Tag: family

Reclaiming Childhood

~ Kate ~ Leave a comment

It occurred to me today that we’re living in a world that is nothing like the one I knew as a child. Obviously this pandemic has drastically changed society, but even aside from that, our world has changed. Technology is abundant, but so are dangers and deception. Smartphones and tablets and screens are an extension of our body. Worrying statistics show us that childhood anxiety is on the rise. Families are being told that they function best when separated and are encouraged to enter their children into ‘the system’ earlier and earlier. A system where children have become victims to wicked and worrying agendas that are infiltrating our schools, our televisions, our lives, their childhood. We live in the age of social distancing, in a society where we are pitted against one another, where human connection is lost and undervalued. Education has become less about children, and more about adults.
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In this crazy and chaotic world, I want my children to be free. I want them to experience their childhood wholeheartedly and fully. I want them to run away from the bombardment of handheld screens and feel the grass under their toes and the sun on their face. In a world that is unpredictable and ever-changing, I want them to know that they are a part of a solid family unit and an eternal plan. I want them to learn how to safely navigate this new digital age without cyber threats and social media attacks and secrets and adult content and mainstream media. I want to treasure their innocence, rather than see it snatched away by today’s culture. I want them to love learning, to be curious and discover things, without being squashed by standardised testing. I want my children to run up the slide and climb trees without being told that it’s against the playground rules. I want them to connect with other humans. I want them go against every grain of this society that tells us how we should live our life. I want them to be free to be a child and to experience kindness, silliness, contentment, safety and joy.

The Vestibular System and Child Development

~ Kate ~ Leave a comment

Did you know the vestibular system is our body’s first sensory system to develop in the womb? It is controlled by the inner ear, and it is incredibly important.
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A well-developed vestibular system allows children to have the postural strength to sit at a desk, or to control their arm muscles when writing. Stimulating the vestibular system improves fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination. The vestibular system even helps to develop eye muscle movements that are required to track words when reading.
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The thing is, in order to develop the vestibular system, children need to MOVE. Running, or playing a short physical game may stimulate the vestibular system to a small extent. But since this important sensory system is stimulated by fluid in the inner ear, what children really need to be doing is swinging, rolling, going upside down, tumbling, jumping from heights, falling, clambering and climbing. Unstructured, risky, physical play.
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When we impose rules like ‘no running on the playground’ or ‘no going up the slide’ or ‘you cannot climb that’ we are hindering the development of this important system. It’s completely counter productive to tell children to stop moving and sit still – they will not develop the muscle and posture control they need to sit and work unless they spend their childhood MOVING!

The Rise of ‘Homeschooling’ amid COVID-19…

~ Kate ~ Leave a comment

Isn’t it funny and amazing how the word ‘homeschooling’ has suddenly become a part of our everyday vocabulary? With the COVID-19 crisis, many schools are closed or parents are choosing to keep their children home. Almost overnight, people are no longer looking at others in shock when they reveal that they are homeschooling!

Let’s not forget though, that the version of ‘homeschooling’ currently happening is not typical. Home educated children, who are normally out engaging with their community, are confined by the walls of their home. We’re isolated, lacking social interaction, missing family and friends. Parents are stressed because they’re trying to work from home with little ones about, or they have lost their jobs completely. We’re living amid a worldwide pandemic. Homeschooling is not normally like this.

However, despite this, I am also seeing so much positivity surrounding homeschooling emerge during this time which makes my heart happy. Parents are realising that their children are still learning. It looks different, sure. But they are capable of learning away from school!

At the moment, social media is littered with happy photos posted by parents navigating this whole new home education thing. Sharing their little homeschool space they have set up, marvelling at how peacefully their children are working – or how chaotically joyful it is to have them around. Parents are posting pictures and videos of various educational activities they have been doing with their children. Many parents are even talking about how they’re not following a school routine, but have instead realised how valuable activities like gardening, sewing, cooking, playing and just talking and reading with their kids are. When I look at all of these families sharing their newfound homeschooling journey, I can’t help but notice a hint of pride in their posts – they’re proud of the fact that they have realised they can actually provide their children with meaningful, educational experiences.

Many people are also realising that in this current age, educational opportunities can be provided for digitally. You do not have to attend a brick-and-mortar school to participate in a class. Children are taking classes online, having video chats with teachers and other field experts, and participating in all sorts of online classrooms and conversations. What a blessing technology is! Obviously, it is not ideal to spend our entire educational lives immersed in a digital world. But, homeschooled children usually participate in a balance of real-life social interactions and online learning opportunities. This crisis has prompted many parents (and teachers) to realise that, thanks to technology, children can participate in educational experiences remotely.

When this is all over, and children go back to school as their parents head back into the workforce, my hopes are that many families might continue to homeschool after seeing such rich benefits (Side note: You don’t have to be a stay-at-home parent to homeschool. My husband and I both work outside the home!). I know that every family is completely different and that homeschooling may not fit with everyone or be everyone’s choice – and that’s okay! But I also hope that perhaps after this, homeschooling will no longer be seen as so unusual, radical or unacceptable. That society will have a new appreciation for home education and that we may better understand why an increasing number of families are choosing to homeschool their children. Because all of those wonderful things you’re posting about – the unrushed mornings, spending more time as a family, learning through real life – us homeschoolers get to experience those joys permanently.