“We all want to leave a better and safer world for our children and for future generations. This is a realistic goal that is achievable, provided that we stand up and get involved.”
So, you want to know what a typical day is like for a homeschooling family? That’s one of the best things about home education (also known as homeschooling) – there are no typical days! When educating your children at home, a “typical day” is as unique as each of the families choosing this education option.
And a unique curriculum, influenced by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, which encourages the holistic development of every learner towards their purposeful and impactful future
SACAP (the South African College of Applied Psychology) will be hosting a special parent morning at its Durban Campus on Saturday, 12October. Aimed at promoting family well-being, the theme of the event is ‘Resilient Parenting’ and the programme features Mom & Author, Gabi Lowe who will be giving a compelling, inspirational talk after the release of her memoir ‘Get Me to 21’. A tour de force when it comes to authentic resilience, the book rocketed to number 3 on the Exclusive Books Bestseller Chat within three weeks of its launch. In times of deep uncertainty and relentless change, resilience is one of the most important qualities we can nurture in our children, but not many of us know what this is and how to do it. Gabi Lowe’s experience of raising a beloved daughter, Jenna Lowe, who developed a rare lung condition and became a unique champion of organ donation in South Africa, has been at the harshest coal-face of resilient parenting. As a Life Coach, Gabi expertly makes the lessons she has learnt accessible and relatable for everyone no matter what situation they are facing. The SACAP ‘Resilient Parenting’ event also includes an important session with Psychologist, Elizabeth Campos whose work is focused on how young adults can increase their resilience through attitudes and skills to impact positively on academic, social and emotional functioning. Elizabeth helps parents understand their children’s behaviour as communication. She will present the steps that young people can take to improve their resilience and share practical advice for parents on how they can support their child’s journey. The SACAP ‘Resilient Parenting’ event will take place from 09h00 to 13h00 at the Durban Campus on the 5th Floor, 199-203 Peter Mokaba Road, Morningside on 12 of October 2019. Durban parents can RSVP online at https://www.sacap.edu.za/events/resilient-parenting/
Moms love it when their little ones come home from school buzzing with knowledge. Sometimes though, the activity isn’t inside their heads but on top! Head lice populations rise in summer, and girls with longer hair pick them up easier than boys.
‘All negative behaviours stem from fears rooted in negative self-belief. We cannot control the behavioural choices of others but we can do something to assist our children in making better friendship choices.’
Teenagers have different reasons for not wanting to go to camp anymore, from feeling like they have grown out of the annual excursion to wanting to invest time in things that interest them outside of camp.
Kindness is no easy task. In an attempt to facilitate their social and emotional development, we, as adults must stop thinking of the discomfort these discussions cause and become proactive in educating the youth. Peer socialization and valuing each other’s space. Children begin to form their gender identity around the age of three. Friendships between boys and girls are imperative in their social development. Girls inherently are more compliant and accepting during interactions, whereas boys are more active and physical. These relationships are valuable as they teach respect between the two genders and help form healthy attitudes towards each other. Children will encounter many challenging situations during their years at school. Teach your child phrases to use during unfavorable situations at school. Such as “I don’t like what you’re doing. Please stop. ” Perpetuating stereotypes and ideals of inequality Adults often unintentionally teach children gender stereotypes. Even teachers, at some point in their careers have told their class to “ask mum to pack your picnic lunch” or “get dad to fix your bike”. Stereotypes even appear at birthday rings when girls get pink cupcakes and boys get blue. Have a look through your son’s or daughter’s toy collection. Do their cars and dolls outweigh their gender-neutral toys? Teaching our little boys to “toughen up” and hide their feelings is no longer the approach to masculinity. Speak to them about what it means to be respectful and why it’s wrong to view others in preconceived ways. Be mindful of what you say. Our words leave lasting impressions on children. Model good behavior Children learn through mimicking the behavior of the adults around them. When we convey manners and use good coping skills, so to do our children. Avoid emotional reactions, explain your decisions and admit your mistakes. Our actions leave indelible marks on children, make sure the ones you chose to leave are positive ones. Foster Empathy Talk openly and honestly about feelings and how to identify them. Teach children that there are emotions other than “happy”, “sad” and “angry”. Children need to feel comfortable discussing things that bother them and to know that they can express themselves in a non-judgmental and safe environment. Reiterate that there is value in showing vulnerability and in communicating with those around them. Empathy is not a fixed trait and takes time to develop so ask questions and allow your child to open up to you from a young age. Stand up for friends As impressionable as our little kids are, they do have an understanding between right and wrong. Teaching them to discern between situations which constitute an emergency and situations which they can influence is a great starting point. We need to teach them how to be brave and defend their peers. During their early years, they can be taught to remove their friend from a situation and play elsewhere. Identify inappropriate behaviour and teach children problem solving skills and solutions to counter this behaviour. Help us to raise kind, compassionate, respectful and capable little human beings. They need our guidance and we need them to be confident, strong and proud. By Areeva Mahabir, Grade 00 Teacher at Crawford Village
The weather is getting warmer and it’s time to get outdoors. One of the most exciting outings is to gather the family for a picnic. You can picnic in your own garden or venture to some of the great picnic spots around South Africa. Here are some tips to have a fuss free picnic: 1. Pack light Make sure you pack smart and light. You never know how far you are going to need to walk to find the perfect spot. Picnic Baskets are great but can be clumsy if you are balancing a toddler on your hip as well. Backpacks make the best picnic bags. Don’t forget a good lightweight foldable picnic blanket try not weigh yourself down with heavy blankets that get damp and dirty. 2. Stay Hydrated Keep a bottle of frozen water in your bag in summer, this will slowly melt and keep the water cold. For something sweeter for the kids the new Miracle 360° Fruit infuser cup from Munchkin makes for a healthy choice. Add your child’s favourite fruit like strawberries, oranges, or blueberries into the fruit basket, twist it into the bottom, then fill the cup with water. The twist-on fruit extractor breaks up the fruit allowing it to infuse into the water and make a fun flavourful drink! Bye, bye juice and unhealthy cooldrinks! Hello, healthy flavoured water! Plus, your kids stay hydrated and clean (or at least cleaner!) while playing at parks and scenic areas. 3. Keep the hunger at bay When packing for a picnic, it seems like there are never enough bowls to accommodate all the different snacks everyone wants. Once again Munchkin have an answer Munchkin Love-a-Bowl comes in a set of four bowls with interchangeable lids, these come in handy when your little ones have not finished all the snacks and want to eat later. With all the tossing around in your picnic bag the lids need to be leak proof. Munchkin Love-a-Bowl are 100% guaranteed to be spill proof, leak proof and break- proof. Now that’s the kind of bowl I need on a picnic. 4. Keep the Insects away Flies and bees can be a pest on a picnic! Our top tip for this is take along your Camp Cot Mozzi net. It can come in handy if baby falls asleep in a pram or for just keeping those bugs off the food. 5. Snacks on the go If your kids enjoy food on the run, consider the Munchkin Deluxe Snack Catcher. It is designed to keep up with your toddler’s active lifestyle. This cleaver little bowl teaches self-feeding with a bit more dexterity and a lot less mess. It’s a multitasking bowl with soft flaps that are gentle enough for fingers to get through but sturdy enough to keep messes at bay (and insects out.) 6. No Stress Picnics with kids need not be a challenge so stick to what you know your kids like to eat and drink and don’t forget something special for Mom and Dad Picnics can be a cost-effective outing, so go out and enjoy a bonding time with your family. Don’t forget to enter the picnic hamper competition on the competition page. Thank you to Munchkin for generously donating our favourite products for the prize.
The moment I found out I was pregnant with my second child I was in tears. These were tears of a combination of emotions: joy, happiness, fulfilment and panic. My husband and I always wanted two children, but we didn’t expect them to be 18 months apart. I knew it was going to be tough and that nothing can fully prepare you for a new human in your life, but being thrown into the deep end, for me, was the best preparation.
Have you noticed that we may be bringing up a generation of young people who feel so entitled to gifts, devices and whatever they desire, that gratitude is becoming a lost art? How often do you feel uncomfortable in choosing gifts for yours or other’s children because you know that the more affordable, ‘little’ things may result in a forced ‘thank-you’, or worse, a temper tantrum?
We have become addicted to and slaves to our phones. Liberate yourself and your children from the chains of cellphone dictatorship.
Dené worked hard and obtained her National Senior Certificate through Impaq at the end of 2012. She got accepted to the University of Pretoria and started her BA Drama in 2013. Dené has passed her master’s degree in Drama and Film Studies from UP with distinction – with the feedback that she achieved the highest mark in the department’s history! She shares her advice to current and future Impaq learners, parents, guardians, and tutors:
parents have come to (unconsciously) rely on the buying of material gifts to let their children know that they love them while not fully understanding the negative implications of these well-meaning gestures.” She adds that joy in receiving material gifts and especially if the gifts are guilt-driven is most often short-lived and children are all too frequently left feeling confused, alone, miserable and frustrated and, in some cases, even a bit depressed. You see, it is not the receiving of many material gifts that they seek!
When your child turns 6 it usually means that it’s their last year in preschool. In a year, your child will need to start primary school, but how do you know that your child will cope with the formal demands of school? Or be able to function to his/her full potential? As a parent, you may have lots of questions about this new phase in your child’s life. You would want to know that your child is ready to start their learning journey. If your child is not ready, it could influence his/her academic performance.
The Treehouse is one of the largest LEGO Ideas sets yet released, and is a challenging build that features more than 3,000 parts and includes more sustainably manufactured bricks than any other set released to date: all 185 plants and leaves are made from sustainable materials sourced from sugarcane. This includes the treetop canopy, which has interchangeable sets of green summer leaf elements and yellow and brown autumn leaf elements.
In this day and age, people in general are becoming more and more aware of the impact that we are having on the environment. This doesn’t only mean doing things within your own home, but also being aware of what businesses are doing to slow down the damage. It is vitally important that pressure is put on any business that is not doing enough.
Bullying has been put on the radar this July, which is recognised as National Mental Illness Awareness Month, to highlight the need for greater public awareness and responsiveness given the high level of violence experienced at SA schools.
When you introduce the idea of camp to your children, the first reaction expected is of excitement, looking forward to making new friends, being away from home and new experiences. For some children, however, the idea of being away from home might be frightening and a cause of anxiety.
Imagine holding a big juicy orange in your hand. The fruit feels heavy and cool and you excitedly anticipate enjoying what it has ‘inside’. You know for sure that the orange, when squeezed, will only produce orange juice. You do not expect, nor will you receive, apple, pear or even grape juice, right? This is, of course because an orange only HAS orange juice inside to ‘give’.
Sometimes. Moms and Dads get so bogged down with the routines of the day that they forget to have fun with their children.
Home education (or homeschooling) helps learners prepare for the real world as homeschool learners learn the art of self-study. Ravon Venter, an Impaq alumnus, says that studying through Impaq helped him develop better self-discipline. He also credits Impaq with giving him the qualifications he needed to find a job he is passionate about.
I’ve had parents often come into the emergency room after their child has taken a tumble asking for a Tetanus vaccine, which is why I felt the need to write a post explaining what Tetanus is and why we need to vaccinate our kids. WHAT IS TETANUS? Tetanus is a disease commonly known as lockjaw. It is caused by the bacteria, Clostridium tetani and can be fatal. The toxin from the bacteria affects the nervous system and causes severe painful muscle spasms, which can interfere with the ability to breathe. Currently there is no cure for Tetanus and treatment is mainly symptomatic until the effects of the toxin wear off. Complete recovery can take up to several months. WHERE IS THE BACTERIA FOUND? Clostridial spores can be found everywhere. They are found in soil, dust and animal faeces (including humans). Once the spores enter a wound they grow into mature bacteria, which produce the powerful toxin. Clostridium tetani is found worldwide. WHAT ARE THE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF TETANUS? Signs and symptoms of tetanus can appear anytime from a few days to a few weeks from infection: Spasms and stiffness of jaw muscles (hence the name lockjaw); Spasms and stiffness of the neck muscles; Difficulty swallowing; Spasms and stiffness of other body muscles, commonly the abdominal muscles; Other constitutional symptoms such as fever, sweating and palpitations. TETANUS VACCINATION I won’t go into too much detail regarding the various combination vaccines as there are many and every country has its own recommendations. A copy of the latest South African immunisation schedule can be downloaded from my resources page. The WHO recommends an initial 6-dose schedule to achieve tetanus immunity. 1. Primary vaccination Three primary doses of the vaccine are recommended in childhood starting from 6 weeks. 2. Booster vaccination Three booster doses are recommended prior to adolescence. Booster vaccines are then recommended every 10 years thereafter. TETANUS-PRONE WOUND This is any wound that has been contaminated with material that could contain tetanus spores; This is any wound that is deep; This is any wound that is dirty; This is any wound that contains a foreign body. Note: any wound can be tetanus-prone – cuts, scrapes, burns, animal (including human) and insect bites. WHEN TO SEE A DOCTOR It is recommended you see a doctor if: Your child has a tetanus-prone wound and has not had a booster vaccine in the last 5 years; Your child has a minor, clean wound and has not had a booster vaccine in the last 10 years; Your child has a wound and you cannot remember when their last booster vaccine was. RESOURCES CDC (2018) Tetanus. [online]. Available from: https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/tetanus.html#contraindications [Accessed 30 August 2018]. WHO (2018) Tetanus vaccines: WHO position paper, February 2017 – Recommendations. Vaccine. [online] 36 (25). Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.vaccine.2017.02.034 [Accessed 30 August 2018]. WHO (2018) Tetanus. [online]. http://www.who.int/ith/vaccines/tetanus/en/ [Accessed 30 August 2018].
How do we create the next generation of innovative artists? Through all our amazing art teachers across the globe! It’s not easy being a kid today; facing chunks of homework and a seemingly never-ending quest for achievement, it appears to be harder being a kid than a CEO of a large corporate company. It’s even harder for creative children; to discover and nurture their talent with different social pressures and numerous inconsistent daily requirements. Listed below are 3 key qualities every art teacher should have. Cultivating these principles assists our aspiring Picassos, aka your students, in finding their role in the creative world and how to play it. Curiosity Curiosity builds a desire for a greater understanding and learning more. Besides innovating your student’s creative talent by gaining more intel, curiosity develops awareness and attention to detail for their craft. It is of utmost importance to motivate them to consistently ask questions and to dig deeper. This fosters growth and matures their expertise. Passion Tony Wagner, a Senior Research Fellow at the Learning Policy Institute, states that one of the key principles to strengthen a student’s innovative framework, is the passion passed from the teacher to student. Wagner further explains how the best teachers always support what the student’s natural passion is, and make an effort to connect what needs to be learnt to satisfy the passion. This creates a sense of purpose with their craft and longing to better themselves. Purpose Having a purpose is imperative for any human being. Great art teachers know the importance of creating art that will add value to the world, rather than creating for the sake of creating. When students pick up this sentiment, it develops their creative problem-solving skills. Finding solutions is more urgent and pushes the student to take greater risks and look for new ways of solving challenging issues to fulfil their purpose. With these 3 principles implemented into your art class, who knows, you could be grooming the next Da Vinci.
Of all the important learning activities we can do with young children, reading probably trumps the rest. The importance of elementary literacy skill development has been well documented. In reality, early literacy influences every aspect of learning and thinking. As the organization, ProLiteracy states, “Every important social issue is impacted by low literacy.” Decades of research shows the direct correlation between early literacy skills and long term student success. Shockingly it is said that “students not reading well in third grade are four times more likely to drop out” (Students First, Statistics about Education in America). In most curricula, children learn to read and receive reading instruction in the foundation phase. Hereafter they are expected to read to learn. Therefore, it is imperative that children be afforded every possible support to ensure early reading success.
Many parents make the mistake of assuming that a reward system involves extravagant items. There are rewards that are effective and will cost you nothing.
Facing the death of a loved one can be a monumentally difficult emotional hurdle to overcome. Tragedy and grief have a way of seeping into every aspect of your life. Your favorite tv show can remind you of the loved one who passed away. Your favorite food reminds you of the meals you shared with the recently deceased. A hobby you once enjoyed can be a chilling reminder of the loved one who is no longer with you. The heartache you feel will lessen over time. The old adage, ‘Time heals all wounds’ holds truth. Unfortunately, you cannot drop all of your responsibilities and obligations. First and foremost, your responsibility to take care of your child. You are still a parent and must navigate the already complicated journey of parenting while dealing with grief. Even if the grief you are experiencing is debilitating you still must provide for your children. You cannot check out.
There are numerous benefits linked to having a family dogas a pet and teaching kids how to take care of dogs. Young children can learn valuable life lessons when they are taught from an early age how to take care of an animal: 1. Responsibility Younger children can help by participating in feeding, exercise, playing, grooming and showing affection. 2. Trust Pets make trusted companions for children and this could be the first step towards teaching your child how to build relationships. 3. Compassion Caring for an animal entails showing understanding, compassion and empathy, all valuable lessons on how to take care of others’ and their basic needs. 4. Bereavement When a family pet passes away your child will experience the pain of losing a beloved pet, but it also teaches them how to cope during the bereavement phase. 5. Respect Children learn how to have respectfor others by learning how to touch a pet gently, learning not to disturb them while eating or sleeping and tending to their daily needs. 6. Self-esteem Dogs love you unconditionally and this can have an immense effect on a child’s self-esteem accompanied with the satisfaction of sharing responsibility of taking care of an animal’s needs. 7. Loyalty There is no match for a pet’s loyalty and in turn the child learns how to have loyalty towards their furry friend 8. Physical activity Taking the dog out for a walk and playing with themenables a child to be more physically active than a child without a dog. 9. Patience It takes time to bond with a new pet and through this the child learns to have patience. 10. Social skills Taking a dog out for a walk and interacting with other pet-lovers can be a wonderful ice-breaker and improve your child’s social skills. How do you know the time is right for teaching kids about dogs? Younger children can not be expected to take care of a family pet without assistance, especially children under the age of five years old. They can help of course, but most of the caring will be done by you. Young children are often too rough and doesn’t really understand yet how to handle a pet gently and they may end up injuring the dog and become injured themselves when the pet reacts. Children from the age of 3-4 years old must be monitored when spending time with a pet and even children under the age of ten must not be expected to take care of a pet on their own. When an older child expresses the need for a pet, it is the perfect opportunity to discuss the responsibility of taking care of a pet as well as setting up expectations before the time about what their pet-care responsibilities is going to be. When you do decide to get a pet, make sure you include your child in the process of getting a dog and let them help with choosing the right pet for your household. Tips on how to teach your child to interact responsibly and safely with their dog companions: Introducing the puppy to the child When a new puppy is brought into the home it is essential to teach a child about the rule of “no touch, no talk, no eye contact”. The introduction between the child and the puppy must be suspended until the child’s excitement has blown over and he is in a calm state of mind and capable of focusing on adult instruction. Avoid allowing the child to make the first move. Ensure that your child’s energy levels are stable and keep an eye on the puppy’s reactions. Once you are happy that the situation is under control and safe, you can teach your child how to show affection. Playtime Ground rules must be set for off-limits playing for example, the child must understand that its not ok to pull the puppy’s tail or ears. Be vigilant for signs of rough play and immediately correct the child or redirect his energy when the need calls for it. Always keep an eye on the body language of the puppy and step in when you think the puppy had enough playtime. Never leave a young child without supervision with a puppy. Cleanliness and health issues Children are more susceptible to pet-related illnesses than us grown-ups. Here are a few tips that can help keep your child healthy: Make sure the puppy has regular visits to the Vet. Teach your child to wash his hands thoroughly before and after playing with the puppy. Avoid playtime near areas where the puppy relieves himself. Dog excrement must be picked up and disposed of regularly. Other safety tips relating to dog interaction Children should never approach unfamiliar dogs. Not all dogs are used to young children, therefore it’s better to practice caution beforehand. Dogs that are restrained or behind fences are often more likely to attack. Children should be taught that it’s never ok to tease or reach for a dog that seems harmless because they are “out of reach”. Children should not approach a stray dog without adult supervision. The right way is to call an adult to assist with a dog that looks injured or lost. Teach your child the right body-language for child-dog interaction: Teach them how to be calm, allowing the dog to approach first. They should never back a dog into a corner. When they are touching the dog, they must stroke under the chin or on the cheek. Discourage young children from trying to hold a dog. An innocent hug may be perceived as a threat. Dogs have sensitive hearing and an unexpected squeal from your little one may overwhelm them or startle them. A soothing voice will make the dog feel at ease and allow you child to have a calm mindset. Be on the look-out for signals that the dog is displaying that his had enough of play. Look for pacing, flattening of the ears, tucking their tails, retreating, bearing teeth, growling
It occurred to me the day I went back to work after my maternity leave that I didn’t know any other emergency number besides 10111. Thankfully I have never had to use this but I couldn’t risk leaving my daughter at home with her caregiver without leaving a more comprehensive list of important numbers by the phone. The last thing you want to do in an emergency is dial the wrong number. In the US, the UK and Europe there is only one toll-free number to call from any landline or mobile phone. In South Africa, things are not as simple. Unfortunately there isn’t one single number for an emergency. I spent a really long time searching the web and making a couple of phone calls but I finally managed to put together this simple list. It is vital that you as parents and/or caregivers know what number to dial when and it is perhaps even more important that your little ones know this too. USING YOUR CELL PHONE: Any emergency nationwide – 112 (this number will still work even if you have no airtime) USING YOUR LANDLINE OR CELL PHONE: Police/Fire – 10111 Nationwide ambulance (public EMS) – 10177 Netcare 911 (private EMS) – 082 911 ER 24 (private EMS) – 084 124 Poison Information Centre – 0861 555 777 Remember, before making that emergency call, try to stay calm. You also need to have important information ready such as, the type of emergency, details of any injuries and the exact location of the emergency needing attention. A list of Emergency Numbers can be downloaded for free from my resources page. It may be a good idea to stick this on your fridge or somewhere nearby the phone.
Lifting students learning in a school is a collaborative effort. It requires team effort, both at school and at home. It has become evident that with the current economic demands, parents find themselves overcommitted, not by choice, but the need to provide for their families. Hence, social growth is neglected and thus the school environment becomes the essential feeder of the curious minds.
