Writer: Yanli Zhou, PPI

At the end of September 2024, Zhou Yanli went to the Parenting and Play Center every day with two “good partners” on the road: Xinxin and her grandmother.

Xinxin and Yanli's homes are only a few hundred meters apart. Before she got to know Xinxin, Yanli had only heard that this child was a bit “special”—almost four years old but still unable to speak. On September 16, 2024, with the support of the Evergreen Education Foundation, the Sanlian Village Parenting and Play Center was officially launched, and Yanli became a Parenting and play instructor at the center. At the end of September, through the contact of Xinxin's father, Xinxin came to join the Parenting and Play Center.

From Xinxin's grandmother, Yanli learned that Xinxin was already four and a half years old but still could not speak. In addition, she was unwilling to interact with people outside her family. Xinxin's family had taken her to the hospital for a checkup, and the doctor said that she was just a late talker and had no other issues. In September, when the school year began, her grandmother sent Xinxin to kindergarten. However, because Xinxin could not speak and was unable to communicate with the teachers, she was sent back home. When Xinxin's father found out that there was such an activity center in their village, he contacted Yanli and expressed his hope that sending Xinxin there might make a difference.

In this way, Xinxin became a member of the Sanlian Village Parenting and Play Center.

Through her understanding of Xinxin, Yanli paid extra attention to this little girl at the Parenting and Play Center. She noticed that Xinxin could not leave her grandmother's side, so she and the grandmother agreed on a plan: Yanli would use toys to attract Xinxin's attention, while the grandmother would quietly leave when Xinxin was focused on playing. After several attempts, Xinxin no longer clung to her grandmother and was able to stay alone with Yanli.

To address Xinxin's speech delay, Yanli shared her situation with the project leader during training and sought solutions. Under the guidance of professionals and through her own study, Yanli used character cards from the activity center to help Xinxin practice calling “Dad” and “Mom” repeatedly. She also incorporated music and dance, encouraging Xinxin to perform simple movements and hum along with the songs.

The breakthrough came in late October. When other children called out for their mothers and fathers, Xinxin also uttered her first “Dad” and “Mom.” This sudden progress thrilled Yanli and Xinxin's grandmother. In November, Xinxin began playing with other children and made two good friends, showing further improvement. By December, Xinxin had learned to sing simple songs. Her grandmother and Yanli noted that she would hum and sing at home from time to time. Although she still could not communicate fluently, she was able to express her needs, such as going to the toilet or drinking water, through gestures.

“I'm so happy she started speaking in such a short time. This method works better than any other. Thank you so much to Ms. Zhou and HPP,” Xinxin's grandmother said.

The Parenting and Play Center has now become Xinxin's favorite place. Every morning, she waits with her grandmother for Yanli to head to the activity center three kilometers away, ready to start her day.

Project Description:

The TengchongSanlian Parenting and play center is supported by Evergreen Education Foundation In cooperation with Tengchong Women's Federation and Tengchong Education and Sports Bureau, the project establishes village-level Parenting and Play Centers, recruits and trains Parenting and Play Instructors, aiming to promote scientific parenting concepts and skills, to improve community family education guidance services, to strengthen scientific parenting publicity and advocacy, to promote family building and healthy development of children, and achieve sustainable development of rural children aged 0-4.

This article represents the views of the author and does not represent the views or positions of the donor.