HELPING YOUR KIDS WITH TIME MANAGMENT AND ORGANISATION AT SCHOOL

As parents, we often struggle with our own time management. Can you imagine how difficult it must be for kids?  At their young age they need to deal with school, homework, projects, sport and other activities. The best way that we can help them with this is to offer them the best systems possible with regard to time management and being organised.

Here are some tips that you can pass on to your kids - teach them to take responsibility, work smartly and to be organised now and they will take these skills with them into adulthood.

1.            BEFORE YOU CAN MANAGE YOUR TIME, YOU NEED TO KNOW HOW MUCH TIME YOU HAVE AVAILABLE

a.            Use a time sheet that shows a week at a glance. This should be divided up into days of the  week and hours in the day - starting from the time you wake up in the morning, until the time you go to bed at night, and should be in half hour increments.

b.            Block off times and shade the blocks. These could consist of the following (each in a different colour)
        i)   School hours
        ii)  Various sports and extra murals
        iii) Supper, shower and bed time

c.             You will be left with white spaces, which is your time to fit in homework, projects and any other activities that you do, including time to do your own thing.

d.            You would need to draw up a different time sheet for summer and winter as sports change. You would also need a different one during exam times as school hours and sports times often change during exams.
               

2.            TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR ALL ASPECTS OF YOUR SCHOOL LIFE

When you are younger, your parents email, write notes and call your teachers and friends parents for you, but as you get older, it is more likely to become your responsibility to do any of the following:

a.            Excuse yourself from sport

b.            Call a friend to find out about homework

c.             Send your teacher a message

d.            Anything else school related

I would suggest keeping friends and teachers contact information in your diary as it is easier and saves time to have all in one place, instead of having to search around every time you need it.

3.            BE PREPARED FOR THE NEXT DAY

If you are well prepared the evening before, you will feel far calmer for the day and it will save you getting into unnecessary trouble. Do a quick check again in the morning before you leave home.

a.            Check your timetable in your homework book

b.            Make sure all your books are packed in your bag for the next day

c.             Check that you have done all your homework

d.            Pack in your sports and PE clothes

4.            EXAM AND TEST PREPARATION

Being prepared for your exams will mean that you will go into the exam feeling confident and relaxed. You have a far better chance of achieving your best possible results that way.
Being unprepared will have the opposite effect on you - you will be worried and stressed and it will reflect in your marks in a negative way, leaving you feeling disappointed with yourself.

a.            Have a page for each subject in your homework book

b.            Write each section of work under that subject as a sub heading

c.             List each item that you need to learn under that sub heading

d.            Have a column down the right hand side where you can estimate how much time is needed to study each section. This will help you with planning your study time when it comes to exams.

e.            You can also have another column where you can tick once you have studied that section - use pencil so that you can erase it and do it again with the next set of exams.

5.            PROJECTS AND ASSIGNMENTS

Because projects and assignments are given a couple of weeks in advance, they can sometimes get forgotten or left to the last minute and then rushed through.
Sometimes when there is a big job to do, we leave it because it feels overwhelming.
Remember the question "How do you eat an elephant?" The answer is "One bite at a time!"

Instead of looking at one big task, rather break it down into “bite size” chunks that are more manageable and less overwhelming.

a.            Write down each step you need to do to complete the project (e.g. * buy cardboard *do a   mind map to establish headings and some points *research info on the internet & save to Word document *summarise into your own words * find pictures to go with the info *save pictures to memory stick and have them printed *put the project together)

b.            Estimate how long each step will take

c.            Write the due date in your homework diary

d.            Look at your time sheet to see which days are best to work on various parts of your project (it is always a good idea to put some time in over weekends, especially for things like projects)

e.            Work backwards in your diary, slotting in the tasks that you have identified from the bottom up. Always aim to finish at least 48 hours before the due date, to give you time for anything the may come up at the last minute

6.            SETTING GOALS FOR YOURSELF

A great way to start your year is to think about what you hope to achieve and where you want to be when this 12 month journey ends. If you don't set goals, you won't know where you are going or which way to go to ensure you get there.

a.            Know what you want to achieve

b.            Pick several goals for the coming year

c.             Write them down

d.            Work out your steps to achieve them

e.            Refer back to your goals on a regular basis

f.             Reward yourself when you achieve them

7.            USING A HOMEWORK DIARY OR PLANNER

It is essential to be organised at school. Most working people, even top managers use some form of diary. Learning a good system now will help you later in life.

You get many different types of diaries, some are more effective than others.

The School Sorted™ Planner is a diary that includes sheets and pages where you can do all of the things listed above. When your diary is open, you can see the full week. There is a key down the left hand side, which can be broken down into different subjects and sports or activities. Each line then represents a subject or sport. It also comes with colour sticky tabs that represent things like projects, tests, exams, orals, etc - so you can always see at a glance if something is due. It is a format that will help you stay completely on top of all that you need to do.

Written by: Alison Deary

For more info on the School Sorted Planner: 

email alison@wonderfullyorganisedwomen.co.za 

or call 021-683 1707.

SA hosts International Speedcube Competitions

2014 is the 40th anniversary of the invention of the Rubik's Cube, the world's most popular toy, with over 350 million cubes sold since it was invented. There are no statistics on the number of cubes that were purchased and remained forever unsolved, but solving the cube is far from impossible. The world record holders can do it in under six seconds, and children as young as three can solve it.

To celebrate four decades of the Rubik’s Cube there have been over 443 official cube competitions happening around the world (from Ankara to Zonhoven). Speedcubes has now added South Africa to that list and will host two official competitions, first in Johannesburg at the Sci-Bono Discovery Centre on Sunday, 23^rd November (9am to 5pm) and then at the Science Centre in Cape Town on Sunday, 30^th November (9am to 5pm). R20 000-00 worth of prize money is up-for-grabs, including for the youngest and oldest competitor at each event.

Feliks Zemdegs from Melbourne and Mats Valk from Amsterdam are the current Speedcube world champions and are both travelling to South Africa to compete at the Johannesburg and Cape Town events. Feliks currently holds the world record for solving the cube with an average time of 6.54 seconds, and Mats holds the record for the fastest single time of 5.55 seconds. Both are absolutely passionate about their craft and watching them ‘perform’ will be one of the highlights for the two competitions.

Since the launch of the original Rubik’s more complex versions have been invented. “We have over 40 different cubes aside from the standard 3x3 cube. The most complex cube is the 11x11which takes at least half an hour to solve, if you know what you are doing”, says Kim Katz from Speedcubes. For those that love the standard 3x3, here are some of the more interesting stats: world record for solving the cube with feet is 25.14 seconds; one-handed is 9.03s seconds and blindfolded is 23.19 seconds.

Join the world champions to share the joy and competitiveness of cubing. The events are about each participant reaching their personal best and having their time recorded with the World Cube Association. The Cape Town Science Centre and Sci-Bono Discovery Centre will be waiving entrance fees to the centres for the day to promote the learning made possible by engaging with a timeless toy.

The South African events are hosted by Speedcubes in partnership with Cybersmart, SACAP (The South African College of Applied Psychology), 10X Investments and Eighty20.

To enter the competitions visit speedcubes.co.za or contact Kim Katz on 083 2618485

Youtube links

World record, 5.55 seconds by Mats Valk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tBM_AE0oQp8

Emily Gittemeier aged three solves the cube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DUdq2vqybpU

Competitions

Johannesburg 23 November 2014

Sci-Bono Discovery Centre

Corner of Miriam Makeba & President Street

Johannesburg

9am - 5pm

Cape Town 30 November 2014

Cape Town Science Centre

370B Main Road

Observatory

9am - 5pm

Issued on behalf of: Speedcubes

Issued by: liquidlingo Communications

Contact: Jackie Busch

jackie@liquidlingo.co.za

082 376 4446

Christmas on a Budget

It’s October already and the countdown for Christmas has begun.  Yep, always an exciting day to look forward to, but in the back of my mind is always the cost involved.  How can we spend less this year so that it doesn't kill our finances?

It all has to start with a plan.  A budget.  Yes, the dreaded ‘B’ word!  A budget is how you are going to keep track of how you spend those hard earned Rands, and ensure that Christmas is not spoilt by a feeling of over-indulgence on the financial side.

So let’s get down to the nitty gritty.  If you follow these steps you can ensure that Christmas becomes a time for giving without the pain of excessive expenditure.

1.       GIFTS:  Decide in advance how much you are able to spend  -  either in today or per gift.

·         Draw up a list of all the people for whom you need to buy gifts.  Decide on the total amount of money you can afford to spend, and divide it by that number of people.  If this amount is below R50 per person, then you could start thinking about making the gifts. 

·        My little ‘trick’ to Christmas shopping is that I use the public holiday on 24 September to make many of my purchases.  OK, I realise that date has passed already this year, but the point here is to shop way before Christmas so that you are not shopping with Christmas prices.  It is a known fact that the shops see us coming as we look for gifts, and up go the prices.  So get it done way ahead of time.

·         Take advantage of sales during the year.  I often sit in the comfort of my home and read through the shop specific adverts which come through my post box.  I decide on particular items and then go straight in to the shop and purchase them.  This saves the feeling of wandering around aimlessly in a shopping centre trying to find something to buy for Aunty Mary.  This usually ends up in an expensive impulse purchase as your feet begin to throb.

·         Think about what the children actually need.  Fact.  Most of our children already have way too much, but maybe even suggest amongst your extended family that gifts are only bought for the children. 

·       For grandparents, they love to receive photos of the grandchildren.  Go to a photographic shop or online and have calendars made up with a selection of photos from during the year.

·         Think about the gift that you are going to give.  I know I would certainly rather receive a nice bottle of wine or some herbs for my garden than any cheap toiletries or a box of chocolates which are only going to make me fat!

·         For couples, Christmas is the ideal time to buy a joint gift  -  something that we wouldn’t normally splash out on, and something which can benefit each other for years to come.  Cushions for the patio, a coffee machine, a bedside alarm clock  -  it’s endless.

·         Oh, and the last point on the gifts, is please be realistic about how much you spend on the wrapping paper, fancy tape, bows and stickers.  They are usually just thrown away. 

2.       FOOD:  Again, decide in advance how much you are able to spend

·         Don’t go mad with food!  So often we end up seeing excess food being thrown away, alternatively we feel we are eating leftovers for weeks on end.

·         On the note of leftovers, it is always a treat to have something for Boxing Day  -  in my mind, this is definitely a day which Mom has off so she can put her feet up  -  perfect for leftovers where everyone can help themselves.

·         If you have invited family and friends to join you for Christmas Day, ask them to help with the food.  Perhaps one part of the family can take responsibility for the starters, others for the dessert, and a few more for the main course.  But as the hosts, don’t forget all those little things such as chips, nuts, sweets etc, which certainly add up in price.  Ensure that everyone is bringing their fair share according to their abilities.

·         From a Mom’s point of view, it’s not only the cost of the meal which needs to be distributed evenly; it is also the preparation work.  The day is so much better if you are not stuck behind the stove whilst the rest of the family are out partying!  Ask people to prepare the food which they are bringing along.  People generally do want to bring something and be able to contribute in a meaningful way.

3.      DRINKS:  Plan how much you can afford and share the cost

·         When it comes to drinks, I highly recommend that everyone brings along what they expect to drink.  Share the load as the cost of the drinks can become excessive.

4.       CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS

·         Buy an artificial tree.  Real trees are starting to cost more and more each year, and you are doing the environment no favour by buying real trees.   We have one of those gorgeous African wire trees.  Lovely to decorate, fold up relatively flat for storage, and best of all, they don’t drop pine needles all over the floor!

·         Make your own decorations.  There are loads of patterns on the internet and a really good fun activity for one of the weekends just before Christmas.  Young children will love getting involved here and will be able to feel really proud of their special items as they hang on display for guests to admire.  We have a family tradition of telling the story of each decoration as it goes up.

·         Don’t waste money buying crackers.  Generally, especially the type we get here, are expensive and just junk.  They look good on the table for the first few minutes and before you know, you end up with pieces of cracker strewn all over the place.

5.       A DAY TO MAKE MEMORIES

·         Most important is to remember that Christmas is a time for giving.  But it is not only about opening and playing with presents.  It is also a special time when we are together as families.  Arrange to do other things as well.  Perhaps it’s a walk on the beach, or a trip to the forest.  Just be together as a family. Give of your time and attention without spending money.

So, if you would like to have a financially healthy Christmas, remember to ask yourself well in advance “What can I afford to spend on Christmas this year”?  And then, of course, stick to your plan. 

Happy Christmas and a Good New Year to all!

Written by: Kirsty Scully

LEARNING STYLES: MAKE STUDYING EASIER

Does your child know his or her own learning style?  Knowing their learning style and using study strategies suitable for that style, can make learning quicker, easier and more effective.  Children will feel more comfortable with those strategies and achieve success.

ONE SIZE DOES NOT FIT ALL

Children learn in different ways.  One way is not necessarily better than another, it is simply different.  There are three main learning styles through which information goes into the brain:

·         Visual learning style, using the eyes.  Children learn by looking at pictures and colours, remembering the layout of a page and forming images in their brain.

·         Auditory learning style, using the ears.  Children learn by listening to the information.

·         Kinesthetic learning style, using the muscles and hands.  Children like to move around whilst learning.

Many children have mainly one learning style, while some have two learning styles, and some even have a combination of all three learning styles. 

STUDY METHODS AND LEARNING STYLES

Children can complete an appropriate questionnaire* to discover their learning style.  This will help them to choose the most suitable study methods for themselves.

It is important to note that although a child may have one learning style, it would benefit him if he also incorporates methods that are suitable for other learning styles.  The more modalities (or senses) he uses, the quicker learning will be.  Learning is a bit like filling a swimming pool.  If only one hosepipe is used, it will take a long time to fill the pool.  If many hosepipes are used simultaneously, the pool will fill up a lot more quickly.

Here are some study strategies for the different learning styles.

VISUAL LEARNERS

·         Encourage the use of coloured highlighter pens to highlight the key words.

·         Draw cartoons or pictures in the margin that relate to the topic or paragraph.

·         Pay attention to the layout of pages.  Use diagrams, flow charts and mind maps.

AUDITORY LEARNERS

·         Listen to soothing music with 58 – 60 beats per minute whilst studying.  Research has shown that this can help a person to learn more effectively.  Music with a faster tempo can have a distracting effect.

·         Read the work aloud.  One could also record the work and listen to it later.

KINESTHETIC LEARNERS

·         Use the ‘sticky notes’ system.  Write a keyword, and perhaps an additional word or two, or a little drawing, on each sticky note page.  Put each page up in a different place in a room.  Walk around the room and read each sticky note aloud.  Do this a few times, until you are able to recall what is written on each note.

·         Touch parts of your body in a set order, saying a keyword as you touch each part, e.g.

Right thumb          -        ‘Seven’

Right palm             -        ‘times’

Right elbow           -        ‘seven’

Right shoulder       -        ‘equals’

Right ear               -        ‘forty-nine’

* A questionnaire to determine children’s learning style is available in Lesson Two of the workbook at www.studyrightza.com.

Written by Karen Gottschalk

www.studyrightza.com

References:

www.brainboxx.co.uk

What are the Health Benefits of Aloe Vera?

Most of us know aloe for it benefits on the skin, but did you know that is has fantastic benefits on the inside too. That is because our insides are also covered with skin, albeit a little different in look and feel.  It is also beneficial for problems of the digestive, immune and joint systems.

Choosing the right Aloe Vera to drink is also key to these benefits.  The Barbadensis Miller or true aloe, made from the inner leaf gel, is the one with the most nutritional value.

So why would you drink Aloe Vera?

Here are the top 10 reasons to drink Aloe Vera written by Dr Peter Atherton.

1. Effect on the gut

Aloe Vera has a wonderfully beneficial action on bowel function which results in smooth and efficient transit of contents, often eradicating inconvenient colicky pain.

2. Assists in healthy digestion

A healthy digestive tract ensures that nutrients from the food we eat are absorbed into the bloodstream. There is clear, clinical evidence that by drinking Aloe Vera Gel the bowel is able to absorb these nutrients more efficiently, especially protein. I also suspect that many other substances are much better absorbed under its influence.

3. Effect on gut flora

Aloe Vera is a natural 'balancer' in many areas and nowhere more so than inside the gut, where it tends to regulate the various bacteria and yeasts that inhabit it. For example, if a person were to suffer with too much yeast in the gut, regular ingestion of the gel would tend to reduce this overgrowth. The same can be said of the more unfriendly bacteria that can accumulate in certain conditions.

4. Effect on the skin

When they are first produced deep in the epidermis, skin cells are rather large and very much alive, but by the time they reach the surface after 21-28 days (in normal skin), they are a shadow of their former selves and are transformed into just thin flakes of keratin which eventually fall off. Aloe Vera Gel provides the essential nutrition to feed the basal cells. Therefore the skin remains healthy and is able to perform its vital functions more efficiently - as well as looking much better!

5. Increases the activity of fibroblasts

Fibroblasts are specialised cells found in the skin. Their job is to produce fibre such as collagen and elastin. These fibres give the skin its structure and of course, make it look plump and elastic. The more you have, the younger your skin may look.

6. Antiviral activity

Within the mucilage layer of the leaf which surrounds the inner gel, there is a long chain of sugar or polysaccharide. This has the capability of being able to help us defend against attacks by various viruses, from the common cold to the more nasty viruses and could even help balance your immune system.

7. Anti-inflammatory and painkilling effect

Among the substances that have been identified in Aloe Vera are several that are naturally anti-inflammatory and painkilling. People who take it regularly often find that inflammatory conditions are greatly benefited.

8. A useful source of minerals

Some of the minerals found in Aloe Vera include calcium, sodium, potassium, iron, chromium, magnesium, manganese, copper and zinc. This is because the plant tends to grow in areas where soils are rich in these minerals and its roots are able to absorb and deliver them to us in a very available form.

9. A useful source of vitamins

Aloe Vera Gel contains a large range of vitamins - even trace elements of vitamin B12 which is rarely found in plants. Apart from vitamin A, it contains B-group vitamins, vitamin C, vitamin E and folic acid. Many of these vitamins cannot be stored by the body so we need to constantly top them up from the food that we eat. What better way than by drinking a daily amount of Aloe Vera Gel while at the same time building up the body's defence system against oxidative stress naturally?

10. A general tonic for good health

By drinking the Aloe Vera Gel with all its important ingredients (often now deficient in food) including 19 of the 20 amino acids needed by the human body and seven of the eight essential ones that just cannot be made, the body is able to get enough to allow complex enzyme systems to work really well. This means the body can function at 100%. The net result to the individual is a wonderful feeling of well being. As you can see from these 10 great reasons, taken daily Aloe Vera Gel is one of the best nutritional supplements available!

Written by: Nina Hill 

Ensure that you benefit from the best Quantity and Quality when choosing your aloe vera products.  

For more information contact 071 026 1454 or ninahill@flp.com

BULLYING IN SCHOOLS:

TREAT THE CAUSE NOT THE SYMPTOM

Why do we seem to not be able to eradicate bullying from schools? 

The answer is simple. We have been treating the symptoms and not the cause. We want to put a plaster on incidents and hope it heals instead of delving deeper and asking why did this happen in the first place. It has now been over a year that I have been visiting schools, doing talks and having discussions with smaller groups.  It becomes clearer to me daily; we are going about this problem all wrong. Currently we are identifying the bully, labeling him/her as the bully and punishing the bully.  We are doing the same for the victim.  Creating labels creates expectation.  

Look at clothing labels; we “expect” certain things from certain labels. No different from a bully carrying the label of “bully”. We forget the bully carries two labels, that of victim and bully.  There is not a single bully who has not been a victim. It is this protection against more pain that makes the victim take their anger and frustration out on others, adding to themselves the label of “bully”.

Being a bully is someone who chose to put on a mask, living a life of pretense.  

Pretending you have no fear, pretending to be the most confident kid in the school, while the person behind the mask lives in fear and has zero self confidence and worth. 

In group sessions I get the bullies to remove these masks, creating a safe space where they can share their stories and allow themselves to be vulnerable. I push the bully into a corner, in a gentle manner; he knows he is now exposed as someone wearing a mask and also just a victim trying to protect himself by using aggression.  They are forced to remove the mask, and face the pain. I help them deal with their trauma and give them tools on how to move forward having a label they need to lose as everyone still knows them as a bully.

Often bullies are victims of trauma outside the school. 

We live in a broken world, yet we expect our kids to act like angels and be “normal”.  Sadly “normal” to many kids are seeing horrifying images on television, going to sleep with the sounds of gunshots, hearing family members argue about money and survival and the list goes on.  Kids grow up with a sense of having to protect themselves.  No-one else will, so they put on a balaclava of protection, a mask.  They hide their pain and hurt others to feel a sense of control.

Until we look at solving the problem of bullying by labeling and punishing labels, we will never solve this problem.

Constant encouragement and support to victims to become survivors is the answer.

It is hard to have sympathy with a bully. Instinct makes us want to hate the aggressor but we need to understand why the aggressor is acting out, to solve the problem of bullying.

We have all added to this messed up society we find ourselves in, whether it be through accepting the lie on the front page of a magazine and believing that is what we should be, or whether we all strive to buy the same car to impress others, but we cannot expect the youth to know any better if we do not guide them.

Personally I feel schools need to focus more on counselling in these times we live in. Kids are left to find their own coping skills and due to lack of life experience, often make the wrong choices.  We need to allow kids to remove their masks and find their own authenticity.  

If you find what makes you different from everyone else, don’t ever change. 

Written by: Liesl Schoonraad

What is the Turn-It-Around Principle?

There is a lot to say about discovering yourself, living your true potential and facing your fears and difficulties.  We have to embrace life and learn how to overcome difficult situations so that we can move forward, improve ourselves and ultimately achieve our dreams.

Yet at the core of any life discovery is acceptance.  Acceptance without judgement.

Most of the problems, difficulties and challenges we face are not so much the actual circumstance in itself, but the fact that we judge or resist it.  The minute something goes wrong, we say “this is wrong, it shouldn't have happened – or I shouldn't be like this” etc. 

Talk about

self-discovery and how we need to change in order to improve?  Long before that we need to accept ourselves first. Discovering ourselves is not half as important as accepting ourselves first.

It is in this acceptance where the healing lies.

And this is where the Turn-Around Principle begins.  We cannot move forward unless we accept who we are, accept our circumstances, learn not to judge it and in so doing, we open the mind to look at positive possibilities as to how to Turn It Around!

That is the first step.

Secondly, the world of judgement can be devastating. We continuously judge ourselves, others and life. The root of self-esteem issues, in my opinion, begins here.  We don’t listen to one another because someone is always trying to be right.  We have difficulty in understanding one another – because that would depend ultimately on who wins the argument. 

How do I look at my life without judgement?

How do I look at my weaknesses, challenges and circumstances without it being WRONG?

This is the second step.

We form an understanding that every person, in his/her own right is unique, that circumstances are temporary and that we have, within our core, all the wisdom and ability to walk through these and to grow and to use every single weakness or barrier and turn it into a strength. Our fear can become our fuel.

And finally, once we learn how to do this – we pass it onto others. 

When we give away what we have learnt, when we make an effort to create understanding and remove judgement from others in the same way that we have removed it from ourselves – then we experience inner harmony and acceptance.

 

We don’t want to be right anymore, we want to be ourselves! We have the confidence and understanding that we can achieve, overcome and embrace life. We learn how to understand and love each other, our parents, our peers and our circumstances. 

In the light of the above, we have had huge success with the Turn Around Principle in adult workshops, turning from self-doubt and fear into self-awareness, worth and driving their own success in life and work – our teenagers need this. 

We can realise some of the learnings earlier in life,  we can be taught principles to turn any situation around from a young age.

This is why TEEN TURN AROUND was born.

Submitted by:

Michelle Vooght - Channel for Spiritual Teaching | Healing & Divine Guidance | Angel

Readings | Virtual / Face 2 Face | Inspirational Speaker & Trainer in Turn Around Principle

– www.michellevooght.com | 076 576 1664 |michelle@michellevooght.com