Training Home-based Caregivers towards a Holistic Development of Infants (aged 0 -2 years) in Kenya
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Date
2019-01
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Publisher
Tangaza University College
Abstract
Holistic development in early childhood is significant as it occurs within the sensitive periods
and if neglected, results in irreversible damage affecting the infant’s future. Globalization has
had an impact on family life throughout the world. In Kenya, parents are overwhelmed with their
socio-economic commitments and have overlooked the needs of the infant particularly below
twenty-four months. They tend to rely on caregivers who are assumed to have knowledge and,
this is detrimental to the infant. This project aimed to create a manual that could be used to train
caregivers towards a holistic development that encompasses the biosocial, psychosocial,
emotional and cognitive factors of growth of infants in their first two years of life. The specific
objectives focus on providing an environment that stimulates the senses, accompanies the infant
in building their language skills, creates a secure bond, encourages gross and fine motor
movement while respecting the infant’s individuality. The training is supported by Bowlby’s
Attachment theory, Erickson’s psychosocial theory and Piaget’s theory of cognitive
development. The training programme consists of 20 sessions carried out over a 5 day period of
4 sessions per day. The sessions are designed using Bloom’s Taxonomy. It is delivered using
Kolb’s Experiential Learning Model with the participants as the primary target and the infants as
the beneficiaries of this project. After the training, the participants will be able to use the
developmental milestones to not only recognize the signs of impairment but distinguish between
disability and weakness. In addition the trainee will be able to modify and adapt the techniques
learnt to help the infant reach their potential. This training intends to provide an opportunity for
the participants to form a support group to enable them to continue to learn from each other’s
experiences.
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Keywords
Training, Home-based, Caregivers, Holistic Development, Infants, Biosocial Development, Psychosocial Development, Emotional Development