Kids Fun | Art | Crafts | Outdoor | Activities

Kids Fun, Art and Healthy Wellbeing

  • About Children’s Kickstart
  • Educational games
  • Kids Crafts
  • Inspiring
  • Making Memories
  • Outdoors
  • Recipes
  • Parenting
  • Competitions
  • Marketplace
  • ARTS & CRAFTS LESSONS
  • Contact Us

As Parents We Would Like Our Children To Value Themselves

Written by Julia Gorham

Doing and thinking for young children will contribute to lowered self esteem and undermine their self-confidence. You will create opportunities for your child to develop a lot of self-doubt by sending messages showing that you do not think that they can do things correctly, or that they should not try because you beloved it is too difficult for them. Do not ignore the pleas of the young child “I can do it by myself”.

Children with high self esteem are those who are given the opportunity to be decision makers right from the very beginning of their lives.

Children need to take on responsibilities, rather than their parents doing things for them. They learn confidence by doing, not by watching someone else do it for them. They need to feel important, to take risks, to try new adventures and to know that you trust them, not so much to do something without error as to simply go out and give it an effort.

Children who learn early to be decision makers – to pick up their own clothes, to decide what to eat, to play with whom ever they choose, to be responsible without endangering themselves or others, learn very early to like themselves and feel positive about who they are. They begin very early to trust themselves with the daily age appropriate tasks that make them feel proud and worthwhile.

Young children and grief

Adults and children process grief very differently. Here are some tips from personal experience about what is helpful with a preschool child dealing with grief.

  • Be Honest. 

I was very open with Nicky about how things were going in hospital. As every doctor meeting arrived with worse and worse news, there wasn’t really a way to sugar coat it. I remember actually saying something along the lines of “when all these hospital visits stop”, and him asking when that was going to be and my saying “when dad dies.” And he accepted it. By that stage the months had taken their toll and I think we were all hoping and praying for an end to his misery.

When Brett actually passed it was during the night time when Nicky was asleep. He only found out about it the next morning. I told him very honestly that dad had died. No fancy language, but in a way for him to understand that dad was not coming back. He understood.

  • Let Them Attend the Funeral

I think it was vital for Nicky to attend the funeral. To be with the extended family and celebrate the life of his father. My niece Emma put together an amazing power point of his life which I am glad Nicky could see. Even when I gave my eulogy I included Nicky in some way, mentioning all the toys that dad had given Nicky just to make him happy. I looked at him when I talked about it and he agreed with me.

When I went up I also made sure that Nicky had someone to sit with, which was his aunt Debbie. Keeping him safe and secure was important.

You might want to make this call yourself on whether the child could attend or not. You know your child best and also if it would be best for him or her. For us we needed to do this.

  • Let Them Play

Children have a totally different way of processing emotions than adults. During the Blitz in London, children played out the trauma of the bombs. Adults talk, children play.

I made sure that I had Nicky’s bath toys all out for him to play with. He has a set of a family – Zebra and Lion are the parents and Horsy and Parrot are the kids. (Added to this Horsy always has diarrhea sitting on the toilet and Parrot is a bit of a mechanic and doctor and fixes things). We also have another horse and another little donkey.

The night after the funeral he played out a scenario where everyone died except the little donkey. And he had a funeral for them. My heart just broke because in all of this it left the little donkey so vulnerable, but he was expressing his emotions. I’ve also made an effort to let him know that he’s not by any means alone and that he has other family to support him. In fact I’ve drawn up a will that makes special provision for someone to look after him in the event of my death and I’ve told him about it.

Play therapy is a great addition to helping your child. Nicky went to the school psychologist who played and did activities with him. She also read a book to him about death.

  • Just Be There

Show yourself to be emotionally available to your child. You are grieving as well, and you can be open about that. Nicky has hugged me so many times when I’ve cried, I feel bad for him. But I’ve also been there for him to answer his questions, whatever they may be, and if he needed to sleep with me for a bit. This happened after my mom left for a week, having her gone was another blow for him (and us) and he needed to sleep with me and have that security.

Yes, there might be regression in your child, but that’s ok. This is a major life event, they’re allowed to take a step backwards before going forwards again.

  • Keep Routines in Place

When so much has changed in their lives, it’s good to keep other things the same. I think this is also why I am delaying selling the house and moving. I’m trying to keep some things the same before we have to change them, although Nicky might be more ready than I am to move. He’s quite excited to look for another place. Keeping his school the same and doing all the normal things we do is helping us keep sane in this new normal.

The important thing to remember is that there is no one generic timeline for grief – it affects everyone and every child differently. I know there will be more challenges to come in the future as we face certain milestones without Brett. But I know that together we will figure it all out, as long as I am there for him.  

Why Gratitude is important

Written by Julia Gorham

What you value in life, increases in value. What you appreciate in life, begins to appreciate.

Appreciate your good health, your family, your friends, those memorable moments and your life. You will see the blessings in your life and their value.

Be grateful for the present moment and don’t take things for granted. Life gives you what you give it and when you are ready with an open heart and give it with care and affection, you will receive the gift of happiness and attract many opportunities.

Family Matters

Written by Julia Gorham

Family is the important gift given to us. Many people can help you, but your family understands you best.

Family is an important word, it means to feel secure, to have someone who you can count on, whom you can share your problems with. But it is also means to have respect for each other and reasonability.

What family means to me is love and someone that will always be there for your through the good times and the bad. It is about encouragement, understanding, comfort, advice, and faith.

 

Family traditions are experiences that families create together that create a sense of belonging.

The morals and values become a family’s guiding force.

Family is the strongest unit of strength. Spending time with your family forms a strong  bond. 

 

What makes the difference ?

 Family Connection

 Family is the bond that we are born with. When you are blessed with a family connection, you should make it a point to stand by them. When the roads of life get weary, it is the support of family that will matter to you. No one wants to live a lonely life and so you should understand the importance that family plays in your life.

  You Need Them

 No matter what you believe, it is important to understand that every individual needs their family. If you do not value your family, you will find yourself in a spot of bother later on. So, you should understand their importance in your life and try to shower your love and care. Love has a way of coming back and so your family will help you out when you need them.

 

Need People To Call Our Own

 Have you met those who live all alone and have no one to call their own? The agony and suffering which they undergo is huge and whopping. Sometimes, it can crush them deep because it is human mentality that we always need someone whom we can call our own. The kind of love and emotions that will flow from you is serene and heart touching. Sub consciously, we all love our family. However, sometimes, it is we ourselves who need to be convinced about our love. So, call your family, be a part of their happiness and spread happiness in their lives too. When you call them your own, they are likely to call you theirs too and this can go a long way in spreading happiness all round.

 

  Loneliness Kills

 You may or may not realise but we all need a shoulder to fall back on. If you are a lone warrior, you are likely to get tired on the dreary roads of life. When the clouds cover you up, you will always look for a silver lining. It is your family that can turn out to be the silver lining. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Rewards Of Teaching Young Children

Written by Julia Gorham

 

When I followed my ultimate passion with teaching young children it was the best reward; and what a privilege and honour to be part of a child’s life.

 

 I hope that I will leave a lasting mark and make a positive difference in every child’s life; forever to come.

Entering the school premises located at the Field and Study Park in Parkmore, Sandton, there is a sense of tranquillity and beauty from the bustling hub of Sandton. It gives me great pleasure as I pass the horses at the stables, drive along the long tar driveway with tall, bellowing, evergreen trees on either side with views of vast, open spaces, including wild rabbits hopping by. This a place of heaven, for children to learn and grow in the best natural environment any school can provide, an ideal learning environment where children appreciate the wonders of nature.  

As I walk up the school garden path towards the school, I am greeted with great excitement by my beloved children, who shout out my name and run towards me with a warm, welcoming, beaming smile and hug. What else can anyone ask for to start their day?

I am so fortunate that I receive the tightest, heart warming hugs from my children at the school throughout the day. During circle time, the children are asked to sing their favourite song, whereby they sing “I love Teacher Julia, I love Teacher Julia” with their own melody and words of course! The rest of the children seated in the circle, will then swarm towards me, giving me more hugs and chanting the words to the song too. We also play the game “Huggy Buggy’ whereby, I will stand on end of the classroom with a child on the far end , we both shout together “Huggy Buggy” and then run as fast as we can from one end of the room to another, meeting in the middle with a huge hug and kiss.

I am told every day by the children at my school, that they love me “Up to the moon and back” and “Love you, to infinity.” The children that I teach, will draw daily beautiful, colourful pictures of my daughters and I, with strict instructions that I must pin their drawn pictures on my fridge at home. I am also lucky enough to receive voice notes from my school children, who tell me how much they love and miss me during the school holidays and weekends.

During our daily nature walks, the children will eagerly insist on holding my hands extra tight, singing the Beatles song “I wanna hold your hand, I wanna hold your hand” or ask for “piggy back rides” as we walk merrily to the stables or river.

 

Each day our children learn, achieve, discover, explore, accomplish, grow, play, conquer, sing, jump with joy, share, have fun, experiment, form friendships, appreciate, hug, smile, build, respect, listen, practise, dance, acquire new skills,create, climb, balance, run, ride scooters, go for nature walks, paint, draw, paste, participate, acknowledge, and of course lots and lots more!

But best of all, We JUST love to love!

My school is a close knit family with a sense of warmth, a never ending strong bond, where we work together as a team (parent, child and dedicated teachers) reaping, marvelling, sharing and celebrating the intricate pleasures and wonders of each child blossoming to his/her full potential.

As an Educator, to my past and present pupils:

I love you dearly and thank you for all the fond memories of endless fun, laughter and joy.

I will always hold a special place in my heart for you!

 

.

 

My garden – a Place of Heaven filled with Special Memories

Written by Julia Gorham

  

“I grow plants for many reasons: to please my eye or to please my soul, to challenge the elements or to challenge my patience, for novelty or for nostalgia, but mostly for the joy in seeing them grow.”

David Hobson

 

I bought an acre property in Bryanston in 2000. With beautiful tall trees and vast open spaces, due to all the plants in the garden being removed by the previous owner. It was dry, alone and crying out in desperate need of loving care. Upon visiting the property and driving up the long driveway, I instantly fell in love with the impressive trees on either side of the driveway, who openly whispered a secret history of interesting tales to share with me, with their sudden swaying of branches and display of their breath taking large, oak rectangular leaves.

 

I instantly had a vision of creating a beautiful garden, filled with different colours for each season and special spaces, a garden to create with passion. This would be my special project, an exciting challenge that will be an amazing treasure, forever to hold.

 

Over the past few years, I pursued my dream and created my dream garden filled with love and hard work. I bought every garden book I could find and drove many miles to find the perfect plants for my special garden. To my delight, I watched my garden come alive with sparkles of colour and the soothing arrays of new life. With love and patience my garden grew each year, to fulfil my ultimate dream.

 

My garden is a place where I can find peace and happiness, a place where we buried our much loved dogs, – right in the middle of the rose garden and guess what?  Orange daisies sprung up in memory of them! It’s a place where my girls made daisy chains, pansy headbands, swung high from the trees, a place where they climbed the large trees, cut sweet, scented roses and jasmine to place in long glass vases, a place where they played fun games, ran with their dogs, had picnics, played “hide and seek,” scooted down the driveway with the open, welcoming white African daises on either side.

 

My girls planted their favourite vegetable seeds in the vegetable garden, watering them each day, they picked bright, purple mulberries, ripe round plums and peaches to eat to make fruit jams. They watched goldfish in their carefully placed fish pond in the middle of the rose garden, whilst sitting on their favourite bench, picked rosemary and bay leaves for home cooked meals.  My mother kindly donated bright purple agapanthus, African daises, pink creepers, delicate violets and bamboo from her garden that reminds of us of her each day. These memories of these plants carefully planted in my garden, will be ingrained in my family memories forever.

 

My garden is place of heaven and a dream come true! As I walk in my garden or gaze through the windows, it always gives me immense pleasure, joy and a sense of tranquillity!

 

 

Pets Complete Our Families

Written by Julia Gorham

 

advantages of pets and familiesFor most of us, our best childhood memories are growing up with our beloved cats or dogs.

A great addition to any family, is the gift of giving your child a dog or cat . A pet will be  constant companions, best friends providing unconditional love, with a positive impacts   in your children lives.

The relation between man and pets has existed since thousands of years. Studies have proven that the presence of pets promotes sociability with children is a key-factor for successful relationship between family members. Pets in a family home will favour better communication between your family members too.

Family pets will  increase your children’s, affection,  compassion and empathy and promotes self esteem. It gives children a sense of responsibility by teaching them how to care for pets, who rely on us for food, water and love. Pets will help your children reduce their anxiety, tediousness and fear and to develop a better capacity, to integrate and be more focused in school. 

A family is not complete without a pet, which will fill your children lives with happiness and laughter, including special memories for them to hold forever.

The value of play for young children

value of play

By Julia Gorham

 

“Children need the freedom and time to play. Play is not a luxury. Play is a necessity.” Kay Redfield Jamison.

 

Play is the most valuable way that that children learn. Play allows children to use their creativity while developing their imagination, dexterity, and physical, cognitive, and emotional strength. Play is important to healthy brain development. It is through play that children at a very early age engage and interact in the world around them.

Maria Montessori  stated “The hands are the instrument of a man’s intelligence.” This statement recognizes the tremendous importance to a young child of having exciting objects to hold and listen to and feel and manipulate. And, as young children struggle to create a desired effect with a toy, they discover that it isn’t always easy. They realize that there is perhaps a problem to be solved and that they have to practice to acquire and improve the skills necessary to achieve their goal.  

value of play Sandton MontessoriStudies have proven that play with other children is also critical for the development of children’s social skills too. They are developing skills and habits and attitudes that will stay with them throughout their lives. Play is children’s work, and they give a tremendous amount of energy and effort to it. It promotes the facets of emotional well being learning awareness, acceptance, personals integration, coping skills and building values including empathy, trust and respect for others while they play.

Play stimulates a child’s perceptual motor development with eye-hand co-ordination, where they learn to manipulate objects, locomotive skills, learning to jump, hop, climb etc. learning to control their bodies.

Play promotes the aspects of the child’s intellectual development with problem solving skills, initiation and memory, concept formation and association and classification.

value of playPlay develops language skills that forms the basis of the child’s language which include receptive, expressive non-verbal and auditory memory and discrimination skills.

Different types of play can also include manipulative play where children use their small muscles to build something, play with educational toys, sensory play involving touch and feel with different mediums, water play which is a calming activity, sand and water play and creative play in the form of art.

Play is vital for the child’s total development for the very reason that it is the most important way that a child learns. No activity is as valuable to the young child.

As parents, we must not underestimate the value of play for young children.

 

So let your child learn, have fun and play, play, play!

By Julia Gorham. 

The importance of nature for Preschoolers

benefits of nature for children

As the owner and teacher at a preschool located in a country setting,  I have observed the benefits and wonders of nature for Preschoolers. Children who experience nature and an outdoor learning environment will find this contributes to their healthy development. With our children having access to modern technology, there is little time in their lives to connect with the multitude of delights of creation

As an educator, I  ensure that the children who attend my country children playing in leaves, benefits of nature for childrenpreschool become close to nature and are exposed to weekly nature walks, which includes river walks, gazing at fish and ducks swimming by, playing under the shade of trees, tossing autumn leaves, observing bird life, picking dandelions and wild flowers, selecting acorns, playing in the sand with sticks, collecting pine cones, running in the forests, playing hide and seek, having open ended discussions about nature and much more.

We also enjoy playing the “I spy game’; encouraging children to see the natural wonders in nature. These weekly nature activities give children great pleasure, with direct hands on experience and develop a reference for life that cannot be fostered as profoundly in any other way, resulting in a sense of calmness, increased physical activity, lifting moods and celebrating the beauty of nature. Regular family outings, where children are exposed to natural settings is essential for the well being of children.
children at a river, benefits of nature for preshoolersAn overwhelming body of studies has shown that  play in green areas has a multitude of benefits such as:

-cognition (Wells, 2000)

-academics (American Institutes for Research, 2005)

-Reducing ADHD symptoms (Kuo and Taylor, 2004).

-creativity (Bell and Dyment, 2006)

-eyesight (American Academy of Ophthalmology, 2011)

-social relations improvement (Burdette and Whitaker, 2005).

-self discipline (Taylor, Kuo and Sullivan, 2001)

-stress reduction 

 

Maria Montessori

“It is also necessary for his psychical development to place the soul of the child in contact with creation, in order that he may lay up for himself treasure from the directly educating forces of living nature.” Maria Montessori Maria Montessori would agree with the movement to expose children to the outdoors. She placed a great emphasis on nature and nature education.

Dr. Montessori also felt that the outdoor environment should be an extension of the classroom.

 

 montessori quote about nature

Are you looking for a school set in nature? For more information visit Field and Study Montessori’s website here. 

– Julia Gorham and Heather Step

The importance of art for Pre-Schoolers

Written by Julia Gorham

 

Children are naturally curious. From the minute they gain control of their limbs, they work to put themselves out into the world to see how it all works. They explore, observe and imitate, trying to figure out how things operate and how to control themselves and their environments. This unrestricted exploration helps children form connections in their brain, it helps them learn—and it’s also fun.

Art is a natural activity to support this free play in children. The freedom to manipulate different materials in an organic and unstructured way allows for exploration and experimentation. These artistic endeavors and self-directed explorations are not only fun, but educational as well. Art allows youth to practice a wide range of skills that are useful not only for life, but also for learning. So why is art so important for preschoolers?

Skills youth practice when participating in art activities include:

  • Fine motor skills. Grasping pencils, crayons, chalk and paintbrushes helps children develop their fine motor muscles. This development will help your child with writing, buttoning a coat and other tasks that require controlled movements.
  • Cognitive development. Art can help children learn and practice skills like patterning and cause and effect (i.e., “If I push very hard with a crayon the color is darker.”). They can also practice critical thinking skills by making a mental plan or picture of what they intend to create and following through on their plan.
  • Math skills. Children can learn, create and begin to understand concepts like size, shape, making comparisons, counting and spatial reasoning.
  • Language skills. As children describe and share their artwork, as well as their process, they develop language skills. You can encourage this development by actively listening and asking open-ended questions in return. It is also a great opportunity to learn new vocabulary words regarding their project (i.e., texture). In addition to helping youth develop important skills, free expression is also good for overall health and well-being. Giving your child a creative outlet can help relieve stress and work through things happening in their lives. By encouraging artistic expression, you can help facilitate learning.
  • why art is important for childrenTalk with your child about their work. It’s often hard to decipher a child’s drawings, even though the child knows exactly what it is. When we ask, “What is it?” we are saying that it should look like something we’d recognize. Instead, ask openended questions like “Tell me about your picture.” You can also describe specific things your child is doing by saying things such as, “You’re making short lines, I see you are using red, green and blue.” You can also describe the actions your child is taking or the materials they are using by saying things such as, “You are using a soft paintbrush, I noticed you are making small circles, you are using two crayons at the same time!”
  • Imitate your child. Instead of drawing your own picture, sit down with your child and imitate their actions. Make big scribbles, small lines or practice drawing circles. If your child is focused on what you are drawing or how “good” your picture is, they are less likely to be imaginative and creative on their own.
  • Provide choices. Gather a wide range of materials for your child to use like paint, coloured pencils, chalk, play dough, markers, crayons, oil pastels, scissors and stamps. Mix it up by bringing in unexpected materials like Q-tips, dinosaurs, dry pasta or beans.
  • the importance of artSupport, don’t lead. Have you ever noticed that activities become much less fun when they are dictated by someone else? The same goes for kids—let them decide what materials they want to use and how and when to use them. Maybe they want to peel the paper off a crayon and use it lengthwise on the paper, instead of writing with the tip.
  • Keep it open-ended. Instead of sitting down with a specific plan or outcome in mind, let your child explore, experiment and use their imaginations. They might make a big mess or change their mind several times—this is all part of the creative process.
  • Focus on the process, not the product. Encouraging your child in the action of unstructured art helps them work with intrinsic motivation. It teaches them to express themselves freely, without worrying about what others think. If a lot of attention is given to the final product or we spend a lot of energy praising the end result, a child may be more likely to do things to get your approval instead of doing what they want to do. Part of focusing on the process involves encouraging effort; exploration and effort are more important than the end product. Notice their hard work!
  • Let it go. As long as a child is safe (i.e., not running with scissors), let them explore. They may spend the majority of the time sharpening coloured pencils instead of actually drawing with them. Children learn through playing, exploring and trial and error. When we give them freedom to discover, they are learning to create and experiment in new and innovative ways.

 

Get your child creating and learning—all you’ll need is a paintbrush and an open mind.

This post was also published on Montessori Rocks here. 

  • 1
  • 2
  • Next Page »

South African Kids and Parenting Blogs

Recent Posts

  • Toadstool toddler art
  • Opposites theme for Preschoolers
  • Plastic bottle rockets
  • An egg carton bee and a stick worm
  • The Amazing Montessori Sensorial “Hands On” Learning Materials

Enter your email address:

Delivered by FeedBurner

salt dough handprint, mothers day

Copyright © 2019 · The Marianne Theme By Blogelina · Built on the Genesis Framework