Cape Town - Premature babies at Tygerberg Children’s Hospital, some weighing less than 1kg, are being read to by their mothers to stimulate their brains and create a bond between them.
Initiated by a neonatologist at the hospital, Miemie du Preez, the project will soon be rolled out to include children and teenagers.
“As premature babies have had less time in the womb, they need to hear the sound of their mother’s voice. Reading nursery rhymes has been proven to stimulate the baby’s brain. If a parent reads to a baby, the brain lights up,” Du Preez said.
A study has shown that premature babies who are read to for at least 15 minutes a day, three times a week, have better neurological outcomes.
“You’re literally growing their brains by reading to them,” Du Preez said.
Each mother is given a booklet of lullabies and nursery rhymes, which is available in English, Xhosa, Afrikaans and other languages. The booklet is marked with the footprint and handprint of their baby.
Mfuleni mother Ncumisa Mzinjani says it’s been a rewarding experience for both her and her baby boy, Indiphile. “He knows it’s me. He recognises my voice. It’s calming and he enjoys the rhythm. I can feel that he loves it. It makes me happy, too. I want to do the best for my baby and help him to grow up well,” Mzinjani said.
Mzinjani said she would continue reading to Indiphile, who has grown from a fragile 750g to a much stronger nearly 1.2kg over six weeks.
The library at the Tygerberg Children’s Hospital school is also opening its doors so that all children, including those who are outpatients at the hospital, can start to experience the fun and joy of reading.
A shared reading experience from a young age is one of the strongest predictors of a child’s academic success, Du Preez said.
“Reading can make a big difference in literacy and success at school. We can’t do without it. In South Africa, 51 percent of Grade 1 children in South Africa don’t have a single recreational book at home. We desperately need to get children to read.
“If we can spread the benefits of shared reading, it could change the educational outcome in South Africa.”
Medical students from Stellenbosch University, together with nurses and volunteers, will take the mothers and children to the library on the hospital grounds, and will be able to demonstrate shared reading to the mothers.
The project has the backing of the Tygerberg Children’s Hospital Trust, which raises funds to support the care of more than 16 000 babies and children who are admitted to the hospital every year.
Cape Times