Early Educating

My new year started on a very good foot with lovely family friends. Really enjoyed the company, guess most of you following me on live feeds must have seen the clips. As we all know anywhere Africans are gathered together we can’t help but have arguments about African politics.  

On the matter of politics, I try as much as I can to contribute without giving myself too much headache. Statistically, Africa does have educated people but strangely no matter how learned we might be, until the people decide collectively to change their attitude on voting we will continue to have old re-circling politicians who thinks governance is their birth right.

This blog is not about politics; let’s talk about educating our children the right way while living as Diaspora.     

Without a doubt in African, the act of bringing up a child is deemed to be for all in the community. Families, friends, relatives and neighbour all contribute to ensure children are brought up right. Open rebukes are given to children whom one may not be directly responsible for as everyone believe bringing up children is a duty for all in the community. In as much as this is norm back home, in Obodo Oyinbo the parent or child primary carer is primarily the one whose responsibility is it to ensure a child is brought up properly, if this is not done then the government comes in.  

Strange as it may be, the child in your care is your responsibility to turn into a better human being in the future, here it is not the responsibility of your neighbour.

Having that in mind, my blog and vlog would be centered on this areas as they are very key to my service to the African community  

Educating a child starts not when they are born, but while they are still in your womb. I also encourage pregnant women to start reading to their child while they are still in their womb. Yeah I did say in their womb!!! Please read a book to your unborn child, tell them stories while they wriggles in your tummy. Sing to them lullaby as they quietly sleep inside as studies have shown that babies do recognise the voice of their parent when they are born.

Another aspect of early education begins when the child is born. The child’s environment should be very creative and relaxing, filled with magical lights and smoothing music. Steadily build up in their subconscious the right atmosphere you desire. Ensure that voices are not raised when arguing with your partner as babies do sense negative vibes in their parent.

There have been a lot of arguments on whether babies/chn should be allowed to watch T.V, now in my field, I know we always tell parents that too much screen time result to negative behaviour or addiction in children. This week, a study carried by Royal College of Paediatrics stated that all their research shows that screen time does not have any effect on chn but that parent should avoid them using screen 1 hour before bedtime as it can disrupt sleep and impact children’s health and wellbeing.  https://www.itv.com/news/2019-01-04/turn-off-childrens-gadgets-an-hour-before-bedtime-parents-advised/

From my experience it doesn’t really harm them to have a few hours, or minutes watching age related content.  Having them sing along to alphabetical rhymes on YouTube is a very good educational tool as they learn through singing. Now, this should not stop at nursery rhyme, introduce your child to numbers and timetables.  There are many linguistic content on BBC and Cbeebbies that develops rich vocabulary as they watch them. Remember you as a parent. you must control the things they watch so you shoould monitor what they are watching and direct their interest to educational site or channels.

Finally, one of the greatest secret of unlocking early learning is actually reading to your child. The importance of reading story books, telling imaginative stories made up instance as you cook with your child can not be over empased. It’s frightening how many times I have heard parents talk about how busy they are to read to their child or even to read a book on their own. No wonder our ability to produce quality educated children has been limited as reading is linked to quality writing skill. Chn needs to grow up being read to right from when they are babies. For as they hear your tone and volume as a baby, the joy of reading is inspired unto them which they grow with.

Last week in one of many conversation with friends, I tried hard to make them understand that there was nothing wrong with reading ‘Harry Porter’ to children as mythical novels builds up their creative minds

In Africa, we all grew up hearing tales from our parents and grandparents about distance lands and the many fight of good over evil. Sunday’s were my favourite time as we sit down at 6pm to watch ‘Tales by moon light’. I could still remember the story tellers voice and face as she brings the stories to life in our sitting rooms. These were stories of witches and wizards; good and evil; death and life filled with strange magical occurrence. These stories gave people hope that the world can be changed and wicked will always be stopped by good.  

Educate our children should be done the smart way, interestingly, the smart way is not very expensive as this means using your everyday environment to teach them. For example, while in a car, I normally play ‘Let’s describe’ game with my son even when he was 3 years old. So every object we see, we start with colours then went on to sizes now he is 5 year we are adding emotions. This little game builds up your child adjectival knowledge.

Few friends have come to complain that their children do not enjoy writing, after talking to them I understood that their approach to writing needs to change. Make writing fun, have your child write the shopping list, letters to Santa, Why mum is the bestie in the world. Writing should centre around what your child enjoys doing so that they see it as fun not formal writing like they do at school. Another key things is, don’t wait until they are 4 as child can phonetically write from the age of 3.

Thanks for reading this blog, my next blog on this would be about starting Primary education and Tutoring.

As a parent, starting early to develop your child reasoning and creative ability is key to making them keen in exploring the world around them.

Let’s educate our children the smart way, interestingly, the smart way is not very expensive as this means using your everyday enviroment to tach them. For example, while in a car, I normally play ‘Let’s describe’ game with my son even when he was 3 years old. So every object we see, we start with colours then went on to sizes now we are adding emotions. This little game builds up your child adjectival knowledge