As mother’s ourselves, we are always interested to know how the Child and Family Science experts come up with their data. And, what the outcomes are.
From a study forming part of the Master’s Degree Programme in Education and Child Studies at the Universiteit Leiden in the Netherlands, they posed a few questions to their students.
- Do childhood experiences of parents impact the way in which they raise their own children?
- What are the consequences and causes of child abuse?
- How do genetic factors influence a child’s growth?
- How does genetic predisposition and the environment influence a child’s growth?
- How do neurobiological processes influence a parents and child’s behaviour?
- In what way does day-care have an effect on the emotional development of a child and their relationship to their parents?
- What needs to be taken into account for adoptive and foster children?
- What early childhood experiences can affect their developmental behaviour and give rise to challenges?
We are of the opinion that all these questions are very relevant, and of course, the answers to them, even more so.
As all children are so very different, one has to know their personality to know how to raise them. And, as per these questions, their history too, and that of their parents.
As a result, 5 trends have emerged, whereby schools and educators across the board, will be applying these in order to educate and develop the young minds in a better manner. This particular study is from a US-based site, but rings true for how the South African school system is starting to work.
- Assessing young learners more often
Initial testing to see where a child fits on the grid, as well as on-going tests, can help teachers and parents alike, in knowing where the child has difficulties, and where they excel. In addition, knowing more about the child’s parents and their history, can help the educator understand the child better.
- Early childhood programmes on the rise
Much like our GAP programmes, there are more and more of these pre-school style educational set-ups starting up. Gone are the days of just dropping your kid at Grade 1 (or Sub A as it was in our days) and expecting them to just manage. Early childhood programmes, which can start as early as a few months old, are essential to preparing the young ones for the world of big school.
- Physical Fitness will be more of a focus
While kids move around a lot, the trend, once they are able to swipe their little fingers across a screen, is that they are most definitely moving less. Child obesity is on the increase in South Africa, and the inactiveness of our youth is concerning. The aim is to encourage children to partake in sports that can eventually be seen as lifetime sports, such as swimming, martial arts, dancing and running. Our GAP classes are very physical, for both baby and mom!
- Technology Integration
It is the way of the future, and we must respect that our children will be utilising technology more and more. There are many benefits to incorporating technology, such as computers, tablets and e-learning books, into our kids’ education process. It is in the balancing of this with the aforementioned point, that is key to a healthy lifestyle.
