Johannesburg - The first 1 000 days of a child’s life are the
most vital for brain development. The period from the moment a
child is conceived to the age of two is a sensitive time for
brain development. After this phase, brain development slows and
builds on the base that’s already acquired. The SA Child Gauge
2012 report, published annually by the University of Cape Town’s
Children’s Institute, explored early childhood development (ECD)
services, among other things, and found that how a child fares
at school is largely influenced by the nutrition they receive
while they’re still in their mother’s womb, their home
environment and the stimulation they’re exposed to in the
formative years of their lives. The report provides insight into
the status of SA’s children. It found that ECD services, which
encompass pre-natal care, nutrition, psycho-social and health
services and early-learning stimulation, have proved to enhance
school readiness, enrolment and retention – that’s staying in
the education system and n