A bit of an Introduction

A bit of an introduction…

Discovering the wholeness, wonder, and joy of childhood - An educational and reflective blog

Childhood. What a time. Children are precious, constantly evolving beings. They have unique personalities, preferences, temperaments and ways of seeing the world. Despite this beauty, they can be quite difficult to understand and, therefore, handle. There are also a lot of opinions, laws, practices, and beliefs surrounding them. They are found everywhere, and part of everyday life and yet, so little is truly understood about them.

Our Purpose Here

Ntsako means ‘joy’ in the South African language Xitsonga and to me, there is no better image of joy than the life of a healthy, happy child. This is something I desire all children to reach. This blog is designed as a way of speaking about what childhood is, and all the wonders and challenges associated with it. In my work with kids and conversations with some adults, I have found that there is not much basic understanding about the minds and worlds of children. This often leads to incorrect treatment of them, or simply not supporting them in the best possible ways. This needs to be remedied. Rather than judging people for not understanding the complexities of childhood, I have decided to create this blog to walk you through child development in simplified, digestible pieces so that we can better understand and appreciate it for what it really is. Through applying my knowledge and making it contextually relevant so that you understand exactly why it matters rather than just being told that it matters, I hope to clear some of the fog surrounding children.

I have spent a few years focusing on studying and understanding child development at the brain and psychological level and how the environment affects this development. Thus, a lot of what I discuss will always bring the environment around the child into discussion. I do not believe that the child exists and grows in isolation, independent of the influences of their surroundings. And while I believe most people would agree, they do not often act as though they do.

I have created this space to share my wonder at childhood and its need to be celebrated and protected, especially for people who get lost in the sea of information that can be complex and too confusing to understand. This format, while carrying some opinions, is not meant to dictate anything, and invites healthy conversation and the sharing of wonderful or awe-inspiring stories about children and childhood, or even flashbacks from your own childhood. We’re all on this learning journey together!

Each month, we will focus on a specific aspect of childhood, and break it down into weekly chunks. I hope for each Issue to build on each other so that in the end, we have a comprehensive understanding. For the outline of what each Issue will focus on throughout the year, check out my webpage so you can get excited. I hope to eventually begin researching and discussing topics of interest to my audience, so please feel free to leave some topic suggestions on anything you would like to hear about in future. The Ntsakoblog is part of a broader vision which, as it expands, will include various development resources for both adults and children. Subscribe to stay updated and never miss out!

A bit about me

What then, is my qualification and authority for speaking on such points? Well, besides a keen interest in and love of children, I have an undergraduate degree in Psychology and Anthropology, an Honours degree in Psychology, and a masters degree in the specialised branch of Developmental Psychology known as Brain and Cognitive Development (or Developmental Science). So, I have studied and continue to study children extensively. I do not believe that we will ever know all that there is to know about these wonderful humans, though! I have also worked extensively with children in a number of environments, and the celebration and protection of children is something I dedicate my life to.

I do not assert myself as a qualified medical professional, or purely objective, and I am not yet a registered psychologist, though I am working toward this registration. My words should not be taken as rule or law and should always be considered together with other resources. These pieces are mostly a summary of my knowledge and understanding from what I have studied on child development, and often carry their own opinion attached. There is always an academic basis, though not situated exclusively in psychology. Rather, I go by the title ‘Developmental Scientist’. Developmental Science is all about understanding how biology, genetics, and environment interact from before birth throughout childhood to create the individuals we see in the end. It’s a complex and beautiful process which we are constantly learning about. Taking this knowledge, we try to design interventions that we see as needed, and I particularly enjoy focusing on working with and learning from the community surrounding the young child.

Closing thoughts

So, I invite you on a journey. A journey of discovery of the young child and their various elements. How they develop, learn, think, feel, and relate to the world around them. This will be a journey of discovery, education, reflection, and, most importantly, holistically understanding the wonder that is childhood and children, and seeing the joy therein. Filled with light-hearted and pleasant pieces, but also challenging ones, education, and anecdotal reflection, I hope for this blog series to be one which encourages us all to deeply think and reflect on the children in our lives and how we can do better for them. I encourage everyone who reads this to engage, share some stories of their own, and who knows, there may even be the possibility of healing for your inner child too.

Learn more here.

All views expressed here are entirely my own and subject to copyright rules.

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