Literature (Beck, 1986:96; Beaver & Brewster, 2002:132; Piaget et al., 2009:1) indicates that the first two years of a baby’s life is a critical period for development. This period is seen as windows of opportunity for development. There is still controversy in the literature regarding if baby stimulation helps babies to reach their neuro-motor development milestones faster, and which type of stimulation is the most advantageous, namely group stimulation or individual stimulation. The first objective of this study was to determine the effect of different methods of stimulation on the motor development of babies between the ages of 3 – 9 months, and secondly to determine what the effect of stimulation administered by a primary caregiver have on the motor development of babies between the ages of 3 – 9 months. A pretest-posttest design was used based on an available random sample where the effect of motor stimulation in different stimulation groups was tested. For objective 1 the babies (N=42) was divided into three different groups and exposed to informal stimulation (n=14), group stimulation as part of a day care program (n=15) and individual stimulation (n=13) administered by a primary caregiver. A nonstandardised checklist was designed by the researcher, refined in a pilot study and completed by the facilitators of the group and individual stimulation programs in which the content of the motor stimulation program was described. During the pretesting phase the babies were tested by the researcher in order to determine their motor milestone developmental status by means of the Peabody Developmental Motor Scales-2-measuring instrument (PDMS-2). This measuring instrument consists of five sub-scales that are converted to a gross motor, fine motor and total motor quotient. After applying the stimulation programs for 12 weeks on a daily basis in the group stimulation and the formal individual stimulation programs, the same aspects of the babies’ motor development was tested again by the PDMS-2. The results showed that after 3 – 9 months old babies were exposed to formal stimulation programs and the data was adjusted for age in months, gender, other activities and pretest results, they did not reach their neuro-motor developmental milestones faster than the babies that were exposed to informal stimulation. The results also show that babies that received individual stimulation administered by a primary caregiver did not reach their milestones faster than babies that only received informal stimulation. However, it seems that individual stimulation administered by a primary caregiver is more beneficial than group stimulation. For objective 2 the subjects (N=27) was divided into two groups and were exposed to informal stimulation (n=14) and individual stimulation (n=13) administered by a primary caregiver. A co-variance of analysis was used and effect sizes were determined for the differences that occurred. The results showed that 3 – 9 months old babies that were exposed to a formal stimulation program did not reach their neuro-motor development milestones faster than babies that were exposed to informal stimulation, because the informal stimulation groups achieved significant (d > 0.2) higher scores for the gross motor (d > 0.24), fine motor (d > 0.27) and total motor quotient (d > 0.33). Individual stimulation showed nonsignificant higher mean values for the reflex (ẋ = 10.30), locomotion (ẋ = 9.16) and visual-motor integration sub-scales (ẋ = 9.45), while informal stimulation showed higher mean values for static balance (ẋ = 11.46) and grasping skills (ẋ = 10.21). The conclusion can be made that simulation whether informal, formal or in a group is beneficial to babies, but the baby must be ready for the specific stimulation. The success of informal stimulation depends on the parents’ knowledge and educational levels. Consequently the same results will not necessarily be achieved by parents that are from a less wealthy environment and that have fewer opportunities to obtain knowledge about the optimal stimulation of babies. / Thesis (M.A. (Kinderkinetics))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2011

Literature (Beck, 1986:96; Beaver & Brewster, 2002:132; Piaget et al., 2009:1) indicates that the first two years of a baby’s life is a critical period for development. This period is seen as windows of opportunity for development. There is still controversy in the literature regarding if baby stimulation helps babies to reach their neuro-motor development milestones faster, and which type of stimulation is the most advantageous, namely group stimulation or individual stimulation. The first objective of this study was to determine the effect of different methods of stimulation on the motor development of babies between the ages of 3 – 9 months, and secondly to determine what the effect of stimulation administered by a primary caregiver have on the motor development of babies between the ages of 3 – 9 months. A pretest-posttest design was used based on an available random sample where the effect of motor stimulation in different stimulation groups was tested. For objective 1 the babies (N=42) was divided into three different groups and exposed to informal stimulation (n=14), group stimulation as part of a day care program (n=15) and individual stimulation (n=13) administered by a primary caregiver. A nonstandardised checklist was designed by the researcher, refined in a pilot study and completed by the facilitators of the group and individual stimulation programs in which the content of the motor stimulation program was described. During the pretesting phase the babies were tested by the researcher in order to determine their motor milestone developmental status by means of the Peabody Developmental Motor Scales-2-measuring instrument (PDMS-2). This measuring instrument consists of five sub-scales that are converted to a gross motor, fine motor and total motor quotient. After applying the stimulation programs for 12 weeks on a daily basis in the group stimulation and the formal individual stimulation programs, the same aspects of the babies’ motor development was tested again by the PDMS-2. The results showed that after 3 – 9 months old babies were exposed to formal stimulation programs and the data was adjusted for age in months, gender, other activities and pretest results, they did not reach their neuro-motor developmental milestones faster than the babies that were exposed to informal stimulation. The results also show that babies that received individual stimulation administered by a primary caregiver did not reach their milestones faster than babies that only received informal stimulation. However, it seems that individual stimulation administered by a primary caregiver is more beneficial than group stimulation. For objective 2 the subjects (N=27) was divided into two groups and were exposed to informal stimulation (n=14) and individual stimulation (n=13) administered by a primary caregiver. A co-variance of analysis was used and effect sizes were determined for the differences that occurred. The results showed that 3 – 9 months old babies that were exposed to a formal stimulation program did not reach their neuro-motor development milestones faster than babies that were exposed to informal stimulation, because the informal stimulation groups achieved significant (d > 0.2) higher scores for the gross motor (d > 0.24), fine motor (d > 0.27) and total motor quotient (d > 0.33). Individual stimulation showed nonsignificant higher mean values for the reflex (ẋ = 10.30), locomotion (ẋ = 9.16) and visual-motor integration sub-scales (ẋ = 9.45), while informal stimulation showed higher mean values for static balance (ẋ = 11.46) and grasping skills (ẋ = 10.21). The conclusion can be made that simulation whether informal, formal or in a group is beneficial to babies, but the baby must be ready for the specific stimulation. The success of informal stimulation depends on the parents’ knowledge and educational levels. Consequently the same results will not necessarily be achieved by parents that are from a less wealthy environment and that have fewer opportunities to obtain knowledge about the optimal stimulation of babies. / Thesis (M.A. (Kinderkinetics))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2011

School and learning readiness are continually being placed under the spotlight in an attempt to protect the grade 1 learner from possible learning failures, since unsuccessful learning experiences have negative effects even on a person's adult life. A factor that plays a significant role in the current teaching situation in the RSA is the fact that many grade 1 leamers are not instructed in their mother tongue and that they are not familiar with the concepts which are used in the language of learning and teaching. Another important factor is the fact that since 2004 learners may enrol as grade 1 learners at primary schools if they are five and a half years old and did not attend a grade R class. In this study the problems experienced by grade 1 leamers in primary schools since the implementation of Outcomes-based Education in the RSA in 1998, were determined by means of a pilot study. It was followed up by a literature study on the brain and factors that influence the working of the brain among young learners, as well as learning and factors that cannot only promote learning among this age group, but also disadvantage it. The literature was also consulted to look at stimulation of the child's development in the early development stage (0-9 years). As cross control for the study, the influence of the implementation of the RNCS was determined by means of a Likert-type questionnaire that was sent to grade1 teachers. As a result of factors that were identified from the above-named literature study and from the information acquired from the pilot project and Likert-type questionnaire, a conceptual stimulation programme for multicultural grade 1 classes was developed to provide in the shortcomings that currently occur among grade 1 learners. The Aptitude Test for School beginners (ASB), a standarised school readiness test of the HSRC, was used as a measuring instrument to acquire a differentiated image in a scientific way of the grade 1 learners (n = 39) for the purpose of this study. Thereafter, the learners were divided into an experimental and a control group. The conceptual stimulation programme was presented to the experimental group for ten consecutive weeks. The AS6 test was then conducted again with all the grade 1 learners involved. Both the first and final tests were marked according to the prescribed marking keys, interpreted according to the norm tables and statistically processed. The pre and post test scores of the two groups were compared and the experimental group improved in all 8 sections of the test battery, namely perception, spatial, reasoning, numerical, Gestalt, co-ordination , memory and verbal comprehension. In each of these categories there was an increase of d = 0.5 and more which according to Cohen's d-values, can be regarded as practically meaningful. The above-mentioned results indicate that the effective presentation of a conceptual stimulation programme to a group of multicultural grade 1 learners provides positive results and that the didactical methods used during the presentation can be recommended to grade 1 teachers in the current multicultural schools in the RSA. The programme can serve as a prototype to adress the shortcomings identified in the practise (questionnaires) and the literature study. Keywords for indexing are: stimulation programme, schoolreadiness, schoolreadiness programme, cognitive development, learning theories, conceptual learning, brain development. / Thesis (Ph.D. (Education))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2006.

Thesis (Ph.D. (Education))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2006.

School and learning readiness are continually being placed under the spotlight in an attempt to protect the grade 1 learner from possible learning failures, since unsuccessful learning experiences have negative effects even on a person's adult life. A factor that plays a significant role in the current teaching situation in the RSA is the fact that many grade 1 leamers are not instructed in their mother tongue and that they are not familiar with the concepts which are used in the language of learning and teaching. Another important factor is the fact that since 2004 learners may enrol as grade 1 learners at primary schools if they are five and a half years old and did not attend a grade R class. In this study the problems experienced by grade 1 leamers in primary schools since the implementation of Outcomes-based Education in the RSA in 1998, were determined by means of a pilot study. It was followed up by a literature study on the brain and factors that influence the working of the brain among young learners, as well as learning and factors that cannot only promote learning among this age group, but also disadvantage it. The literature was also consulted to look at stimulation of the child's development in the early development stage (0-9 years). As cross control for the study, the influence of the implementation of the RNCS was determined by means of a Likert-type questionnaire that was sent to grade1 teachers. As a result of factors that were identified from the above-named literature study and from the information acquired from the pilot project and Likert-type questionnaire, a conceptual stimulation programme for multicultural grade 1 classes was developed to provide in the shortcomings that currently occur among grade 1 learners. The Aptitude Test for School beginners (ASB), a standarised school readiness test of the HSRC, was used as a measuring instrument to acquire a differentiated image in a scientific way of the grade 1 learners (n = 39) for the purpose of this study. Thereafter, the learners were divided into an experimental and a control group. The conceptual stimulation programme was presented to the experimental group for ten consecutive weeks. The AS6 test was then conducted again with all the grade 1 learners involved. Both the first and final tests were marked according to the prescribed marking keys, interpreted according to the norm tables and statistically processed. The pre and post test scores of the two groups were compared and the experimental group improved in all 8 sections of the test battery, namely perception, spatial, reasoning, numerical, Gestalt, co-ordination , memory and verbal comprehension. In each of these categories there was an increase of d = 0.5 and more which according to Cohen's d-values, can be regarded as practically meaningful. The above-mentioned results indicate that the effective presentation of a conceptual stimulation programme to a group of multicultural grade 1 learners provides positive results and that the didactical methods used during the presentation can be recommended to grade 1 teachers in the current multicultural schools in the RSA. The programme can serve as a prototype to adress the shortcomings identified in the practise (questionnaires) and the literature study. Keywords for indexing are: stimulation programme, schoolreadiness, schoolreadiness programme, cognitive development, learning theories, conceptual learning, brain development. / Thesis (Ph.D. (Education))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2006.