Intervene early before your child loses parts of his brain

08 December 2016 - 11:17 By KATHARINE CHILD
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Politicians and experts are debating how much money to spend on universities but the hard science shows, if South Africa really wants to improve education, it’s cheaper and more effective to start at conception.

The first 1000 days of a child's life are clear predictors of future earnings, health status, whether he or she will contract diabetes or heart disease and how many years of school he or she will complete, says Wits University professor Linda Richter.

The first one thousand days of a child's life starts from conception and runs to age two.

The A-rated scientist edited a Lancet report on early childhood development research, including studies by 45 authors in 22 universities worldwide.

The research proves that children with insufficient development by the age of two will earn 26% less than other adults, regardless of what happens after the age of two.

The report indicates that countries will lose out financially if they don't improve stimulation, nutrition and nurture of children in the first 1000 days of their lives.

Richter told The Times the country was investing huge amounts of money and effort in primary, high school and university education. She said if enough was not done before the age of two, more money would have to be spent to improve education later.

Richter said: "When a child is born it has 100 billion brain cells, as many stars as there are in the universe."

But at age two the brain trims the connections.

"The trillions of connections drive memory, learning and behaviour. We lose what isn't used early. If the brain fails to receive appropriate experiences during these first critical years before the age of two, the brain structure and function will be impaired."

Richter said stunting and malnutrition, which caused poor brain development, cost South Africa R62-billion annually.

"It's ironic that this is close to the exact amount needed to fund free higher education per year," she said.

About 27% of South Africa's children are stunted.

"The conclusion from the research is that we must intervene earlier. South Africa puts in efforts from three to four years old - helping them attend play centres."

"While early learning is important, it is less effective than it could be, because their foundational skills and capacities are laid down at a younger age in the first 1000 days."

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