Education - Inspired Living SA

Children, Competitions, Education, Family

Pictures and Words Toddlers Book Giveaway

Learning to read is such an important milestone in your child’s life and as parents we need to provide the right tools for our children to do so! The Pictures and Words Toddlers Book is a perfect first reader for those chubby little hands. It is made from durable cardboard, is fun and colourful, with pictures and words that reflect our local culture.

I am pleased to announce that I am giving away 5 of these super cute Pictures and Words Toddlers Books!

What do you need to do to enter:~

Like Super Mom Blog’s Facebook Page.
Once you have completed all of the above steps leave a comment on this blog, below the post, stating that you have done so .
Please tweet about this fab giveaway to let you friends know – Fun for kiddies with Pictures and Words @supermomsablog ! Or post about it on Facebook!

Competition Details and Disclaimer:

The Pictures and Words Toddlers Book Giveaway will run from 23rd August 2012, until the 31st August 2012. The winner/s will then be randomly selected and announced on Super Mom Blog. The winner will also be notified via email that they have won.
The winner/s will each receive a Pictures and Words Cape Town Book valued at R100 each.
Please leave a comment on this blog, below the post, stating that you have completed the above; along with your details in the comment section below this post (please include your email address). If you do not complete this step your entry will not be valid.
Conditions of entry: Anyone may enter this giveaway but please advised that prizes will only be shipped within South Africa. The prize may not be exchanged for cash.
Any person/s who have won a competition on Super Mom Blog in the last 3 months are not eligible for entry.

Children, Education, Family, Lifestyle, Parenting, Parenting Advice, Websites

How safe is the internet for our children?

How Safe is the Internet

As a parent you would certainly not allow your child to hop on a train or bus unaccompanied and travel into unknown territory where they could encounter unsavoury characters and be exposed to potentially harmful situations. Then it may also be safe to assume that you would not allow your child to roam cyber space unsupervised? We cannot deny that computers and the internet have become part of our everyday lives but in the same breath we as parents need to be responsible for our children’s exposure to this technological world.

As a family we are quite computer or tech orientated but as with the monitoring of TV, it is our responsibility to ensure that our children are protected and aware of the potential dangers of exposing themselves to the digital world out there. I think that firstly you need to monitor the amount of time children spend on the computer and the internet, give them set parameters to adhere to and set consequences if these are not met. It is also important to encourage children to spend time outdoors, not just focused on a screen for hours on end! Most importantly, as with television, make sure that you have parental control software installed, on your home or child’s computer. Installing software like K9 Web Protection is essential and the best way to ensure your children are safe from potential online predators or exposure to unsuitable web content.

I feel that it is important to implement these measures early on, as soon as your children are computer literate. You will be amazed at how tech savvy children are, even from preschool age and just how easy it is to innocently stumble upon unsavoury content. In my mind the best policy is not to take any chances, install the necessary software and educate your children about the internet, as soon as they are old enough to understand. Making them aware of the fact that it is not safe to give out their personal details over the web.

According to stats from K9 Web Protection, one in four children have unwanted exposure to inappropriate pictures each year and nine of ten children aged 8-16 have viewed pornography on the Internet, often in the process of doing homework.

I also feel that exposure to Social networking sites, like Twitter and Facebook should be held off for as long as possible, young children are not mature enough to understand the potential threats that they may be exposed to by using these sites.

So most importantly, we as parents, need to beware of what our children are doing when it comes to internet and computer usage and keep the line of communication open at all times, so that they will feel free to ask questions at any time.

Source:©FAR Photography

Children, Education, Family, Featured Posts, Lifestyle, Websites

Mammabella

My Community Feature this week is somewhat different as it is more of a cyber-community feature. Both my husband and I are rather passionate about education, both in our immediate family enviroment and in the greater community around us. We are always on the lookout for new and innovative ideas and concepts, like the one that I am about to introduce to you.

The website is called Mammabella, which is a fun website developed out of the need to create both an interest and appreciation of the Afrikaans language. Afrikaans is spoken natively in South Africa and it is the third most spoken mother tongue in the country. Most English-speaking schools, in South Africa, require Afrikaans to be studied as a second language, which can be difficult for parents who do not speak the language themselves and are not able to assist their children. Mammabella could be instrumental in encouraging learners from a young age to enjoy learning this language.

Who Is The Person Behind Mammabella?

Kirsten Rossiter, is the creator of Mammabella, she is a home-schooling mom of 3, a musician, songwriter and graphic designer. “Mammabella is a true extension of who I am and what I do – I love music, language, art and teaching.”

Why Did You Create Mammabella?

Mammabella started off as a challenge…to encourage my children, to want to learn Afrikaans. I began by making up funny, catchy songs in the car, in the kitchen, in the bedroom…anywhere…to try and teach them a basic Afrikaans vocabulary, made up of day-to-day things. I have been very impressed and surprised by the impact these songs have had on my children, they have grown in confidence in their Afrikaans vocabulary and actually started showing an interest in learning the language. After this personal success I decided to make my music available to other families too. I hope that Mammabella helps spark an interest in other children and encourages them to learn Afrikaans and enjoy it!

Where Does The Name Mammabella Come From?

The name Mammabella is one that is very close to my heart. Princess, a special Malawian friend to my daughter, Bella, used to call me Mammabella, in other words Bella’s mother. I was never Kirsten to her, only Mammabella…and I fell in love both with her and the cute little name she gave me. Shortly after she moved back to Malawi, my ideas for this site began to form, and there seemed no better name than Mammabella as a way of remembering little Princess.

What Can You Hope To Find On The Mammabella Website?

The website offers fun, sing-along songs, catchy tunes and entertaining pictures that will take your children on an Afrikaans musical adventure and while at the same time giving them a foundation in basic Afrikaans vocabulary. A selection of modules are available on the website, along with registration details and costs. Mammabella is currently offering a free introductory module, so pop over to their website and start your Afrikaans Musical Adventure!

Each song that you purchase forms part of a module that includes the following:

To find out more about this fun and inspiring website click on over to Mammabella or email them on info@mammabella.co.za. You can also follow them on Twitter.

Images: Mammabella

Children, Education, Family, Mothers

Home Schooling – Is It For Me?

This is definitely something I have contemplated more than once over the past few years, especially as my girls have reached school going age. More often than not if you have a child with special learning requirements, a main stream school system, may not be able to provide adequate support for such a learner – making home-schooling a more attractive option.

Until in 1996 parents in South Africa had no other option other than sending their children to a school to be educated but in 1996 home education was made a legal alternative in South Africa.

To satisfy my curiosity as to why people home school and how they go about it, I decided to get a few moms to answer a few questions and shed some light on this ever popular topic.

The Person:

Who is the person behind the “teacher”? My first question to moms who home school was whether or not it is necessary to have any training as a teacher but the general consensus is not. Personally I think it would be benifical to have some training, however most of the moms that I interviewed come from a completely different background to teaching. The only other consideration is, legally you are not permitted to teach other people children.

What Motivates Moms To Home School?

Here the answers varied but generally it all comes down to wanting a certain type of lifestyle for you and your family. One which is more laid back and without the stresses and pressure that main stream schooling can place on a family. To quote one mom: “The lifestyle that was possible through home-schooling was the biggest reason for me. Having more time with my children as they grow and learn, having more choice over the quality and contents of their education and being able to custom-make it for each child so it gives them the best opportunity for learning and developing at their own pace and according to their own style.”

What are the benefits of Home-schooling?

The main benefit of home-schooling is the flexible environment that you can create around your “school” day. There are less time constraints on you as a mom and a teacher and you can structure your day as you see fit. Extra – murals can be done if and when it is convenient for everyone to do them. One mom said the benefits for her are: “a slower, more relaxed pace of life and more family time but also lots of freedom for the children and parents and the opportunity to encourage a love of learning and education in our children.” Children also become accustomed to house chores and are more involved in each aspect of running a household. You are also able to better protect your children from the abuse that bullies inflict but I guess that we all have to deal with this issue some time in our lives, we cannot protect our children forever.

How Do Moms Motivate their Children To Work?

I have always wondered how home-schooling moms are able to motivate both themselves and their children to get out of bed in the morning, never mind actually getting any work done. I guess the key to this is being disciplined and having some sort of structured routine to work from. I think when your children are younger, pre-school age, it is less important to have a set structure but it as children become older structure would become necessary. One mom explained that the Charlotte Manson Method is helpful when establishing a philosophy for your home-schooling work ethic. To quote from the “Charlotte Manson” website: “Her method, the Charlotte Mason method, is centred around the idea that education is three-pronged: Education is an Atmosphere, a Discipline, a Life.”

What does a typical Home-school day look like?

I know that my girls would want to spend their day drawing, painting, playing computer games or watching TV; I almost forgot they would have to fit reading in there as well. Maths would definitely not be top of the list of things to do but I guess you can incorporate it in to your day somehow – baking perhaps? For moms with younger learners the school day would consist of “art, games, reading” whereas older students would, according to one mom: “focus on the 3 R’s – reading, writing and arithmetic as well as Afrikaans. We also do lots of baking, loads of outdoor play, crafts and have extra murals in the afternoon.”

What curricula do moms use?

One of the curriculums I have come across in my research is: “Little Footprints” which is a South African home-school curriculum, consisting of child literature lesson plans that focus on South Africa. You explore the fascinating people, animals and places that make up our beautiful land.

For maths studies parents use “MathUSee” and “Letterland” for Phonics. If you are looking for a more spiritual or biblical approach, to you teaching, then ‘Tapestry of Grace”, could be one to consider.

There is also Clonard home education system, which provides general curricula from Grade R to Grade 9. From Grade 10-12 the options they recommend are: “British International Distance College, any other FET College or a High School.”

Some parents utilise outside tutors for certain subjects like languages i.e. Xhosa, Afrikaans or French. Most extramural activities are done outside the home i.e. dancing, playball, team sports etc.

Socialising Children:

This was always a concern for me, how do you socialise your children if they do not go to school. As far as I can tell as long as parents make the effort, by joining a network of homeschoolers, socialisation does not seem to be an issue. What one Mom said on socialisation: “I’m part of a home-schooling co-op; it’s a group of 6 families that get together once a week to do projects, outings, games and playtime. Each Mom gets a turn to host a day, and can use her unique strengths and skills to teach the children something fun and exciting that day.”

An article I read during my research stated that, generally by Grade 4 children become more sociable, becoming intrigued by the social environment of a school and may ask to try “school”. I know that my eldest daughter is in Grade 4 this year and she has become more aware of friendships and what they mean. A talk we had at the school recently however stated that most true bonds only happen around grade 6 or 7.

What advice can home-schooling moms give to others?

I am sure that there are many people out there who are contemplating home schooling for their children, so I asked some moms what advice they can give to others:

“Home education can offer children the most amazingly joyful childhood but it is scary especially at first – choosing a path that is different from what everyone else is doing. Once the decision is made, most families seem very happy. Initially parents will have to make an effort to meet other homeschoolers.”

“The first thing I would say is ‘fear not’! It is a daunting road, make no mistake. There are no clear ways of the ‘perfect’ way to do anything along this journey, as each child is different, each family and each Mother! … and you are faced with endless Curricula choices that can be very overwhelming. Also, what works one year, maybe doesn’t work the next year based on the ages and stages of the children. But what I am learning along this road, is to not compare to others, not try and do things the way you think you should, but to be in touch with God, yourself and your kids and to make choices that are both Spirit-lead, intuitive and informative.”

A local website that I came across could also be a helpful resource: “Home School Info South Africa” , if you are considering home-schooling.

A big thank you to those moms that took time out to answer my questions, it was both enlightening and encouraging reading, what you had to say – I hope it can be of help to others too. I think it takes a huge amount of courage and tenacity to undertake this endeavour!

Children, Education, Family, Young@Heart

How to Initiate Reading at an Early Age

I am excited to share an article with you, on early reading development by a guest writer Emily Patterson. Emily is currently working as a communications coordinator for Primrose Schools, providing written work to the blogosphere which highlights the importance, and some of the specific aspects, of a quality, early childhood, education. Through an accelerated Balanced LearningR curriculum,Primrose Schools students are exposed to a widely diverse range of subject matter giving them a much greater opportunity to develop mentally,physically and socially.

Submitted on behalf of Primrose Schools: day care services helping to develop active minds and happy hearts by Emily Patterson:

For decades, we have known that reading to a child and providing them with interactive experiences with books will have a profound impact on how they do in school later in life. There are different stages in which parents can start reading to their children, some starting even when the child is in the womb. The interaction is often much more fun and interesting to the child if you discuss the pictures in the book with exaggeration. It isn’t necessarily important to follow the story. Interaction should be your goal.

Reading to your child from an early age is crucial to raising an avid reader, even when they are already reading in school or preschool. However, you don’t want this time together to seem forced. One of America’s most trusted baby experts, Robert Needlman, M.D., author of Dr. Spock’s Baby Basics states that “There is no prescription for this. The only prescription is to allow some time each day that you can sit down, connect with your child, and read together. The main thing is to allow it to occur in a way that’s joyful, that conveys enjoyment to the child–from enjoyment, the rest will follow.”

Knowing how to choose the right books for your child is also important for retaining their attention. Ideally, the books will have frequent, distinct illustrations. The writing in the book should be rhythmic and simple. Choose something that you will like, along with your child, because you are more likely to be more enthusiastic about the reading. Your child will sense this and these books too. Children will also often like for the same books to be read repeatedly to them, so choosing something that isn’t going to annoy you is going to prove to be more productive for both you. When you are both enjoying a book, your child will naturally develop a love for literature, and watching this happen will make you do the same.

Here are some tips to help you with ensuring that your child loves to read:

-Start reading to your child at infancy, and as early as possible, encourage participation.
-Surround your child with books that are appropriate for their age. Remember, children like lots of bright illustrations, and simple language. Make sure they are of varying topics.
-Don’t forget how much time your child spends out of the house. Keep books available for long trips and for whenever your child needs to be entertained while waiting.
-Maintain a strong relationship with your child’s teacher. Ask for recommendations on books that the child can relate back to classroom.
-Allow older children to “read” to you aloud. They may not read the actual story, but they will usually go to the pictures and relate them to their own story. This is a very important stage in developing literacy. It means that the child is aware that books are meant to tell a story. Allow them to retell the story in whatever way is entertaining them at the moment, and encourage them. They are often very proud of being able to “read”.

Communication is the most important skill you will teach your child. Babies will come out of the womb fascinated with learning how to communicate and how language works. Along with singing and talking to your child, reading is the most important thing you can do to encourage this natural fascination. This will help them understand how written language works, instead of just spoken. This cognitive learning requires a healthy support system from an adult. Ensure that you are doing the best for your child’s development, and make reading together a part of your everyday life.

Thank you, Emily, for that helpful information, as parents we can all benefit from insights like these. We hope to hear more from you on early childhood development in the future!

(@epatt1062)