in 1899, Rev. Ward further pursued his studies a Mico Teacher’s College where he was named ‘Honours Man of the Year’ in the graduating class of 1900. Rev. Ward held several leadership roles in education, including, headmaster of Ebenezer Primary School in Manchester and later in 1915, Head of the Teacher Training College Department at the Hope Wadell Institute in Calabar, Nigeria where he was also ordained as a Presbyterian Minister. He returned to Jamaica from Nigeria in 1923 and settled in Islington, St. Mary, where he served as pastor of the Presbyterian Church for forty-four (44) years.[1]

As an early childhood pioneer, Rev. Ward is responsible for the establishment of the first basic school in Jamaica in Islington, St. Mary in 1938. The “play centre” as it was then called, was Rev. Ward’s response to the great demand for child care for working mothers. The play centre, the first established community pre-school, catered to the needs of children under six years old and started the basic school movement in Jamaica. In 1941, Rev. Ward and associates presented to the Jamaican Board of Education recommendations for the establishment of “play centres” as part of the Jamaican education system. These recommendations related to teacher qualifications, facility requirements, and administrative procedures. To facilitate children’s development, the centres were to include organized play/stories, actions songs, and foundations for the development reading, writing and numeracy skills. Later, the term “play centre” was dropped and replaced with “basic school” as parents believed the name suggested less emphasis on education and more on play.[2] As envisioned by Rev. Ward and now evident in our approaches in early childhood development, play is a major element for fostering children’s development.

In 2003, the Islington Basic School was selected for a Labour Day project by the government which allocated JA $2 million for its renovation.[3] The Islington Basic School is still in operation today, catering to needs of children at the early childhood level.

Rev. Ward’s contribution to early childhood in Jamaica is truly commendable and his legacy lives on today. There are now over 1600 basic schools in operation in Jamaica with approximately 80,000 children enrolled. As the agency with responsibility for regulating and supporting early childhood institutions in Jamaica, the Early Childhood Commission, has developed standards to guide ECI operations in areas of teacher qualifications, facility requirements and administrative procedures which are a reflection of Rev. Ward’s early recommendations to the Jamaican Board of Education.

To find out more about the 12 Standards for the Operation, Management and Administration of Early Childhood Institutions, you can visit our website at https://ecc.gov.jm/

[1] https://nlj.gov.jm/biographies/rev-henry-ward-1879-1981/

[2] Jones, J., Brown, A., Brown, J. (2011). Caring and Learning Together: A Case Study of Jamaica

[3] https://jis.gov.jm/islington-basic-school-national-labour-day-project/

Working Together for Better ECIs

Posted on September 26, 2019 by The ECC Blog Spot

Last week we looked at what an ECI’s physical environment should be, this week we want to share with you one way the ECC works with our ECIs to ensure they provide the highest quality education standards for our little ones.

Most of what we do at ECC involves working closely with ECIs. Take, for example, the ECC and ECIs collaboration during Learning Environment Week (LEW). Learning Environment Week is a bi-annual event on the ECC’s calendar and this year, Learning Environment Week was August 19-30, 2019. This collaboration between ECC’s staff and the ECIs is geared towards improving and enhancing the learning environments to prepare ECIs for re-opening after the long summer break.

What is a learning environment and why is it important?

The learning environment or the learning centre is the area in the classroom that is set-up for the child’s independent and self-directed learning. Learning centres are organised according to the learning activities they offer children. The organisation, structure and purpose of the learning environment are stipulated under Standard 2 of the ECC’s Operating Standards for ECIs. Standard 2 stipulates that institutions have comprehensive programmes designed to meet the holistic development of the child, included but not limited to, the child’s language, physical, cognitive, socio-emotional needs. The ideal learning environment has a variety of cognitive toys (toys that stimulate brain functions such as thinking, problem solving and information processing), books and learning materials, with clearly defined areas for various learning activities that will provide early stimulation for children.

What did we do during LEW?

ECC staff members visited various ECIs across the island to meet with principals, practitioners, and caregivers to assist with getting ECIs ready for their re-opening on “September morning”. We got down to the basics, a lot of scrubbing, sweeping and dusting were involved. We cleaned those classrooms like we were getting ready for the Queen! Besides cleaning, here are some other activities that we participated in:

De-cluttering and reorganising instructional areas to create aesthetically pleasing appearances to facilitate a positive climate for teaching and learning
Distributing books to ECIs to increase access to a variety of books within the learning environment
Working with early childhood practitioners to develop learning materials for learning centres
Reviewed standards to support ECI’s Certification of Registration target

The ECC is responsible for coordinating and regulating early childhood services and programmes, we must have a working relationship with key stakeholders, and none more important than our ECIs. This collaborative work aims to ensure quality learning environments for all our children where all their developmental needs are met.

Check out our Gallery for more pictures of Learning Environment Week!

To learn more about us, go to the ECC’s website.

Choosing the Right ECI for Your Child

Posted on September 18, 2019 by The ECC Blog Spot

September is the time of year that many parents are excited to see their young ones off to school. As you wave them off on their first day, did you ever wonder if that ECI is providing the best physical environment for your child’s development? Do you know what the typical physical environment of an ECI should look like?

Don’t worry! We are here to help!

Standard 4 of the Early Childhood Commission’s 12 Operating Standards for ECIs, outlines that an early childhood institution (ECI) must have physical environments that meet building, health and safety requirements. It should also allow adequate space for children and facilitate their developmental needs.

Why the physical environment important?

The simple fact is that the early years are an important period of children’s development. The environment in which the children spend most of their time has a very strong impact on their development. Take for example, gross motor skills which include running, skipping, jumping and walking, can all be delayed or promoted by the child’s physical environment. At this stage of a child’s development, choosing the right ECI is a very important task for parents. The ECI’s environment must be one that is safe, responsive, stimulating and nurturing, in essence, one that will facilitate the optimal development.

Many children spend most of their day in an early childhood group setting, as such, ECIs are considered children’s “home away from home”. As parents, we should be asking ourselves, is this ECI homely enough for my child? The ideal ECI must include facilities, equipment and materials that foster our children’s development.

Parents, here are some things you need to know about the physical environment of your child’s ECI:

All building structures must adhere to the building standards outlined by the Ministry of Local Government and Community Development
The physical environment of an ECI must be free from all health and safety hazards
Each classroom must be properly ventilated and have adequate lighting
Both indoor and outdoor areas must be equipped with adequate space to facilitate learning and play

We want the best for our children, so why not get it right from the start? A good early childhood environment should foster physical, emotional and cognitive development. So let’s choose right by ensuring that your child’s ECI follows the building, health and safety standards of the ECC.

To find out more about our 12 Operating Standards for ECIs, click here.

Welcome to Our Blog

Posted on August 28, 2019 by The ECC Blog Spot

Hello Reader!

Thank you for visiting our blog. We are the official blog for the Early Childhood Commission (ECC).

Who we are

The ECC is an agency of the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information of Jamaica. We are the agency that is responsible for regulating and coordinating early childhood services. Early childhood is the period that spans 0-8 years old.

Our Blog

This blog will serve as a medium for communicating with you, our readers, events, research, topics and general information on early childhood development. We see this blog as an opportunity to increase the public’s knowledge of early childhood development (ECD) and the work of the ECC.

We aim, through our efforts here, that ECD will become part of the Jamaican parlance and not only for those who work in the sector but for parents, stakeholders, and members of the general public.

We hope that you will enjoy the content we will curate for you on our blog and that you will not only keep coming back but will also be sharing with your friends and family.

Happy Reading and stay tuned!

Team ECC