Journeying with children in meeting their growth and development milestones

For Madam Siti Fatimah, a mother of two young children aged 4 and 6, managing daily routines and meeting their developmental needs often felt overwhelming. As a working mum, she often questioned herself, if she was doing enough. “I used to have a lot of self-doubt, especially on difficult days when my children were extra fussy and I wasn’t sure how best to guide them,” she recounts. With both parents working full-time and with limited resources, they could not spend enough quality time with their children.

Mdm Fatimah would rely on mobile phones and tablets to keep her children occupied but soon realised that excessive screen time hindered their social and communication skills. Her eldest son, Sheik Fayyad, was born during the COVID pandemic period in 2019, and showed a preference for watching television programmes over reading, which concerned her as he was not meeting his developmental milestones. She feared this could also impact his ability to keep pace with his peers when he begins primary school.

Determined to help her son, she joined the KidSTART programme in 2021, after encouragement from her sister-in-law, who was already in the programme. The programme caters to lesser-resourced expecting parents, and parents of children below the age of 6, where dedicated practitioners trained in early childhood work directly with parents and support their parenting journey.

To create a more conducive home environment, she sourced for pre-loved toys and furniture, such as a kitchen set and shelves, to set up a play area in their living room. She incorporated learning through play by creating opportunities for them to follow instructions.

Through regular home visits with KidSTART practitioner Ms Azimah, Mdm Fatimah and her children received developmental support, and practical resources like books and interactive toys. Ms Azimah shared parenting tips, such as purposeful play ideas and toilet training techniques, and guided Mdm Fatimah on strategies to strengthen Fayyad’s English comprehension. She encouraged Mdm Fatimah to involve family members in these language activities and creative ways to teach phonics, making learning fun and engaging.

The programme also provided emotional and social support during challenging times, reinforcing the importance of caregiver well-being during early childhood development. “Ms Azimah celebrated our small wins and helped us through challenges. Her patience and understanding felt like she was more like a true friend than a practitioner,” said Mdm Fatimah.

With support from KidSTART and SP Group, Mdm Fatimah received the KidSTART Stories book package, which comprised a bookshelf with age-appropriate books, that serve as a mainstay in her children’s play area today. “The books, toys, and activities made learning fun and engaging, helping me connect with my children in meaningful ways,” she shared.

Mdm Fatimah also encourages other parents of young children to seek help early, embrace learning, and build strong bonds with their children through shared experiences. “We can take proactive steps in supporting our children’s development and join available programmes like KidSTART.”