A5003436037- Early Childhood Education and Development
- Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development
- Obesity, Physical Activity, Diet
- Infant Development and Preterm Care
- Poverty, Education, and Child Welfare
- Child Nutrition and Water Access
- Children's Physical and Motor Development
- Child Development and Digital Technology
- Birth, Development, and Health
- Child Nutrition and Feeding Issues
- ICT in Developing Communities
- Cognitive and developmental aspects of mathematical skills
- Sleep and related disorders
- Health, Environment, Cognitive Aging
- Educational Strategies and Epistemologies
- School Health and Nursing Education
- Delphi Technique in Research
- Family and Disability Support Research
- Sleep and Wakefulness Research
- Child Abuse and Trauma
- Health disparities and outcomes
- Innovative Approaches in Technology and Social Development
- Education and Critical Thinking Development
- Cognitive Abilities and Testing
- Reading and Literacy Development
University of the Witwatersrand
2020-2025
South African Medical Research Council
2022-2025
Pathways Behavioral Services
2022-2024
University of Wollongong
2024
University of Oxford
2024
Carleton University
2024
University of Cape Town
2017-2023
University of California, Riverside
2023
University of California, Irvine
2023
Abstract It has become increasingly apparent that publishing research on child development from certain countries is especially challenging. These have been referred to collectively as the Majority World, Global South, non‐WEIRD (Western, Educated, Industrial, Rich, and Democratic), or low‐ middle‐income countries. The aim of this paper draw attention these persistent challenges, provide constructive recommendations contribute better representation children in research. In paper, we outline...
In December 2018, the South African 24-hour movement guidelines for birth to 5 years were released. This article describes process used develop these guidelines.The Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation-ADOLOPMENT approach was followed, with some pragmatic adaptions, using Australian early as a starting point. A consensus panel, including stakeholders in childhood development academics, formed assist process.At face-to-face meeting global local literatures...
Abstract Executive function is foundational for cognitive development. Previous research has shown both gross motor skills and physical activity to be related executive function. However, evidence these relationships in the preschool years, as well low‐ middle‐income countries lacking. Therefore, this study aimed investigate between components of (inhibition, shifting working memory) (locomotor object control skills) a sample children from urban rural low‐income settings South Africa....
The widely and internationally replicated socioeconomic status (SES) gradient of executive function (EF) implies that intervention approaches may do well to extrapolate conditions practices from contexts generate better child outcomes (in this case, higher SES circumstances) translate these with comparatively poorer (often low-SES populations). Yet, can the reverse also be true? Using data equivalent assessments 1,092 pre-schoolers' EFs in South Africa Australia, we evaluated: EF within each...
ABSTRACT To address the need for interventions targeting social emotional development and mental health of young children in South Africa, Mazi Umntanakho (‘know your child’) digital tool was co‐designed, piloted with caregivers 3–5‐year‐old involved home visiting programmes promoting early childhood development. The aim this study to qualitatively evaluate feasibility acceptability four urban rural low‐income communities, from perspective visitors caregivers. Focus groups were conducted ( n...
Crime and violence are highly prevalent in South Africa, exacerbated by numerous socioeconomic challenges. To investigate how exposure to crime (and their impacts, e.g. stress) perceived low-income communities, we hosted a set of facilitated ‘community conversations’, as opportunities for community engagement. Our objective was provide safe space members share perceptions; were interested know if such conversations would be feasible with adolescents (>12 years) adults the community....

 Background: The International Study of Movement Behaviours in the Early Years, SUNRISE, was initiated to assess extent which young children meet movement behaviour guidelines (physical activity, sedentary behaviour, screen time, sleep). Objective: South African SUNRISE pilot study assessed behaviours preschool from two low-income settings, and associations between these behaviours, adiposity, motor skills executive function (EF).
 Methods: Preschool child/parent pairs (n = 89)...
Abstract This qualitative study explored caregivers' perceptions of factors influencing early childhood development in low‐income, urban South African settings, from a social ecological perspective. Individual interviews were conducted with 15 caregivers 3–5‐year‐old children; reflexive thematic analysis approach was adopted. In the family and home context, spoke about their role developing, nurturing, providing, protecting disciplining children. Risks included low socioeconomic status,...
Relationships between mental health and multiple behaviours have not been explored in young South African women experiencing social constraints. The aim of this study was to identify associations indicators risk factors with physical activity, sedentary behaviour, sleep, amongst living Soweto, a predominantly low-income, urban setting.
Executive functions (EFs) in early childhood are predictors of later developmental outcomes and school readiness. Much the research on EFs their psychosocial correlates has been conducted high-income, minority world countries, which represent a small biased portion children globally. The aim this study is to examine among aged 3-5 years two African South Africa (SA) Gambia (GM), explore shared distinct these settings. SA sample (N = 243, 51.9% female) was recruited from low-income...
The majority of the world's children live in low- and middle-income countries, yet early childhood cognitive research is done with a small proportion high-income countries. These findings cannot be assumed to apply across all contexts. It therefore necessary confront entrenched systems power privilege development as they relate researchers vulnerable communities. South Africa (SA) previously colonized, Majority World country history white supremacy racial segregation. Although growing field...
<p xmlns="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/JATS1">A child’s home environment has been shown to be related the development of early numeracy skills in some countries. However, significant relationships between learning and math achievement have not consistently found, likely vary across different cultural socio-political contexts. Here we explored 243 children (3-5 years), who were attending preschool programmes very low-income settings Cape Town, South Africa. Caregivers completed a questionnaire...
Early life is important for later health outcomes, yet there are few studies which adequately address all of the potential early insults that may affect and growth trajectories. This particularly evident in low- to middle-income countries such as South Africa, where women childbearing age vulnerable high levels physical inactivity, malnutrition, obesity. Pregnancy therefore be an opportune time change behaviours improve maternal offspring decrease inter-generational transfer risk. We show...
Research Findings: School readiness is highly salient in South Africa (SA), a country with extreme and persistent inequities that undermine early childhood development. The aim of this short-term longitudinal study was to identify social ecological factors associated school young children from low-income settings Cape Town, SA. Participants were 152 3–5-year-old (55% female, not attending care education (ECCE) at recruitment) their primary adult caregiver settings. Linear regressions found...
Abstract This qualitative study aimed to capture community perspectives of the risks and protective factors for social emotional development mental health young children in low-income South Africa settings, was conducted as one component a larger with ultimate aim co-designing Mazi Umntanakho (‘know your child’) digital tool. Twenty focus group discussions (n = 154, 97% female) were held staff community-based organisations (CBOs) worker (CHW) programmes urban rural sites from four...
South Africa is a diverse country characterised by stark inequalities that undermine early childhood development (ECD). Caregivers of young children play critical role in providing nurturing care to mitigate against risks ECD. The aim this qualitative study was explore caregivers’ perceptions factors influencing ECD low-income, urban African setting, from social ecological perspective. Individual interviews were conducted with 15 caregivers 3-5-year-old three low-income communities Cape...
Background: While there is now considerable evidence in support of a relationship between executive function (EF) and academic success, these findings almost uniformly derive from Western high-income countries. Yet, recent low- to -middle-income countries have suggested that patterns EF skills differ contexts, but little clarity on the extent, direction nature their association. Aim: This study aimed investigate contribution pre-academic sample preschool children ( N = 124; M age 50.91...
A child’s home environment has been shown to be related the development of earlynumeracy skills in some countries. However, significant relationships between learningenvironment and math achievement have not consistently found, likely vary acrossdifferent cultural socio-political contexts. Here we explored andearly numeracy 243 children (3-5 years), who were attending preschoolprogrammes very low-income settings Cape Town, South Africa. Caregiverscompleted a questionnaire including...
Executive function (EF) theory and research continues to under-represent the contexts in which majority of world's children reside, despite their potential support, refute, or refine our current understandings. The study sought contribute understanding EF low-income settings South Africa by investigating longitudinal associations context-specific risk protective factors for development three- five-year-old who had limited access ECCE services before age five. Child-caregiver dyads (N = 171)...
Water and sanitation are vital to human health well-being. While these factors have been studied in relation health, very little has done consider such environmental risk with child development. Here, we investigated possible relations between household water access/storage early childhood development four low-income settlements the City of Cape Town, Western province South Africa. Our objectives were 1) determine practices dwellings children; 2) assess development; 3) understand...