Introduction
The first five years of life are a time of extraordinary growth, physically, cognitively, and emotionally. During this period, children’s brains and bodies are especially sensitive to their environment: the food they eat, the care they receive, the chance to learn, to play, to be safe.
When these conditions are missing, when the foundation is shaky, the ripple effects last a lifetime.
Why Early Childhood matters
Research is clear: Children who are nurtured in supportive environments in their early years are far more likely to be healthy, emotionally secure, and developmentally on track, which increases their chances of thriving, learning effectively at school, and, ultimately, reaching their full potential.
That first window of life sets the foundation for everything that comes after.
The Challenge: What the Data Tell Us
In South Africa, the Thrive by Five Index found that only 42% of children enrolled in Early Learning Programs (ELPs) are developmentally on track in the Early Learning domain.
That means less than half of enrolled children have secured the foundational skills they need for a successful start to formal school.
Digging deeper:
Girls are doing better than boys across almost all domains (48% of girls are on track vs 37% of boys).
Children in higher-fee programs are roughly twice as likely to be on track as those in the lowest-fee programs.
Across key domains: just 29% are on track in Fine Motor & Visual Motor Integration; 33% in Early Numeracy & Mathematics; 40% in Cognition & Executive Functioning; 44% in Gross Motor; 53% in Emergent Literacy & Language.
Meanwhile, among children not enrolled in any early learning programs:
82% are unable to do basic tasks expected of a 4-year-old.
18% were moderately or severely stunted, a clear sign of deeper deprivation.
The report also makes it clear that children’s development is shaped not only by what happens in classrooms, but by the social and economic conditions surrounding their families and caregivers. The report shows a strong link between primary caregiver wellbeing and children’s learning and social-emotional outcomes. Children whose caregivers reported stronger social connectedness, lower stress, and better daily functioning were significantly more likely to be developmentally on track.
And the context: there are around 1.2 million 4-year-olds in the country; about 68% live below the upper-bound poverty line, and 37% below the food-poverty threshold. Many live in homes with little reading material (just 11% of early learning program households had more than five children’s books at home); many centers are under-resourced (in the lowest-fee programs, only 40% had adequate teaching materials, vs. 74% in the highest-fee programs).
This is not just about enrollment numbers. It’s about the quality of early childhood programs, and the deep inequalities that persist.
Breaking Down the Barriers
What underpins those numbers?
Home environments vary drastically: caregiver education, access to books and stimulating activities, father-involvement, and sleep routines all correlate with better outcomes. Household deprivation, such as unemployment, unreliable water access, and overcrowding, was associated with poorer early learning and social-emotional outcomes.
At the center level: Practitioners in many early learning programs cite “not enough equipment and play materials” as their primary barrier; many principals had no in-service training in 2023-24.
Nutrition and health matter: stunting isn’t just about height loss, it signals compromised brain and body development. Among enrolled children, 7% were moderately or severely stunted. But among non-enrolled, the risk is much higher.
Social-emotional skills count: 56% of children meet the standard for emotional readiness; 63% for social relations. These skills are strongly tied to learning outcomes, yet children in lower-fee early learning programs are less likely to reap their full benefit.
What Must Happen and How Donors Can Help
The evidence is crystal-clear:
We must align funding with the true cost of quality early learning: decent pay for practitioners, ongoing training, materials, and safe spaces.
We must resource non-profits and community partners who deliver the frontline work: nurturing home environments, training teachers, and reaching the most vulnerable children.
We must remove barriers to enrolment for children who are hardest to reach, and integrate early learning with health, nutrition, and caregiver support.
We must target the inequality gaps: boys, children in lowest-fee ELPs, and non-enrolled children, with programs designed to close the divide.
How Starfish is Making a Difference
Thanks to the generosity of our donors, Starfish is on the front line:
Investing in early-learning centers in high-need communities, ensuring they have the materials, teacher-training, and curriculum support they need.
Partnering with programs that provide meals, health screenings, and learning resources within preschools, recognizing that nutrition + learning go hand-in-hand.
Supporting caregiver and father-involvement programs, reading materials in homes, and storytelling activities, because we know that books at home can make a difference.
Monitoring and evaluating progress, so your donation is tied to real outcomes, to children moving from “falling behind” to “ready to learn”.
The Opportunity is Now
With only 42% of enrolled children on track, and even lower rates among non-enrolled children, we have a gap. But we also have a window of opportunity. The first five years are finite, the time to act is now.
When donors engage, they don’t just give money: they give children a chance at school readiness, at breaking the cycle of poverty, at a future where they can learn, grow and thrive.
Call to Action
Your support brings early learning, nutrition, and care to children who need it most. Your generosity will ensure far more children are on track, ready to learn, and positioned for a brighter future. Visit our website to learn more www.starfish-greathearts.org/our-work.
Source: Thrive by Five Index 2024, University of Cape Town: https://thrivebyfive.co.za/
More about the author:
Born in South Africa, Marlize Adair brings both professional expertise and a deep personal commitment to uplifting young children and families. She holds a Master's in Business Administration (MBA), an Advanced Certified Nonprofit Professional (ACNP) credential, and a bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood and Family Studies, grounding her work in child development, social-emotional learning, and nonprofit strategy.
At Starfish Greathearts Foundation, Marlize is the Director of Philanthropy and Communications and partners closely with the chapter CEO to lead philanthropy, donor engagement, and communications—connecting supporters to the life-changing impact of education, nutrition, and healthcare programs across South Africa. Marlize moved to the United States in 2004 and now lives in Seattle with her husband, Ian, and their son, Noah, while her extended family remains in South Africa.