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Children who feel safe will be more receptive to learning and reading, says educational psychologist Seago Maapola, which is why family has such an important role to play in dealing with South Africa’s deepening literacy crisis.
“It is important to spend quality time together as a family to cultivate a positive and safe environment that is conducive to learning. Children who feel safe will be more receptive to reading, and the best learning takes place in environments where a child experiences trust.
South Africa’s literacy statistics are dire. The latest Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS) revealed in May that 81% of Grade 4 learners are unable to read for meaning in any language, even their home language.
A year ago, this percentage was 78%, the situation is deteriorating instead of improving, says Maapola. It is projected that it will take close to a century for 95% of children in this country to be able to read for meaning by the intermediate phase.
“More needs to be done to make reading accessible and appealing to children from a young age. Improved literacy starts by instilling a love for reading from early on, even before children start school,” says Jodi Law, Brand Manager, Wimpy. “With International Literacy Day on 8 September, we are reminded of how important it is to support initiatives that encourage children to read.”
As a truly South African brand with a strong family focus, Wimpy will partner for a third year with Ethnikids, an online bookstore specialising in producing children’s books in 11 official languages, to release five new books.
This edutainment initiative gives children access to multicultural and relatable content in their home language, in an effort to improve literacy levels. “Wimpy understands that stories shape our understanding of the world and remind us of who we are, and where we come from,” says Law. “We’re committed to finding ways for families to spend quality time together so that they can share stories and help children develop a love for reading that will set them up for lifelong learning.”
Maapola says children should be exposed to books from an early age and particularly in a family setting. Reading as a family can boost a child’s confidence and help develop their self-esteem.
Reading aloud with young children exposes them to language and encourages phonemic awareness, she adds. It also helps with the recognition of sounds and words.
“When we start with pre-literacy exposure and skills it gives children a better chance of formal literacy in school,” says Maapola. “Reading with a child helps with the development of cognitive skills, critical thinking, vocabulary and stimulates their imagination. Do this from an early stage so that by the time they get to school, they have already been exposed to books and reading.”
Learners with low literacy may struggle with their self-esteem and become visibly embarrassed if they can’t meet certain objectives, Maapola says. As a result, these children may avoid learning altogether. Poor performance could result in them being bullied or ostracised at school. Furthermore, low literacy levels will have a far-reaching impact on South Africa’s economic growth and development.
“Low literacy affects learners’ education outcomes and career opportunities. This has significant economic implications for the country,” says Maapola. “Being unable to read affects children’s future opportunities, how they see themselves and whether they will finish school. We need to remedy the situation before it gets worse.”
Books from last year's Wimpy in partnership with Ethnikids campaign are currently available online at https://wimpy.co.za/kids/ethnikids/. Kids can look forward to a new series of exciting local stories which will be available in English at the end of September in Wimpy restaurants with a Kids Combo Meal, the translated versions in all 11 official languages will be available online.
This post and content is sponsored, written and produced by Wimpy.
