By: Teacher Madiha 13

th
August 2014

In the morning when I had to change Khizer, I asked teacher Rosy to come and look after
Maryam and Aisha. When I came back teacher Rosy was sitting at the table with Maryam and
Aisha beside her. She had a basket with fruits inside. She was talking to them about fruits and
how she is going to cut them for morning tea. When she held up an apple she said and what
fruit is this? We both didnt expect an answer from either Aisha or Maryam but it was a surprise
for both of us when Maryam said apple. Teacher Rosy then showed the other fruits and asked
the same question. Maryam also knew Banana as she calls it nana.
Masha Allah, at just 14 months old she can say many words and often repeats what-ever I say to
her or other. For instance, whenever I say naah meaning no to Aisha she repeats after me.
Couple of occasion I noticed that she would go to Aisha and then say Naah Naah. If she is
thirsty or wants milk she says aye and when she wants food she points towards the sink and
says umm. She is just like a little parrot.
Language being a vital part of communication, it is therefore crucial that from a very young age
children are exposed to different language contexts. According to Te Whariki, Strand
Communication goal 1 in such instances children develop responsive and reciprocal skills, non-
verbal ways of expressing and communicating imaginative ideas; as well as an increasingly
elaborate repertoire of gesture and expressive body movement for communication, including
ways to make requests non-verbally and appropriately.