Shared by his parents, Sakinah Adams-Davids & Danyaal Davids
Ilyaas thrived at Mindstretch, sharing his many talents and warm personality with all of us. We’re grateful to his parents for their close partnership and dedication to fostering his learning at home, helping Ilyaas achieve his very best.
Early Concerns
Our son Ilyaas was not speaking at three and a half years of age. His vocabulary was limited to fewer than ten words. As parents, we were very concerned about his delayed speech. By contrast, our daughter was singing at 11 months old, and though we did not want to draw comparisons, it was the only point of reference we had.
Our journey has shown us that no one will know and understand your child better than you do as parents. Our story shows that, with the support of family, educators, and relevant therapy, it truly is possible to overcome certain learning challenges.
Seeking the Right Support
Ilyaas began school at age four, but we didn’t see any improvement. Over time, it became apparent that his language and speech skills were not developing.
We began searching for schools that could accommodate Ilyaas’s speech delay, but it was difficult as schools mainly fell into two primary categories: mainstream and special needs. However, special needs schools had long waiting lists and several hurdles to cross before securing a place.
Discovering Mindstretch School
Then we found Mindstretch School in Pinelands, Cape Town. We were able to attend and observe the children in teacher Kellie-Jane’s class. Within five minutes of having arrived we knew that it would be the perfect school for Ilyaas.
What struck us most about Mindstretch was the love and patience that the dedicated educators show the learners and it was a relief to know that Ilyaas would get the support he needed from his teachers, and from the Mindstretch team as a whole.
“What struck us most was the love and patience the dedicated educators show the learners.”
A Partnership in Learning
And so Ilyaas’s journey at Mindstretch began on September 18, 2023.
We firmly believe that no challenge is insurmountable, but it takes faith, a fair amount of grit and determination, and most importantly, collaboration to overcome these challenges.
The expectation that a school can solve challenges that a learner faces is a heavy burden to put on any school. As parents, we approached Ilyaas’s learning challenges with a collaborative effort between us as parents and the educators — at first Jennifer and Kellie-Jane, supported by Noda and Bongi; and then Pam, supported by Talent.
We also started a daily homework regime ranging from 5 to 25 minutes, depending on the particular day and Ilyaas’s energy levels. While it was hard as full-time working parents to manage homework, we found that feedback from Ilyaas’s teachers, along with his speech therapist Marina, let us implement the learnings from the classroom and replicate similar exercises at home. This has been key to Ilyaas’s success.
In addition, his IEDP (Individual Education and Development Plan) detailed the areas for improvement and served as a great guide on how we could equip him to overcome any weaknesses.
“We approached Ilyaas’s learning challenges with a collaborative effort between us parents and the teachers.”
Progress and Transformation
Our boy who previously said no more than a few words (mainly to us parents), has increased dramatically in his vocabulary to include most words. His pronunciation has also improved.
As Ilyaas improved in his language and speech, we discovered that he has a great aptitude for mathematics and that he has an extremely funny side as well. We were astounded to see the high level of emotional intelligence that he displays towards his family and friends.
With the improvement in his communication skills, Ilyaas’s confidence grew, and he has built up so many friendships at school and beyond. He’s the first to strike up a conversation wherever we go.
A Bright Future
We’re so grateful for the opportunity that Mindstretch gave us by accepting Ilyaas late in the year and allowing him to seamlessly transition from his former school.
Mindstretch has forever changed Ilyaas’s life for the better. We’re astounded by the progress he’s made, which has far exceeded our every expectation.
The most critical part of Iyaas’s journey and his ultimate success has been the collaboration between us and the Mindstretch team.
As Ilyaas continues with his final term at Mindstretch, before he embarks on a new chapter at Growing Minds in January 2026, we find it hard to truly express our depth of gratitude for the many ways in which Mindstretch has changed his life. While it may seem that this is a simple business relationship, there are so few schools that offer the personalised approach to helping your child overcome the challenges that Mindstretch does.
“We’re astounded by the progress Ilyaas has made, which far exceeded our every expectation.”
Celebrating Ilyaas and Mindstretch
Ilyaas is the happiest seven-year old boy who believes that he will grow up to become a superhero who will drive an Audi sportscar with rocket boosters. Please take a moment to celebrate both Ilyaas and Mindstretch and the collaborative efforts that have got us to such an amazing milestone.
Thank you Mindstretch!
Tailored Learning Works Wonders at Mindstretch
Mindstretch admits children from age 2.5 years. We individualise tuition to overcome a child’s specific barriers to learning, while building up a child’s inherent strengths. Contact Us for more information.
See our article Speech and Language in Early Childhood Development to learn more about this important subject critical in learning and life.
The 'Mindstretch Way' moves from labelling to enabling. We help children reach their potential. Ilyaas thrived at Mindstretch. Your child can too!
