The Aflatot curriculum is for young children who have not yet entered primary school, usually between three to six years old. It provides an early childhood education programme that lays the foundation for social and financial literacy. The programme builds on the evidence in early childhood education that such early investments provide children with advantages that are amplified and reinforced over time.
Early childhood is the most critical time for positive intervention. Children’s development during this stage is strongly affected by their environment, and that effect continues to exert a strong influence on the rest of their lives. It is of the utmost importance that educational and life skills programmes such as Aflatot also begin at this early stage.
Children gather the building blocks of social and financial literacy even before they get to primary school. Much of what they know about planning, budgeting, saving, spending and using resources is based on their daily routine. Even before monetary concepts are learned, simple concepts such as making full use of available resources, i.e. ‘finishing one’s food’ or ‘buying only necessities’, are some of the daily realities that young children are exposed to that already relate to financial education.
Preschool children are also developing time preferences, when they understand that there are times when it is better to wait for something rather than to have it now. Children as young as three years of age are exposed to the social values of giving and sharing, not just with gifts or tangible materials, but also with interaction with others. Other important life skills that are embedded in Aflatot include taking turns, making decisions, and setting goals.
RELATED SDGs
-
Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all
