Unfortunately, according to a research article in Change Magazine (Sep/Oct 2010), there is no credible evidence that learning styles even exist. The article specifically refers to the VARK teaching styles that are in vogue: 

“Students do have preferences about how they learn. Many students will report preferring to study visually and others through an auditory channel. However, when these tendencies are put to the test under controlled conditions, they make no difference – learning is equivalent whether students learn in the preferred mode or not. A favourite mode of presentation (e.g. visual, auditory, or kinesthetic) often reveals itself to be instead a preference for tasks for which one has high ability and at which one feels successful.”

So how best to teach learners then? 

According to Dr Derek Muller, the creator of Veritasium, a YouTube channel about science, there’s a lot of research available that supports multimodal approaches (teachers combining various styles to best convey and explain complex concepts):

“There are many evidence-based teaching methods that improve learning, learning styles are just not one of them…. The best learning experiences are those that involve multiple different ways of understanding the same thing.”

Ultimately, he concluded that the most important thing for learning is not the way the information is presented but what is happening inside the learner’s head. “People learn best when they are actively thinking of the material, solving problems or imagining what happens if different variables change.”

The Love Trust’s approach to multimodal teaching

To better serve children, especially the most vulnerable children in our society, The Love Trust has developed a multimodal approach that aims to help learners at their Nokuphila School in Thembisa better understand their work material and overcome various barriers to learning through psychosocial support tools, learning aids, teaching programmes and complementary teaching methodologies.

This type of dedication and awareness to their learner’s physical, psychological and cognitive state when teaching new and complex material is crucial for children from impoverished homes.

Particularly where access to new and creative learning experiences are harshly limited, schooling among adults in the family low to non-existent, and children who often suffer forms of emotional, psychological, and physical trauma.

The Love Trust accomplishes this through heightened learning experience and opportunities that engage children’s minds through creativity, problem solving, imagination and physical interactions that help them understand and grapple with abstract concepts:

Personalised teaching: 

Special care is dedicated to learners who are identified as struggling. This involves investigations by specialists to uncover what the barriers to learning these specific learners have and which might mean adjusting the teaching methods to accommodate that learner’s specific needs, enquiring into the situations at home through a social worker, and providing practical as well as psychosocial support.

Sport, art, culture and music:

Through physical activity and exposure to other disciplines such as music (like their Yamaha recorder programme) and art, learners develop intra- and interpersonal skills that contribute to strengthening their confidence in their ability and reflected in their scholastic performance.

Technology: 

Nokuphila School makes use of learning technologies that includes Smart Boards, an eLearning platform and a state-of-the-art computer room where learners can master ICT and robotics skills on par with many schools in more affluent areas of South Africa.

Gamification: 

Teaching through play is a crucial part of child development at Nokuphila School. So much so that they include parent training lessons where parents are shown how to engage with their children from an early age through playing educational games such as Lego building blocks.

Bilingual education: 

Although their curriculum is in English, Nokuphila’s curriculum includes isiZulu lessons taught by mother tongue home language speakers who not only make the children more comfortable speaking in their mother tongue but also the correct vernacular.

Caring personnel: 

Nokuphila prides itself in the quality of its staff, not only in terms of their academic achievements and constant drive for self-improvement but for their dedication to relate, empathise and engage with learners on a meaningful level.

The post How Do Children Learn Best? appeared first on Tech | Business | Economy.

While these platforms offer opportunities for connection and self-expression, they also come with inherent risks. As parents, it’s crucial to take proactive steps to safeguard our children’s online safety.

Trevor Cooke, Privacy Expert at EarthWeb, explores five essential social media settings that can help protect kids online, along with guidelines for configuring them effectively.

Growing Concerns and Proactive Parental Supervision

As children spend more time online, the risks associated with social media platforms have become increasingly apparent. Concerns about cyberbullying, predatory behavior, and exposure to explicit content have prompted parents to take proactive measures to safeguard their children’s online experiences.

For example, in 2022, TikTok saw a significant amount of content actioned per 100,000 users, with a staggering 37,798 videos removed.

The most common reason for content removal was ‘Minor Safety,’ indicating potentially harmful content for minors.

Identifying Key Settings and Features

Popular social media platforms offer various settings and features that can enhance children’s safety online. These include privacy settings, content filters, account restrictions, location sharing controls, and notification settings. Understanding how to utilize these features effectively is essential for parents to create a safer online environment for their children.

1. Privacy Settings: Safeguarding Personal Information

Privacy settings are fundamental tools for controlling access to personal information. Platforms like Facebook offer robust privacy features, allowing users to set their profiles to private and limit who can view their posts and personal details.

By encouraging children to configure these settings and disable location sharing, parents can enhance privacy and security.

2. Content Filters: Filtering Out Inappropriate Content

Content filters are essential for shielding children from harmful or explicit content. Instagram’s content filtering options enable parents to block or filter out inappropriate material based on age and content categories.

By customizing these filters, parents can ensure their children have a safer and more age-appropriate browsing experience.

3. Account Restrictions: Managing Interactions and Features

Account restrictions empower parents to control who can interact with their child’s account and access certain features.

Snapchat, for instance, allows users to limit direct messages and friend requests from strangers. By setting these restrictions, parents can minimize the risk of unwanted interactions and access to age-inappropriate content.

4. Location Sharing Controls: Protecting Privacy and Safety

Location sharing controls enable parents to manage when and with whom their child shares their location information.

Snapchat and Instagram offer such controls, allowing users to share their whereabouts with approved friends only.

By educating children about the risks of sharing their location and enabling these controls, parents can enhance their child’s safety online.

5. Notification Settings: Staying Informed and Alert

Notification settings play a crucial role in keeping parents informed about their child’s online activity. Platforms like Snapchat provide alerts for new messages and friend requests, allowing parents to monitor their child’s interactions effectively.

By configuring these settings to receive alerts concerning activity or content, parents can stay vigilant and address potential risks promptly.

Trevor says,

“Prioritizing children’s online safety requires a multifaceted approach that includes both proactive parental supervision and leveraging the built-in safety features offered by social media platforms.”

By implementing these essential settings and guidelines, parents can create a safer and more secure online environment for their children to explore and connect with others.

[Photo by Andrea Piacquadio on Pexels]

The post 5 Social Media Settings That Will Keep Your Kid Safe on Social Media appeared first on Tech | Business | Economy.

But before you strap your kid to a stroller or send them to the “naughty corner,” hold on.  Let’s debunk five of the biggest myths about those whimsical creatures we call children:

Myth #1: They’re Tiny Emotional Black Holes

Newsflash: children aren’t just miniature tantrum machines. They have a whole kaleidoscope of emotions bubbling beneath the surface and expressing them (loudly) is their job.

Instead of shushing the tears or dismissing the giggles, see them as windows into their world. Validate their feelings, even the messy ones, and help them develop healthy coping mechanisms.

You’ll be surprised how quickly sunshine follows the storm clouds.

Myth #2: Sleep? What Sleep?

Sure, babies might be Olympic champions of bedtime, but sleep training isn’t a one-size-fits-all. Every child, like every adult, has their own sleep rhythm. Instead of chasing the “perfect” sleep schedule, focus on creating a consistent bedtime routine and a calming sleep environment.

Remember, sometimes snuggles and lullabies are more effective than rigid timetables.

Myth #3: Screens = Smart Kids

Sure, iPads can be babysitters in disguise, but don’t underestimate the power of unplugged play. Building LEGO block towers, painting masterpieces with mud, and playing jigsaws aren’t just fun – they’re how kids learn about cause and effect, problem-solving, and the world around them.

Be their partner in exploration, not just a remote-control provider.

Myth #4: Comparison is the Thief of Joy (and Sanity)

That little voice whispering, “Your kid still isn’t walking at this age?” or “Look at Eni, already reading at age two!” is the parenting troll we all need to silence. Every child develops at their own pace, and comparing them to others is a recipe for stress (yours and theirs).

Celebrate their unique strengths and milestones, big or small, and watch them blossom with confidence.

Myth #5: You’re Doing It Wrong (All the Time)

Let’s face it, there’s no parenting handbook for handling a hurricane of spaghetti or deciphering the secret language of “No, but actually Yes.” The truth is, there’s no one “right” way to raise a child. There will be bumps, spills, and epic meltdowns, but remember, you’re doing your best – and do it. That’s enough.

Trust your instincts, seek support when needed, and most importantly, enjoy the chaotic, beautiful ride.

Takeaway

So, parents, your mini humans (children) might wear mismatched socks and speak in weird little riddles, but they’re also capable of incredible love, humour, and resilience. Be their guide, their cheerleader, and their biggest fan.

After all, raising humans is the greatest adventure of every wholesome parent, is it not?

*Written by VICTORIA OWOLABI – For The Wholesome Parents Project (TWP), an initiative of MSc Media & Communication Students of Pan-Atlantic University, Nigeria (FT-16)

[Featured Image Credit]

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This became more apparent during the pandemic where children (and adults) – confined to their homes because of lockdowns and restrictions – added more screen time to their days.

For many parents, screen time for children offers a break, some relief and a distraction as adults try to juggle work, life and other responsibilities.

With the ongoing school holidays, children of all ages have more time on their hands to be attached to phones, tablets, computers and televisions. However, you can decrease the amount of time your child spends staring at screens and, instead, get them out and about. 

Here are fun and creative ways to get your children outside over these holidays. 

1. Plan nature walks and hikes

Depending on how old your child is and what their fitness level is, you can plan for mild to moderate walks and hikes.

If you are in an area that is close to a park, like The Dreamworld Africana, you can head out as a family for regular walks. Alternatively, a walk around your neighbourhood will do wonders for all of you and give your child some fresh air and a break from screens. 

2. Go on a family trip

If you have the means, plan a holiday out of town for the family. There’s no better way to keep kids off their devices than to physically take them to an area that encourages disconnecting.

Kainji Lake and Yankari National Parks are excellent choices for families, as kids and adults alike will be captivated by the animals, the smell of the outdoors and the wide open spaces.

Game drives, nature walks, and bird watching are just a few of the activities available there. 

3. Relieve your house manager

Consider giving your live-in house manager some time off to see her family, rest and recharge. Assign some light tasks around the home to keep the kids occupied while she’s away. Have the older ones help with meal preparation or cleaning the outdoors while the younger ones can tidy up the living room area.

Also, keep in mind that it’s the school holidays, and you don’t want to put yourself or your children under too much pressure with house chores.

Engage a vetted and trustworthy cleaner from SweepSouth to come in once or twice a week to help you thoroughly clean the house.

One of the advantages of hiring a domestic worker from SweepSouth is that they conduct criminal and reference checks on all the domestic workers on the platform, giving the customers the much-needed peace of mind while their cleaning is being done.

4. Involve them in different  activities

Despite their ages, look around for activities within and outside the home to engage them in. Teenagers can take up volunteer opportunities in children’s homes, or you can also take them upcountry to help their grandparents or other elderly relatives. This fosters responsibility in them.

For younger children, plan activities around the home that they can engage in with ease. If you have an outdoor area, whether it’s a backyard or a balcony, consider getting potted plants or a pet that they can tend to.

This not only gets children outside, but also gets them excited about doing their part for nature. Activities like baking, reading, or arts and crafts are great indoor ideas.

Alen Ribic, Co-founder of SweepSouth and dad of three, notes that even if your outdoor space is small, you can make it a fun and enjoyable space for the whole family if you have the right type of help.

5. Set up outdoor play dates with other parents 

The great thing about school holidays and being a parent is knowing that there are hundreds and thousands of other parents going through the same thing as you. Most parents out there are wondering what on earth to do with their children over the holidays.

So, why not set up outdoor play dates and activities together? Each day could be a different parent’s responsibility to come up with something fun. And it doesn’t have to be the whole day, either.

It could be an afternoon visit to Freedom Park, a picnic at Lekki Conservation Centre, an evening walk with other parents and children, or even a creative play day where children get to engage in their hobbies.  

School holidays can be fun for both parent and child – you just have to plan ahead of time. This not only ensures that you have enough activities to keep your child busy and off their screens for a while, but it also gives you time to adequately prepare for all the games and activities. 

The post LISTICLE: Five Ways to Get Your Children Off Screens and Outside appeared first on Tech | Business | Economy.