June 2020 - Ballito Umhlanga

Smart online tools to try:
1. Digital library: Project
Gutenberg is a library of over 60 000
e-books. Download them or read
them on kindle.
2. Play to read: Teach Your Monster
To Read is an award-winning series
of games that’s helped millions of
children learn to read.
4. MAKE TIME TO READ
Daily reading is crucial for your child’s development. The junior phase should
read 15 to 20 minutes a day, intermediate phase 20 to 30 minutes a day and
the senior phase should read 30 to 40 minutes a day. Read aloud to enhance
comprehension. If they want to read more, encourage them to.
5. USE ONLINE RESOURCES WISELY
Online resources can be advantageous, but be careful of what is available. Think
of what your child’s routine was before lockdown … don’t overload them with
online PDF worksheets when they have schoolwork assigned to them already.
Choose an online dance or piano class, online Sunday school class or online
workout class that is not schoolwork to help excite the learning.
6. LEARN ‘OUTSIDE’ THE CLASSROOM
Try out passion projects such as cooking, painting, crafting or learning a musical
instrument. These types of activities could help you bond with your child and
you can learn a new skill together. Alternatively, they can do these on their own
while you are working.
7. ASK FOR HELP
If your child becomes frustrated, try to assist them. If you cannot help, ask the
school teacher. Encourage your child to be open with you and their teachers. It
is okay for you not to be able to assist. Alternatively, arrange an online session
with classmates. Peers can be invaluable resources.
8. TALK TO EACH OTHER
Talk to your child about his or her concerns and anxieties. Set goals with them.
It’s okay to say, “I’m not doing so well right now…” however, encourage them
not to abandon their goals. Talk to other parents from your school. They are
experiencing the same frustrations and successes as you. You are not an island!
As parents, you need to try to minimise your stress first, then your child’s stress.
3. Story time: Nalibali is a national
reading for enjoyment campaign to
spark children’s potential through
storytelling and reading.
4. Master maths: Prodigy Game is
a popular online math platform for
kids from grade 1-8. It has a free
parent programme to monitor your
child’s progress and get reports.
5. Did you know? Answer life’s
biggest questions with Brightside.
me on YouTube Kids.
6. Scientific stuff: Mystery Science
is a free site for children from Preschool
to Grade 5.
7. Little astronauts: Get free
articles, videos and resources
related to aeronautics and space
exploration on Nasa.
8. Learning made fun:
KhanAcademy has online tools for
various subjects including science,
math and history.
9. Let’s build: ToyTheatre is a fun
site for kids to build toys and has
free drawings.
10. Play time: PBSKids has a lot of
entertaining kid’s games
9. SUPERVISE, DON’T DO
Be involved in a supervisory capacity only. Otherwise, the teacher will have a
distorted view of your child’s capability. It is tempting to complete sentences or
find the answers for your child. This does not help your child discover and learn.
10. BE FORGIVING…
…of yourself and your child. If you need to scrap the day’s work and put your
child outside to play or put movies on all day, then do it! You do not have to
homeschool if it is going to cause severe emotional distress.
Details: www.kipmcgrath.co.za/umhlanga, umhlanga@kipmcgrath.co.za or 074
111 1733.
June 2020 Get It • Ballito Umhlanga 23