Research shows that the concept of gender takes shape between the ages of 3 and 7. By the age of 7, gender identities form and stereotypes become set .These stereotypes are likely to have long lasting impact on how children relate to each other, and how they perceive their own potential and that of others.
That´s why we should teach our children from an early age a gender sensitive view of self and others, we call this early childhood education or ECE. This way, the children develop to their full potential according to their unique and valuable talents and interests, apart from their gender.
South Africa lack proper ECE programs to help the school leaders in supporting the teachers to achieve this. With the tool kit that we developed in the GRP4 ECE project we encourage them to promote it in a play based and learning environment
The children explore without being told where to play and why, play is open. It needs to have all relevant resources to learn and not being limited to gender.
For example: there was a preschool that used to make sure that all their four-year-old children will play outside all the time. And the children were so dirty almost all the time and the parents were complaining that they always found their children dirty.
At price giving day, kids performed. Their parents were so amazed by the knowledge and skills that their children had acquired through play-based learning.
Creativity leads to thinking and thinking provides knowledge. knowledge makes you great without boundaries.