Wakwetsima's developmental record is ready. Start by tracking a few skills or logging an observation, and the growth picture will build here over time.
How to grow these skills — activities for this child
A balanced starter set across all six domains for this age — begin here, then assess. Every activity uses low-cost materials and shows how to make it easier or harder.
Calm Corner
Social & Emotional
Grows: Self-regulation and calming down safely instead of melting down or lashing out
You need: A quiet nook with a cushion or grass mat, one soft toy, a feelings picture. Very low cost.
How to do it ↓
Set aside a small, soft, low-stimulation corner away from busy play.
Introduce it calmly as a nice place to rest, never as punishment.
Teach one calming action there: hug the toy, or 'smell the flower, blow the candle' breathing.
Let children choose to go there and welcome them back gently when ready.
Watch for: Child begins to take themselves to the corner when overwhelmed and returns calmer, with fewer long tantrums over time.
Make it easier
Walk with the child to the corner and breathe with them until settled.
Extend it
Ask the child afterwards to say what upset them and what they could try next time.
Greetings in Our Languages
Identity & Belonging
Grows: Respect for the different home languages in the room and cultural belonging
You need: None. Free.
How to do it ↓
Each morning greet the class in one South African language.
Teach 'hello' and 'how are you' in isiZulu, Xitsonga and siSwati.
Ask children which language they speak at home and honour each one.
Rotate who chooses the greeting language each day.
Watch for: Child greets in more than one language and shows curiosity about others' languages.
Make it easier
Focus on just one word (Sawubona / Avuxeni) and repeat it daily.
Extend it
Let children teach the class a word or song from their own home.
Sound of the Day / I-Spy Sounds
Communication
Grows: Phonological awareness moving toward initial letter sounds
You need: Everyday objects, a basket. Free.
How to do it ↓
Choose a sound of the day (e.g. 'mmm').
Say words that start with it and stretch the first sound.
Play I-spy: 'I spy something starting with mmm' (mat, milk).
Let children find objects that begin with the sound.
Watch for: Child hears the first sound in words and offers matching words.
Make it easier
Use very different sounds and hold up the object as a clue.
Extend it
Ask for the last sound too, or the sound in the middle.
Homemade Playdough Modelling
Creativity
Grows: 3D making, imagination and fine-motor strength
You need: Homemade dough: flour, salt, water, a little oil (colour with beetroot/spinach/ash). Very low cost.
How to do it ↓
Make dough together: 2 cups flour, 1 cup salt, water, a spoon of oil.
Let children squeeze, roll, pinch and flatten it.
Invite them to make anything they like.
Talk about what they made - never correct it.
Watch for: Child manipulates the dough with growing control and invents their own creations.
Make it easier
Focus on squeezing and poking; let them explore with no product expected.
Extend it
Suggest a challenge (make an animal, make a snake longer than your arm).
Plant a Seed Garden
Physical
Grows: Living world knowledge, life cycles, responsibility and observation over time
You need: Beans/seeds, soil, old tins/containers or a small patch, water. Very low cost.
How to do it ↓
Plant fast-growing seeds (beans) in tins or a garden patch.
Give each child a plant to water and watch.
Check and talk about changes every few days.
Draw the plant as it grows and measure it.
Watch for: Child cares for the plant, notices growth changes and talks about what plants need.
Make it easier
Grow one class plant everyone watches together.
Extend it
Keep a growth chart, compare plants in sun vs shade, and predict what happens.
Shape Hunt
Thinking & Reasoning
Grows: Recognising and naming 2D shapes in the real world
You need: The room, yard and objects around; shapes cut from cardboard. Free.
How to do it ↓
Show and name circle, square, triangle cut from cardboard.
Go on a hunt: the clock is a circle, the window a square.
Let children find and name shapes around them.
Sort found objects by their shape.
Watch for: Child names basic shapes and spots them in everyday objects.
Make it easier
Hunt for one shape at a time, holding the card as a guide.
Extend it
Add rectangle and oval, and ask how a square and rectangle are different.
Development across the six domains
Social & Emotional
0%
0 achieved · 0 emerging · 0 need support · 7 not yet assessed
Track 7 skills ↓
Identifies and talks about their own feelings and manages emotions with support CAPS LS Personal & Social Well-being Gr R
Shows respect, care and good manners toward others CAPS LS Personal & Social Well-being Gr R
Follows classroom rules and routines and takes turns CAPS LS Personal & Social Well-being Gr R
Works and plays cooperatively in pairs and groups CAPS LS Personal & Social Well-being Gr R
Understands personal safety: good and bad touch, saying no and telling a trusted adult CAPS LS Personal & Social Well-being Gr R
Shows growing independence and responsibility for own belongings and tasks CAPS LS Personal & Social Well-being Gr R
Shows resilience: copes with mistakes and keeps trying CAPS LS Personal & Social Well-being Gr R; ELDA1 Aim5
Identity & Belonging
0%
0 achieved · 0 emerging · 0 need support · 6 not yet assessed
Track 6 skills ↓
States personal details: full name, age, family members and where they live CAPS LS Beginning Knowledge Gr R
Describes their own body, likes and dislikes and abilities CAPS LS Beginning Knowledge Gr R
Talks about their own family, home and roles in the community CAPS LS Beginning Knowledge Gr R
Shows respect for their own and others' cultures, religions and traditions CAPS LS Beginning Knowledge/PSWB Gr R
Shows a positive self-concept and confidence in the new school setting CAPS LS Personal & Social Well-being Gr R
Takes responsibility within the classroom community (class jobs, helping) CAPS LS Personal & Social Well-being Gr R
Communication
0%
0 achieved · 0 emerging · 0 need support · 8 not yet assessed
Track 8 skills ↓
Listens to and responds to stories, instructions and questions with understanding CAPS Home Language Listening & Speaking Gr R
Speaks clearly in full sentences and takes part in discussions and news telling CAPS Home Language Listening & Speaking Gr R
Develops phonemic awareness: hears rhymes, claps syllables and identifies initial sounds in words CAPS Home Language Phonics Gr R
Handles books correctly and knows that print carries meaning (concepts of print) CAPS Home Language Reading & Viewing Gr R
'Reads' pictures and environmental print and predicts and retells a story CAPS Home Language Reading & Viewing Gr R
Recognises and writes their own name CAPS Home Language Writing Gr R
Forms pre-writing patterns and some letters with correct grip (emergent writing) CAPS Home Language Handwriting Gr R
Recognises some letter-sound relationships CAPS Home Language Phonics Gr R
Creativity
0%
0 achieved · 0 emerging · 0 need support · 6 not yet assessed
Track 6 skills ↓
Creates 2D and 3D artworks using drawing, painting, cutting, pasting and modelling CAPS LS Creative Arts Gr R
Uses a variety of art tools and materials with increasing control CAPS LS Creative Arts Gr R
Sings songs and plays simple percussion instruments in a group CAPS LS Creative Arts Gr R
Moves and dances expressively to music, rhythm and tempo CAPS LS Creative Arts Gr R
Participates in make-believe and dramatic play, taking on roles CAPS LS Creative Arts Gr R
Talks about their own and others' creative work CAPS LS Creative Arts Gr R
Physical
0%
0 achieved · 0 emerging · 0 need support · 8 not yet assessed
Track 8 skills ↓
Performs locomotor skills: walking, running, hopping, crawling and jumping CAPS LS Physical Education Gr R
Performs climbing activities on safe apparatus CAPS LS Physical Education Gr R
Balances while carrying and holding light objects and walking CAPS LS Physical Education Gr R
Throws and catches with apparatus CAPS LS Physical Education Gr R
Plays action games and traditional/indigenous games with equipment CAPS LS Physical Education Gr R
Shows spatial awareness and identifies body parts through movement CAPS LS Physical Education Gr R
Practises healthy and safe habits: handwashing, healthy eating and personal/road safety CAPS LS Personal & Social Well-being Gr R
Shows fine-motor control for pre-writing: correct pencil grip, cutting, threading and drawing CAPS Home Language Handwriting Gr R
Thinking & Reasoning
0%
0 achieved · 0 emerging · 0 need support · 10 not yet assessed
Track 10 skills ↓
Estimates and counts to at least 10 everyday objects reliably CAPS Maths Gr R 1.1
Counts forwards and backwards in ones from 1 to 10 using number rhymes and songs CAPS Maths Gr R 1.2
Recognises, identifies and reads number symbols and number names 1 to 10 CAPS Maths Gr R 1.3
Describes, compares and orders collections of objects up to 10 (more than, less than, equal to, most, least) CAPS Maths Gr R 1.4
Uses ordinal numbers to show position: first to sixth and last CAPS Maths Gr R 1.4
Solves and explains word problems (addition, subtraction and equal sharing) with answers up to 10 using counters CAPS Maths Gr R 1.6-1.9
Copies, extends and creates simple patterns and names 2D shapes and 3D objects CAPS Maths Gr R Patterns; Space & Shape
Describes position and compares length, mass, capacity and time using non-standard units CAPS Maths Gr R Measurement
Collects and sorts physical objects and answers questions about the data CAPS Maths Gr R Data Handling
Explores the natural and social world through Beginning Knowledge themes (my body, family, animals, weather, water) CAPS LS Beginning Knowledge Gr R
Developmental observations
No observations yet. Log the first one below — these build the child's developmental story.
