Anxious To Go To School

06

Schools have been open for about a month now and most children would have settled in in their new class.  But, for the more anxious child and/or parent, this might not be as easy and your child might still cry and cling on to you. We can’t and shouldn’t avoid everything that makes them a bit anxious, but the morning drop-off can break your heart if you don’t know what to do about it. The best first step is to determine where the anxiousness comes from. This way you can address it better.

Feb

A Teacher's New Year's Resolution

14

As a teacher, you will have to fulfil several different roles at school, one of which could be that of a career counsellor. Although this is not what you studied, the influence that you can have on a child’s career path should never be underestimated. The good news is that you can give this informal guidance without putting extra time out for it. Try out some of the ways with which you can help your students discover career paths: Be passionate about the children and your subject and explain

Jan

My Child With Diabetes Is Going To School

12

Managing diabetes If you are a parent who has a child with diabetes, you know that this condition has to be managed 24/7. Children play and forget to check sugar levels, they are tempted to eat something they shouldn’t in social situations and they are in fact, just kids. So even if they are educated and trained around their condition and managing it, they will always need the support of the adults around them. These tips can help you make sure that they have the support they need: At

Nov

Diabetes In My Classroom – Tips For Teachers

01

Educate yourself As soon as you find out that there is a child with diabetes in your classroom, you should educate yourself around this. This could mean that you talk to the parents, talk to a healthcare practitioner and/or do your own research. You should find out which type of diabetes the child has and read up on that to make sure that you know what is happening with the child in front of you and what you can do to help them manage the condition. www.KidsHealth.org defines diabetes as

Nov

Is Your Child School Ready?

14

Grade R or Grade 0 Different schools might refer to the year before Grade 1 as either Grade R or Grade 0. This is the year in which your child is Received into the world of more formal education. They prepare for Grade 1, but should still be very focused on sensory input and play. They should create excitement about “big school” and learning and lay a solid foundation for reading and writing by developing the foundation skills. If the foundation is strong, there should be no reason why your

Sep

Spanking Your Child

21

Children need boundaries and rules, this makes them feel safe. Carrying the consequences for unacceptable behaviour is also something that can contribute positively to their development if the consequences are consistent and appropriate. With the new laws against physical punishment, the appropriateness of physical punishment was high lighted once again. Physical punishment includes anything that causes physical pain, for example, spanking, slapping, pinching or even putting pepper in a

Jun

Mid-year Report Cards & What To Do With Them

19

It’s that time of the year! After the big mid-year exams your child will receive a mid-year report card. In recent years, schools have started to assess children differently. They don’t just focus on recalling information, but also on interpreting and applying the information. There might be theoretical and practical components to the assessment. That is why it’s important to understand the way they will assess your child even before exams start. This is what you should do with the mid-year

Jun

My Child Is An Introvert

23

What does it mean to be an introvert? We often think that you are either an introvert or an extrovert, but it’s more likely that you are somewhere in between. An introvert could have a need for alone time, a slower social calendar and usually loves introspection. Turning inward provides comfort and energises them. It would thus depend on where on the continuum you lie, how much of the above you will need. Is there a difference between a shy and an introverted child? To describe every shy

May

Boosting Reading Confidence

16

Reading can open doors, thoughts, and imagination, making it a very important skill to master. The way our school system and most assessments are structured also makes reading very important for scholastic performance. It is no wonder then that parents and teachers are so focused on reading skills. One of the things that are often not given enough attention, is reading confidence. People and children tend to have confidence in the things that they know they are good at. The confidence leads

May

Teenager Safety Over The Holidays

22

With small children we hold their hand, we go everywhere with them, we make sure they sleep when they should and that they are buckled up when we drive. Your teenager, however, might have a social schedule of their own over the holidays. Although it’s natural to become more independent, there are a few things that you could do to ensure their safety. Always know where your kids are, who they will visit, how they will get there, what time they plan to be back et cetera. Know your child’s

Mar

Schoolwork & Holidays

15

Parents often ask: “How can I keep my child focused on their school work during the holidays?” And I always tell them the same thing: “You shouldn’t!” Our children need a break, they need to rest, they need to play and they need to be bored. Think about the way you look forward to your leave and the downtime you plan for yourself. Developmental specialist will all tell you that play is serious learning and your child can acquire all the skills they need for scholastic success through play

Mar

Darling, you have changed!

08

If you asked me to describe myself 6 years ago, I would’ve definitely used words like “organised” and “neat”. I loved things to be perfect and in the right place. Our house would’ve been presentable at any time of the day or night and my family knew this about me. A few weeks ago my mom came through to our house one morning to meet me for an appointment that we had together. I knew she would arrive while I was still dropping of the kids of at school so I left her a key. When I got home she

Mar

Co-sleeping

22

The sticker When I woke up this morning next to my little girl she was already half awake looking at me. Suddenly she sat up. 2.5 year old: Morning mommy, I’m going to give you a sticker! (huge smile on her face) Me: Thanks my darling. (holding out my hand to receive the make-believe sticker) 2.5 year old: I don’t have a sticker in the bed mom, I’m going to give you one in the kitchen. Okay, so obviously she wants to give me a real sticker! I must’ve done something right… Me: Why am I

Feb

Extra Murals, Important Or Not?

08

Schools are often known for their achievements on the sports field or in the area of the arts and culture. Some parents even place their child in a specific school because of that school’s reputation in a specific area. This while other parents wonder if participation in extra murals is really necessary. Considering the advantages could help with this decision. Advantages of extra murals Social skills are developed through the interaction children have with other team members and coaches.

Feb

What My Child Is Good At

31

Parents all have one thing in common, they want what is absolute best for their children. Part of the responsibility of parenting is to discover what they are naturally good at and to nurture that. Unfortunately, this could potentially lead to exhausted children with a fully booked schedule and a lot of pressure to perform. The question the exhausted parents often ask is, how do I then unlock my child’s potential while avoiding this pitfall? You should start by LISTENING to your child. Let’s

Jan

Holiday Fun

14

You don’t have to spend a lot of money these holidays to make your kids love every minute! Kids need attention, not more stuff...   Try some of these fun holiday activities that speaks to the gift list:

Dec

Failing A Grade & Still Being Okay

23

Your child should repeat a grade, what now? A good place to start is to find out why your child failed. It shouldn’t come as a surprise and if it did, you need to take immediate action. Meet with the teacher Get your child assessed by an Educational Psychologist Develop a support plan where you decide how your child can be best supported from all the reports and input. This could include extra lessons, a tutor, therapy, an accommodation et cetera Involve your child throughout the process and

Nov

How To Praise Your Child

09

“This was well thought through” – “Well done”: Process vs End-Result Praise      The way in which we give our children feedback and the hidden messages in the feedback, can determine how they approach future tasks, how they experience success and how their self-esteem develops. We tend to only give End-Result Feedback to our children from a very young age. This can be when we praise or criticize the end-result of their effort by saying things like, “You are so clever”, “That’s a beautiful

Nov

Summer & Water Safety

11

Drowning statistics are frightening and you can never be careful enough with water and children. That's one of the reasons I consider swimming lessons such a great extra mural. I started my children with water safety lessons from the age of 6 months old and they love swimming. That being said, when they get a fright they might forget EVERYTHING they were taught. I experienced this when my son was 4.5 years old. He was definitely already water safe and a good swimmer, but he fell of a floater and

Oct

My dad the soccer mom

17

It used to be the mom’s responsibility to get the kids to school, soccer practice, music lessons and play dates. With women entering more leadership roles in the corporate environment, the everyday tasks of raising kids also shifted. It’s not strange to see a dad doing the school run or arrive at a birthday party on a weekday. It’s all about flexibility at work and whichever parent has more, will do more for the kids. This might be frowned upon by some of the older generations, but if you

Jul

Use Technology Wisely

06

If you’ve seen a parent or nanny nod absently to a child not looking them in the eye when the child asks something, or a toddler throwing a tantrum until they get handed the phone and their eyes instantly gets a blank stare, or when you catch yourself browsing your phone while in the traffic, or when you go on a date night and both of you sit on your phone instead of chatting to each other, or when your teenager doesn’t answer you because apparently they really can’t hear you while they are on

Jul

Working moms

27

Why does the saying “The shoemaker’s children go barefoot” exist? Because we can actually relate to this! Is it thus true that the teacher’s child will get less attention and help and probably struggle with their schoolwork? Teachers and therapist are especially vulnerable when it comes to emotional burnout. They love their class and the kids that they teach or give therapy to and the reality is that they might use all their emotional energy while at school or at their practice. However, when

Jun

Are E-books More Expensive Than Paperback Textbooks?

19

Text books are not necessarily just paperback books anymore. Some schools make use of e-books. Let's take a look at some of the hidden costs that you should prepare for. Digital costs Buying the tablet. Sometimes your child’s tablet is included in the school fees, the school might offer a down payment option, it could be partially or fully funded or you could be responsible for buying your child a tablet. Paying for the material and software being used. Software updates. Screens and other

Jun

Living Up To My Teacher’s Expectations

09

Take some time to think about how you make your students feel. Do they know that you believe in them or can they sense you’ve given up?     What a teacher believe of a student has power It’s not overselling the influence a teacher has when we say that what a teacher expect from their students will come true. I’ve experienced this first hand as a student and as a teacher and I’ve heard these narratives play out in the therapy room of children who struggle academically at school. I didn’t like

Jun

Family Meetings That Works

06

Family meetings can help create closeness between family members if it’s done in a way where everyone feels like they have a voice.  ​ Guidelines for parents Introduce family meetings from a young age and keep it on your child’s level. Keep it informal enough to ensure that everyone feels at ease. There should be no distractions like phones being answered, the television playing in the background, someone reading or visitors waiting for you to finish. Don’t be pressed for time. Put time aside

Apr

Establishing a Healthy Parent-Teacher Relationship

03

You want to get along with your child’s teacher and keep the relationship professional. Here’s how you can do exactly that.     Don’t be confrontational, the teacher is not the enemy, they are there to work with you to unlock your child’s potential. If anything is bothering you try to have a friendly conversation about what you can do together to fix this.    Don’t try to socialise and become the teacher’s best friend. Being friendly is great, but teachers can’t chat to every parent for half an

Apr

Are You Financially Ready For Term 2?

03

Starting the new term might mean some educational expenses specific to this time of year will come your way. The following are possible things that you will have to pay for in term 2 of the school year: School fees if you pay your school fees per term. Additional stationery that your child might need. Sometimes you only know which things they will need once the school year is in full swing. It could also be that they are starting with summaries for exam time and might need additional files,

Apr

Healthy Saves You Money

03

I’ve often heard how people believe that it’s expensive to keep healthy. And this is true to some extent. Getting fresh healthy food is sometimes more expensive than takeaways, buying vitamins are expensive and joining a gym, for example, could be expensive. These aren’t the only ways to keep healthy and if you find the affordable alternatives like buying from a farmer’s market, getting active by playing outside with your kids and letting them take part in the extra murals at school that’s

Apr

The Perfect Study Environment

16

Children are all different and the ways in which they learn are different. What might be the perfect study environment for one child, might not work for another child. These different learning styles would mean that in order for them to be productive when they do homework or study, they would prefer specific approaches and environments. Some children should talk out loud or listen to music while others need silence, some wants to move around while others can sit on a chair for a long time. It

Mar

When You Cant Afford A Tutor

16

If you can’t afford a private tutor for your child, don’t despair. Try one of the following cheaper alternatives that could be just as effective: Group tutoring: This option is less expensive than individual classes and if it’s still a small group that allows for individual attention, your child could benefit just as much from it. Attend free extra classes at school: Schools often offer extra classes after school where teachers go through the themes of the week, explaining difficult concepts

Mar

Girls Can Do Anything Boys Can

08

Imagine if your subject or career choices was limited because you were a girl. Or if stereotypes like “girls can’t kick a ball as well as boys” existed… The truth is that even in our modern day and age we still, without even realising it, limit a girl’s choices and strengthen stereotypes that make them feel weaker or less smart. I love the Always #LikeAGirl campaign. It made me think about what I say to or about girls and women. If we really want to break these stereotypes and give girls the

Mar

My Child Has No Valentine

13

One of the most fun days at school is Valentine’s Day. Except when your child doesn’t have a Valentine and feels left out. Valentine’s Day doesn’t have to be about romance. You can appreciate friends, family or even a favourite teacher on Valentine’s Day. Teach your kids that it’s about appreciating others and help them to appreciate the people they care about. They will feel good when they make someone else feel appreciated and that might even lead to their friends appreciating them in

Feb

Where Should My Students Sit In Class?

09

Good classroom management and discipline starts before your students even enter your classroom. How do you prepare for them? Did you know? 90% of classrooms are still arranged in the traditional rows. Popular arrangements that promote student interaction is the horse shoe (or double horse shoe when there’s a lot of students) or groups of 6-10 learners together where their desks face each other. Some subjects are more instructive and works better with the students seated in rows while other

Feb

How to Save Pocket Money

30

I have to confess, I'm becoming more money savvy as I'm trying to teach my kids about money. Let’s take a look at the following options of where you can save your pocket money: In your piggy bank This will mean that you receive your pocket money in cash and that you have a piggy bank, envelope or wallet where you put that cash to use it from during the month. What’s the advantages of saving in a piggy bank: It can be convenient to have your cash with you. You don’t pay any banking fees. If

Jan

Understanding School Fees

17

Part of planning for all your education expenses includes understanding the school fee structure and when you should pay what.   Here are some of the most important things about school fee structures and payments you should know: School fees are usually given as an amount per annum. Most schools offer different payment options such as: A once off annual payment of the total amount. They often offer a 5-10 % discount if you make use of this option. It will, however, mean that you pay this

Jan

Families Playing Outside

14

Outside play should be encouraged. Not only does it keep kids fit and healthy, it’s a wonderful opportunity for the family to spend some quality time together. Play with a ball outside. You don’t need a lot of space and can invent any game you like. From shooting hoops, to dividing the family in teams and playing a soccer match, to trying out hand tennis, ball tricks like bouncing the ball on your head or just good old throw and catch. Remember that by using a different type of ball or Frisbee

Dec

Do You Understand Your Child's Report Card?

06

At the end of each term your child receives a report card. If you understand the report card you can use the insights to support their academic progress better. What’s the purpose of a report card? To assess your child’s academic progress. To identify your child’s strengths – in the long run this should form part of subject and career choices. To identify the specific areas in each subject that your child might need extra support in. An opportunity to get the teacher’s formal feedback of what

Dec

Baby on Board Signs & Car Seats

01

General car safety tips: Get rid of any road rage. Your road rage can put your children and other road users in danger. It’s just not worth it. Don’t be distracted. If your kids jump and move around in the car, if you try to tend to their needs with one hand on the steering wheel or when you are busy on your phone you can make an accident. Rather keep them safe and be a good driving role model. Never leave kids in a parked car. Not even for a minute to run into a shop or because they are

Dec

The Right Questions to Ask on a Parent’s Evening

09

Parents often find that they think of a hundred things that they wanted to ask the teacher when they arrive home from the parent’s evening. Preparing for a parent’s evening by thinking about your questions ahead of time could help you to optimise your meeting and get the information you need to support your child. Here is a few suggestions of questions that you could ask: Does my child fit in or have friends in class? Does my child ask questions in class? Do you think that my child is happy?

Nov

Everything About Study Loans

07

Where can you apply for a study loan? Most banks offer study loans. Go into a branch or search their website to find out what they can offer you. If you have an education savings policy that doesn’t covers all your cost, find out from your policy holder if they have a product that could help you with the rest of the costs. Who can apply for a study loan? The criteria will differ from bank to bank, but the most general ones are: You have to be at least 18 years old. There should be a

Nov

Communicating Your Expectations Or Adding To Your Child's Exam Stress?

31

Even with the best intentions your family can still add to your child’s stress during exam times. What shapes your expectations and why can they create anxiety? Why? Parents want their child to be happy and do well and try to give them everything they need to do their best. Siblings can tease and compare because they have a competitive nature or a very serious personality. Your child can experience your support as pressure just because that is how they make sense of what they are experiencing.

Oct

Let Your Bonus Work For You When It's Back-to-School Costs

25

Getting your annual bonus or 13th check is a highlight and should definitely go with some spoiling yourself. Taking a portion of the money and using it for some education expenses that you know will be coming up, can give you a breather in the long month of January. Some ideas on how to let your bonus work for you in January: Buy back-to-school stationery now. The list can be quite long and even if you just buy some of the basics now, this will still free up money for other expenses in

Oct

"D" for Dictionary - Can You Use One?

20

If you thought that using a dictionary was old fashioned, think again! Handing in a well written essay with no spelling mistakes can earn you those extra marks. This skill will one day help you to deliver professional reports and emails in the work place as well. Why would you want to use a dictionary to check to spelling, plural, noun or pas tense of a word. You might also be able to see the synonym or antonym of that word. to get the meaning of that word. to translate a word from one

Oct

Toddlers Bite & It's Normal

17

Biting is a very common behaviour in toddlers since they still struggle to express their emotions verbally. When they are frustrated they might bite, when they are angry they might bite, when they are excited they might bite. Expressing their emotions in this physical manner should however be redirected into more appropriate ways. We often tell children don’t bite but we don’t give them an alternative of what would be appropriate. You can for example tell them that they can hit all of their

Oct

Develop your Child's Visual Perception Skills for School

14

Visual perception is all the visual skills that your child will need to understand and interpret what they see. These skills are used to give information to the brain and the information should be accurate. They need to see similarities and differences, remember what they see, distinguish what they see from the background against which it stands, identify patterns, know where the beginning and end of something is and where it stands in relation to themselves and other objects. These skills will

Oct

Keeping Up With Education's Joneses

13

Keeping up education expenses that you can’t afford If you find that you can’t keep up with education costs, consider if you perhaps stepped into one of the following traps: Enrolling your kids into a school that you can’t afford. Paying for extra-murals, sports gear or extra-lessons that you can’t afford. Your kids are spoiled or you feel pressured to buy the most expensive sports gear or clothes, often on credit with a high interest rate. You didn’t consider all the hidden costs (like

Oct

Things Parents Can't Leave for the School to Teach

10

Parents and teachers are the people who teach kids most of what they do and belief. Some parents want to pass all the responsibility to the school and then complain when their kids are rude or fall under peer pressure.    Some things should definitely be taught at home. The school will also teach your child this, but shouldn’t be the only place they see or hear about it. Personal hygiene – Teach your child when to wash hands, bath themselves, brush their teeth and everything else that makes

Oct

Can Schools Keep Kids From Writing Exams If Their School Fees Aren't Paid?

04

The South African Schools Act with regards to public schools It is noted in Section 41 (7) of the South African Schools Act, 1998 (Act No. 84 of 1998) that a learner may not be deprived of his or her right to participate in all aspects of the programme of a public school despite the non-payment of school fees by his or her parent and may not be victimised in any manner, including but not limited to the following conduct: (a) Suspension from classes; (b) verbal or non-verbal abuse; (c) denial

Oct

Where Does Upliftment Start?

02

Community involvement could support and enable schools or it could leave them exactly as they were.     Being involved in community projects has always been one of my passions and I believe that if everyone does their bit, we can make the world a better place. Especially when it comes to children, schools and education, community involvement is crucial. Recent projects I was involved in included two schools with very similar profiles. They are both situated in poor communities and have a lot of

Sep

Should Teenagers Use Credit Cards?

02

Some parents are giving their teenagers access to their personal credit cards or online accounts. Is this irresponsible or could there be advantages?    My first reaction was that I would never do it and that it's probably just some very spoiled brats that's getting a credit card to use, but the more I researched it, the more I realised that if a child is guided in the use of the card, there could be huge benefits. Possible advantages if a teenager is allowed to handle a debit and credit card

Sep

Spring Clean your School Bag

29

It’s time to clean out, reorganise and get yourself on track for the last stretch of the academic year. A good place to start with is your school bag as research shows that being more organised can improve your marks at school. Follow these easy steps to clean out and reorganise your school bag: Dump all the contents of your bag on the floor. Throw away any junk. Remove any unnecessary doubles of things. Wash your school bag, clean everything you want to put back and sharpen all your

Aug

Teachers Shape Lives

23

A teacher will never know where their influence stops; it might be far beyond the child’s school years.      When you think back to your school years, you will probably be able to identify at least one teacher who played a big role in who you became or what you do for a living. A good student-teacher relationship could’ve even improved your marks! The teachers that had an influence on your live were most probably strict, had high expectations of you and showed a genuine interest and believe in

Aug

Girl Problems Making it Difficult to Stay in School

16

Education can break the poverty cycle, but girls sometimes find it difficult to stay in school. We take a look at some of the challenges they face.     The cost of education There are a lot of costs associated with sending children to school. Things like uniforms, textbooks, transport, and lunchboxes can lead to girls dropping out of school. When they can’t afford to send both to school, parents will often choose to keep a girl at home to help with household tasks while sending their boy to

Aug

Can You Afford To Stay Home?

08

Deciding if you are going to be a stay-at-home-parent depends on whether you can afford it and if you will find it satisfying to focus on the household responsibilities and looking after the kids.    If you want to do it, but can’t afford it, there might be a few places where you can cut costs: Membership fees: Cancel memberships you don’t use or that you can replace with something that won’t cost you money. For example, a gym membership can be replaced by a home training plan that includes

Aug

Things your Friend Struggling with Infertility Wants to Tell You

04

In my group of friends alone I know about 5 young and healthy women who struggled to either get pregnant or stay pregnant. Throughout all the stork teas, births and functions where kids were running around, they had to keep smiling and congratulate the other lucky parents. This can put some real strain on a friendship and I wanted to know from them what they would tell their friends or other people with kids if they had the chance to do it and be brutally honest. These were their answers: Do

Aug

Teaching Kids About Elections & Voting

03

After taking my 4-year old with to the voting station this morning, I realised that elections are a great opportunity to teach your child the concept of voting.     As your child gets older they have the need to make more decisions for themselves, at times insisting on their choices by throwing a tantrum. Even teenagers do this in the form of a door that is being banged or when they withdraw from a family activity. Living in a society with a lot of individuals with their own needs, ideas and

Aug

Budgeting for School Trips

22

School trips are something you should budget for. Caught off guard will make it an unforeseen expense that leaves a hole in your pocket. Especially because we don't want our kids to miss a thing! Here are some easy things to do to help you plan for these trips: Write down the dates of all the school trips coming up for the year/term/month, depending on how long in advance the school gives you these dates. Write down all the costs for the outing, e.g. entry fee, bus fee and pocket money.

Jul

Holiday Hangover – Getting Back Into Routine

21

During the holiday a routine, a specific bedtime and healthy eating often stays behind and getting back into it when school starts can be a challenge.     The following tips can help you get back into routine after the holiday: Make sure your kids have some calm, down time before they go to bed. Use this time to read, play quietly, build puzzles or to have a chat. Don’t let the kids watch television for two hours prior to going to bed. Never let them have caffeinated drinks like coffee and be

Jul

Digital Careers That Didn’t Exist Before

19

Technology advances create new careers every day. When you finish your studies there will already be new courses and careers that didn’t exist when you enrolled.  The ever changing world of work is exciting and forces people to think out of the box. Sometimes it might make more sense to enrol for specific skills and not for a specific course. The basket of skills you bring to the table can then close a gap that no one even knew existed, thus creating a new job. The following are jobs that

Jul

Where's Your Child Right This Minute?

08

Why parents are a bit paranoid Have you ever watched your child play on a playground between other kids at a restaurant or in a park and then you suddenly don’t see them anywhere? Your heart misses a few beats and you start running around frantically. Or do you have a teenager and really loses your mind when they are not there when you have to pick them up after they went out with their friends and you can’t get hold of them on their phone because the battery died. With all the child

Jul

Don’t Talk Baby!

06

Babies and toddlers are like sponges, absorbing huge amounts of information from their environment. They are learning to sit, walk and talk and if this could be learned right from the get go, they won’t have to learn a new set of rules later on. Using baby talk is a typical example of teaching a baby/toddler to do something wrong. Let’s look at some guidelines: Just because they don’t talk in full sentences, doesn’t mean they can’t understand sentences and are busy learning grammar and other

Jul

Saving on Extra-Murals

29

Extra-murals can become a big expense. We take a look at how you can give your child the opportunities without crippling your finances.    Tips on how to save on extra-murals Find out which extra-murals are included in the school fees and let your child choose something from this list. Buy second hand sport uniforms from the school’s clothes bank. Children grow very fast and chances are that a lot of clothes will be too small while still in a good condition. Start a sport uniform swop between

Jun

Can Blogging Really Be A Career?

23

Blogging can be a way to share your ideas, hobbies and interests with the world or it can become a career. I investigated how your hobby can earn you money.    Sharing your thoughts on the internet has become more and more popular. Many people do this as a hobby because they enjoy writing, others want to build their brand through blogging and some people find it relaxing after a busy day at work. A lot of big companies are investing in the power of social media paying bloggers to promote their

Jun

The Value of the Rand makes Studies Abroad Difficult

15

It can be life changing to study abroad. We take a look at why it is so expensive and how you can afford it.    The ICEF Monitor tell us that: Foreign exchange rates affect how many students will study abroad. America and England are popular destinations for students to go and study, but the weak Rand makes it difficult for South Africans to do this. A lot of other countries have the same problem, for example, students from China and Russia find it very expensive to study when they have to pay

Jun

Preparing for your First Exam in Grade 4

10

We want our children to study on their own, but we often forget that they should be taught how to study properly before they can study independently. If children are left to figure this out on their own, they will often just reread the study material. This is not an effective way of studying, because their work will become more and more. NB! Don’t study for you child, just spend time teaching them the following study techniques and then let them try it on their own. Let’s look at the major

Jun

Be your Child’s Friend & Parent, not their BFF!

08

Being a friend to your child can open up communication channels, but being only a best friend and not the responsible adult that steps up when things becomes difficult or your child needs guidance, can leave your child vulnerable and ill-equipped for life. The key lies in finding a balance between being the authority in the relationship and being approachable when they need something else from the relationship. In different situations or as your child grows older, it’s normal for your roles

Jun

Hearing your child is not enough, you should really listen!

31

For a while now my 4 year old son were telling me that he is not enjoying one of the activities we signed him up for at school. I heard him say this, but didn’t think much of it since his friend who used to do this with him left and I thought he just needed some time to get used to doing this without this specific friend.  When I recently stopped with everything that keeps me so busy and took the time to really listen why he wasn’t enjoying the activity anymore, I was surprised to find out

May

Swimming Lessons Are Important

20

Why swimming lessons I started swimming lessons with both my kids when they were only 6 months old. Like most parents I wanted to get my kids water safe because: It only takes 2,5 cm of water to drown in. This makes an empty fish pond with a little rain water in or a bucket of water for washing floors very dangerous! children can drown without a sound. most drownings happen while there was supervision. You might also like this Water Safety article. I realised that swimming lessons has a

May

How to do Education with the MONEY Principle

16

If we look at the way education gets more expensive each year, it’s often difficult to get through the year’s education expenses, never mind saving something for our kid’s future education. The following acronym for MONEY can help you get through this easier: M – Manage your education budget well. We all know that January, for example, is tough because you have to buy school clothes, stationery, pay for text books, school fees and transport and it’s right after the festive season. Plan or

May

Healthy Mealtimes - Can It Be Done?

10

Getting your child to eat healthy can become a power struggle and lead to a lot of unhappiness in the home. Parents are either exhausted at mealtimes or just give up and stick to whatever limited or unhealthy options their kids will eat. Taking into account that you are not just feeding your growing child’s body but also their growing brain, and that the food you put into their bodies can determine their brain development, learning and concentration emphasises the importance of getting your

May

Chocolate Brownies With Spinach & Carrot

10

Sneaking in some vegetables in your kid’s favourite treat not only leaves you with an extra moist brownie, but will help you get in another portion of veggies for the day.    I have been baking these brownies for family and friends and not once could anyone guess that it has carrot and spinach inside. I got the recipe from Jessica Seinfeld’s book Deceptively Delicious. I also found that I don’t even have to hide the vegetables I put in; I just teach my kids that it is the secret to getting the

May

School fees – What Are You Paying For?

09

Parents often wonder why school fees are so high and what schools use the money for. When you start looking at a school’s budget, you realise that they have a lot of expenses that parent’s doesn’t know about. To help you understand where and on what schools would typically spend their money, I compiled these lists with some of the costs.      Capital expenses Building classrooms Buying busses Buying computers Buying white boards, chalk boards, televisions, projectors and other classroom

May

Crèche vs Nanny

03

When you have to go back to work after maternity leave, you have a few child care options. A lot of books recommend keeping your child home until the age of 3. Some parents find, however, that their child needs some social interaction from a younger age. Questions to help you determine what type of child care will work best for you: How much do we have to spend on child care? Does my baby have a poor immune system? Premature babies might have to be kept at home longer. Is there any play

May

How to Teach Kids About Investments

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Learning about finances, investments and the dynamics of the JSE can help turn learnings into earnings. I took a look at the exciting JSE Investment Challenge Game.  Why do I think this is important to take note of? Because as a parent I want my children to have that edge that everyone talks about.    The JSE Investment challenge is an educational programme aimed at introducing South African students to the JSE. At the same time the students are contributing to the country’s economic growth.

Apr

Schools Prepare Employees Not Entrepreneurs

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Children should be able to think creatively and ambitiously and have the capacity to start a company when they leave school. There are a lot of positive stories where kids get excited about school and their future for the first time when you teach them how to contribute to the community and earn money. This is because they then realise that in order to do this, they need to know how to read, write and do math. Merely teaching the different production cycles and the rest of the theory in

Apr

Letter To Sugar Mommies

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This is an open letter to all the sugar mommies out there. The ones who give their and my child too much sugar without thinking about what it does to their bodies, brains and concentration. The ones who looks shocked and sympathises with my child when they hear that he didn’t eat sugar before one year of age and that he’s still not allowed to eat a week’s sweets in one sitting! Here is what puzzles me most, sometimes the baby or child won’t be asking for it or might lose interest in the

Mar

Are You a Study Group Type of Student?

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A study group can really help you get an in-depth understanding of your work, but only if you are a study group type of student. These 5 questions will help you decide if you should join a study group or not. Will I be able to stay focused in a group? Some people find it very hard to stay focused on the academic discussions and might feel tempted to engage in social chatter throughout the session. If you are like that you might find joining a study group counterproductive. Study groups that

Mar

What You Can Learn From Poor Marks

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It can be devastating to get a poor mark if you studied hard. Do you know what these marks can tell you?    If you studied and feel that you knew and understood your work, you should consider the following possible reasons for your poor marks:                        Your study methods might be wrong for this specific subject: Different subjects should be studied in different ways. With mathematics, for example, you should work through practice examples where you can practice applying your

Mar

Are You A Student That Has What It Takes?

09

If you answer yes to at least 4 questions in every category, you are an awesome student. Find out what your score is. Organisation I use a diary/planner to write down my homework and schedule dates to hand in assignments and write tests. I break my work down into manageable portions and set goals on when I want to have what done. I reach the goals most of the time. I use written/electronic reminders to help me remember important things. I know what I need and I do my homework in an environment

Mar

Kiddle – The Safe Internet Search For Kids

03

Keeping our kids safe from inappropriate content on the internet is a job too big for parents alone. This is why it is exciting to see that there is now technology to help. Our kids often play around on search engines. They might be doing research for a school assignment, look for a birthday party dress-up idea or just read about what they find interesting. But have you ever searched bunny and gotten a link to “sexy girls photos and videos”? I was terrified when this happened to me and I just

Mar

Adult Education Options

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Just because you are grown-up and a parent, it doesn’t mean that you can’t focus on your own education.     Strengthening the foundation If you want to complete your matric or improve some skills to open up more job opportunities or continue onto tertiary studies, you can look at the following options:   ABET Courses Oxbridge Academy Brainline  Part-time tertiary studies Being a parent means that you are juggling work, kids and the household responsibilities, leaving very little time for

Feb

Budgeting Apps For Kids

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Teaching kids to budget and manage money is important and it can be a fun experience with the right apps. Unfortunately most apps doesn't have South African currency available on it, but the lessons are still worth it.  Distinguish needs from wants A game like Save! The Game is free and teaches kids the difference between things they want and things they need. This is an important lesson that will help them prioritise when they need to work within a budget. Monitoring your money and saving

Feb

10 Things You Should Be Doing For Success

15

Schools have been open for a month and there are a few things you should be doing by now if you want to be successful.  You now know your new teachers and class mates. You should feel comfortable enough in your class to ask a question when you don’t understand the work. By now you should have a homework diary that you use each day to write your homework and other reminders in. You should know your timetable or have pasted it into your homework diary so that it is readily available whenever

Feb

Valentine’s Activities For The Family

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Use this special day to come together as a family and to remember why you love each other.Use this special day to come together as a family and to remember why you love each other. Have a picnic in the garden. Take the time to talk to each other and just enjoy some family time together. Do a circle of appreciation, where every family member should say what they appreciate about each of the other family members. Have a scavenger hunt with clues/riddles that the kids should solve. The prize

Feb

Things You Should Know About Public Schooling

10

In South Africa education is a right and the government is working towards making it accessible to as many children and adults as possible.      Things you should be aware of when entering the formal schooling system You should enrol your child in a school between 1 August and 31 October of the preceding year. A Grade R applicant must be at least four years old and turning five or older by 30 June in their Grade R year. A Grade 1 applicant must be at least five years old and turning six or

Feb

Valentine's Gifts That Make A Difference In Education

08

With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, you might be looking for the perfect gift. Why not do something different this year and give your loved one a gift that changes someone else’s life!    There are several ways in which you can make a difference in a child’s life by contributing to their education. Education savings gift Instead of buying a child with many toys, something else that they will play with for a while, contribute to their education savings fund. Even a small contribution

Feb

Library vs Digital Reading

03

Should you still introduce books to your child or should you focus on getting them tablet ready? Some people say that libraries and books are outdated in the digital age that we live in, while others feel strongly that we should still take our kids to the library and focus on reading them physical books. Let’s look at the advantages that both these forms of engaging with information has: Advantages of visiting the library It’s an opportunity to bond with your child. Look for books and read

Feb

Education Resolution Revolution

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Transform your year with these 28 education resolutions. Go for 1 eye test each year. A study group of 2 could really help you. Job shadow your top 3 career choices. 4 Rules of studying: read facts, repeat them out loud, do the exercises, reteach it to someone else. Take regular 5 minute breaks when you do homework or study. Get some expert advice to help you make 6 informed subject choices. Feed your brain 7 days a week with Omega-3 rich food. Sleep for at least 8 hours every night to improve

Jan

Ways To Make Education More Affordable

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Money is often the thing that stands between you and academic success. There are a few ways to help you pay for education.    Tuition or school fees Schools and tertiary institutions usually have different payment options which you can look at. Planning for school and university fees by saving beforehand. Compare the costs of living on campus or the school grounds versus living elsewhere. Take into account that meals are sometimes included and can make a difference in your overall budget. Apply

Jan

The Perfect School for Your Child

02

Choosing a school I never knew that it would be such a difficult thing to do. Where I grew up you went to the only primary and high school in town. It was a no brainer and you went to school with everyone else in town, no matter who you were or how much money your parents earned.  Even choosing a play school for my kids seemed to be much harder than I could've imagined... After visiting about 50 schools, and I'm not even exaggerating, there were a total of 3 that I would enroll my kids in. The

Jan

Money Lessons for Teenagers

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A teenager should have financial responsibilities to prepare them for their first salary.    You can make the theory that your teenager are taught in the economics class come alive by giving them the opportunity to practice it in real live or to observe you doing it. Teach and show them the following lessons: School and university fees are expensive. Have discussions about how education is expensive, why it is expensive and what type of plans you can make to be able to afford it. There are a

Nov

Links That Will Change Your Teaching

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Take a look at these helpful websites with lesson plans, interesting ideas and resources that can develop you as a teacher. Writing This website provides you with a model of writing traits and has lesson plans, writing prompts and rubrics that you can download. If you want some practice in using the rubrics there is some writing samples where you can see how other teachers marked and scored it. Math games from the National Library of Virtual Manipulatives Kids love to learn through games and

Jan

The Difference Between Public And Independent School in South Africa

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Is there really a difference between public and independent schools and how will this affect you as a parent? Since I'm also in the process of making these choices, I looked at what the differences are in South Africa. Public Schools    You get no fee, ordinary and former model C public schools. They are state controlled. Established by the MEC for education in each province. Fees are usually increased in line with the inflation rate. Receives a state subsidy. Average of 36 learners per class.

Jan

I want to tell you about my amazing first day at school!

13

Dear Mom I was so excited to start big school today and I couldn’t wait to put on my uniform this morning. I was wondering about a lot of things, about who I will meet and play with, what we will do, if there will be some jungle gyms and how long it will take for my teacher to teach me how to read. I was a bit scared when we got there and I saw how big it was, but my teacher made sure that I was okay. She took me to my chair and showed me where to put my bag. We had lots of fun! We built some

Jan

Starting or Going Back To School Tips

11

A bit of planning can help you to be prepared and confident on the big day.  Start early with preparations. The last minute rush might frustrate you and make you miss out on Back-to-School promotions. Know where your best buys for specific items would be before you go the shops.  Double check what the school will supply and what you need to buy. Then take your stationery list from the school and your child with you. Let them choose the colour of their pencil case, school bag etc. This will

Jan

How to Choose the Right School Shoe for Your Child

07

Children’s feet grow very fast and the wrong shoe size could influence the healthy development of their feet and even their posture. My kids never even wore shoes when they were babies and as toddlers I only put on shoes when it is really cold or they have to walk on terrain that is not suitable for bare feet. When I do put on shoes I make sure that it is soft, flexible and fits comfortably. Buying formal school shoes shouldn't be any diffirent...    Feet development can take up to a child’s

Jan

I Hate Fireworks In Neighbourhoods

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Fireworks can be beautiful to watch, but only if it is a properly organised event where the necessary safety precautions are taken. I really don't enjoy fireworks in neighbourhoods where animals and kids are at risk of getting hurt and scared.   I researched some of the precautions that should be taken. Make sure you play it safe... Never let children play with or light fireworks. According to South African law no children under the age of 16 is allowed to handle fireworks. If you give kids

Dec

Water Safety

16

I have seen many kids with learning difficulties in the practice and ever since I became a mom I can really understand the heartache and stress that parents go through when their child struggles with something.  This is why I can't even read articles about children that had near drowning experiences who are left with severe physical and cognitive problems. I cry for what might have been and what is now. Drowning statistics are frightening and it's much better to try and prevent an accident.

Dec

Family Photoshoot Tips

11

I love doing personalised Christmas cards with a family photo each year. With one child this was at times a challenge. This year having a baby and a toddler, made the task a little daunting. It was difficult to get that perfect photo where almost everyone is smiling with eyes open and looking up. This is what I've learned through from photoshoots with my children... Things to do and take with to your family shoot: If there are specific photos that you want, write them down to give to your

Dec

Child Safety In Shopping Malls

09

Child safety in shopping malls is a huge concern for parents. I watch my kids like a hawk when we are in a crowd and still they sometimes manage to escape my sight for a few seconds. And a few seconds is all it takes... With all the attempted snatchings around Gauteng lately, I felt the need to get some expert tips on how to keep my kids safe.  I think what upset me most was that the children wasn't just taken when the mothers looked away or got distracted, the mothers reported to be

Dec

Money Games For Kids

07

Kids can learn many financial lessons through playing money games.    Understanding cash flow, the importance of saving and planning for unforeseen events are a few of the financial lessons that your child can learn when playing some money games. Here is a few suggestion that you can tailor to fit their age and interest:                                      Play store with real money: Set up a store, take turns to be the customer and the shop owner, pay with real money and give change. Keep a

Dec

How to Stay Safe in a Hijacking Situation

03

How to prevent a hijacking Koos Herselman, Stress and Trauma Consultant and Personal Safety Trainer and Security Consultant, gave us the following tips to prevent a hijacking: Minimise your stops during a journey. Hijackers can only get you if you are in your vehicle and stationary. Avoid routes that are known to be hijack hotspots. Leave lots of room to manoeuvre at intersections. Never stop too close to the vehicle in front of you. Keep a watch on pedestrians at intersections, particularly

Dec

Stimulation versus Over-stimulation

03

Parents want to provide their children with enough stimulation, but babies, toddlers and school going children are all affected by over-stimulation.    We fill up our kid’s diaries with play dates and extra murals and forget that children also need downtime. We are trying our best as parents and don't want our children to miss out on anything, but children shouldn’t be exposed to more experiences and activities than they can cope with.  This will leave them feeling cranky, tired and overwhelmed.

Dec

Fantasy Play

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Pretending that a toy or story character is real opens up a world of fantasy. Some people consider fantasy or pretend play to be a thinking skill, something that is important for children to engage in. Others belief that children should know exactly what is real and what not. Although you mostly see the fun in this type of play, there are some definite benefits: Social skills are developed when your child plays out certain scenarios. Children sometimes work through problems when they play.

Nov

Sanitation in Schools

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Today is World Toilet Day. A good reason to reflect on what we have that we take for granted that others so desperately need. Research shows that hygienic toilet facilities affect education directly. There are more than 24,000 public schools in South Africa and only about 8,000 have flushing toilets. Girls are especially reluctant to stay in school when toilets and washing facilities are not private, save, clean or available. Poor sanitation at schools threatens our children’s health, privacy

Nov

Money Lessons for 6-12 Year Olds

03

I'm still focusing on how to teach my toddler to understand that you need money to buy things and that it is valuable. For those of you with older children who can understand more abstract concepts, you can teach your child the following money lessons. When I want something I have to plan for it. Setting a goal to save for something that they want can teach them to budget. Let them handle money and pay for something, plan how much they should give and check if they got the right amount of

Nov

Get Active With Your Kids

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Exercising when you have kids Kids make it difficult to fit in exercise if you think of conventional exercise. When you become a parent you have to become creative! I don't feel like I can go to the gym because my kids are still too small to just leave with someone. When they are older I suppose they can join me for some fun dance classes or something of the sort. I do realise, however, that it's one of the biggest mistakes I can make to cut out exercise completely. It keeps you healthy,

Oct

Stuttering Tips for Parents

28

How to explain to your child why they are stuttering Children might get teased and wonder why this is happening to them. It’s always good to be honest to your child and to explain what is happening to them on a level that they can understand. You could say something like: “Everyone is different and good at something else. It might be easy for you to paint, but hard for you to talk. Sometimes when you are nervous about getting it right you might find it even more difficult. Some days might be

Oct

Fun ways to Develop Fine Motor Skills

23

Good fine motor skills are very important for school readiness. Your child will use these skills to write, draw and cut in school. If they lack good fine motor skill they will get tired quickly when they do their school work and they will work slowly. Activities to develop fine motor skills Playing with clay or cookie dough. Thumb war. Finger painting. Manipulating small objects with their hands and fingers. Opening or closing jars. Knitting. Threading beads. Playing with squirt toys in the

Oct

Stuttering Tips for Teachers

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Having a child that stutters in your class can create all sorts of challenges. You have to make sure that you create an accepting environment with no teasing by explaining to the kids that the child who stutters can’t help it and also finds it frustrating. Stuttering is definitely not a reflection of how clever someone is or not. With it being International Stuttering Awareness Day, you should educate yourself and your class. Watch this video by kids for kids about stuttering. Tips for

Oct

Money Lessons for 2-5 Year Olds

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I recently took my 3 year old son to the toy shop with his piggy bank for the first time. This was a big step, since he has been saving for a while to buy something that he wants. I really felt that he benefited from this and that if you want your kids to have healthy money habits when they are grown up, you should already teach them some money lessons when they are toddlers.  Here are some money lessons that I am teaching my toddler that you might also find helpful: You need money to buy

Oct

4 Reasons Why I Caught a Partktown Prawn

19

While getting ready for school and work, I heard the very excited voice of my 3 year old son shouting: "Mom, come quickly, there's a big spider!" There was just enough hidden fear behind the excitement in his voice to make me run to where he was standing in the dining room. There was a HUGE Parktown prawn in the corner of the room and he was trying to catch it. Every time he would get close the prawn would move or jump and he would be too scared to go through with it. It was up to me to catch

Oct