If, like me, you were doing our February Flush Challenge then I dare say you were glad to see the 1st day of March arrive!
It was 'wee for free' day!
I want to say a big thank you to all those individuals and businesses who have taken part so far. I know many of you are still going and doing a Lenten challenge - so keep up the good work guys.
So far I have had a few amounts handed to me. This has been brilliant but we are still a long way off our target. So if you have any outstanding collections for the February Flush challenge, you can track me down and hand them to me, or contact me via email at natashas-africa@gmail.com to find out more details about paying your money in.
We need a massive push in March to make sure we reach or even exceed our target.
So watch this space for a few other fundraisers, in the coming weeks.
Saturday, March 2, 2013
Tuesday, February 26, 2013
Technological Parenting
I am amazed at how many parents rely on technology to 'parent' their children and how in today's society this is starting to be the 'norm'.
I don't mean using the internet to find parenting strategies or researching some fun activities to do alongside your child, I mean actually expecting technology to do the parenting.
Children sitting in front of TV's, X box screens, DVD's, ipods and even ipads. All for a quiet life.
Yes they are stimulating entertainment for children but they are no substitute for building real true meaning relationships with your child.
Children become 'zombie-fied' in front of screens. Teens start to believe what they see. They become de-sensitized to the gruesome horrors in front of them. This process is starting to take effect at a much younger age, due to us as a society allowing children of a much younger age to take on this lifestyle.
It's tough on parents finding that happy medium. But yes, we are the first to grumble when technology has a negative impact on our children.
Technology is a wonderful thing. I often wonder how we lived before we had instant access to the internet in the palm of our hands on our mobile phones? It has its benefits but it also has it's downfalls.
Keeping our children safe should, as a parent, be our number one priority.
Having keep safe messages in our homes is a good place to start.
A few years ago there were huge campaigns to highlight the risks of chat rooms and guidelines on families to keep computers in a family room where they could be easily monitored. A PC used to be the only way they could actually access the internet. Now the internet can be hooked up to many other devices.
So many young people have x box live in their bedrooms. They have facebook and other social networks. They have access to the world around them in a few clicks.
But do we really know enough to keep our children safe?
Do you know who your child speaks too online? Do you know if they accept people they don't actually know to befriend them on social network sites or x box live?
I can hand on heart say it's a difficult task to monitor. Some simple rules really do help. Checking your child doesn't accept strangers. Accessing the internet in family areas. Dipping in and out of conversation with your child about what's the in thing right now really can help as I guarantee you, they know a whole different technological world to you. Setting limits is acceptable as a parent. If you're unhappy with something, go check it out. Find out all the information on things so you can make an informed decision.
Go online and do your own research for more hints and tips. Here are a few links that may guide you and save you some time looking for some good advice.
Think you know
Childnet
Kidsmart
BBC Webwise
Wisekids
Certain websites, such as social networks, have a reporting button. So if you see anything that you believe to be inappropriate, you can click and let the right people know.
Set your boundaries and make some real family memories rather than relying on technology to entertain your children. Get on the floor and play, do activities together, talk and more importantly laugh together. Whatever their age, your child/ren will appreciate this time much more than sitting in front of a screen. They will remember all the happy family times, but won't recall the latest episode of a soap, or when they defeated someone on X box live. Get out there and make those memories together.
I don't mean using the internet to find parenting strategies or researching some fun activities to do alongside your child, I mean actually expecting technology to do the parenting.
Children sitting in front of TV's, X box screens, DVD's, ipods and even ipads. All for a quiet life.
Yes they are stimulating entertainment for children but they are no substitute for building real true meaning relationships with your child.
Children become 'zombie-fied' in front of screens. Teens start to believe what they see. They become de-sensitized to the gruesome horrors in front of them. This process is starting to take effect at a much younger age, due to us as a society allowing children of a much younger age to take on this lifestyle.
It's tough on parents finding that happy medium. But yes, we are the first to grumble when technology has a negative impact on our children.
Technology is a wonderful thing. I often wonder how we lived before we had instant access to the internet in the palm of our hands on our mobile phones? It has its benefits but it also has it's downfalls.
Keeping our children safe should, as a parent, be our number one priority.
Having keep safe messages in our homes is a good place to start.
A few years ago there were huge campaigns to highlight the risks of chat rooms and guidelines on families to keep computers in a family room where they could be easily monitored. A PC used to be the only way they could actually access the internet. Now the internet can be hooked up to many other devices.
So many young people have x box live in their bedrooms. They have facebook and other social networks. They have access to the world around them in a few clicks.
But do we really know enough to keep our children safe?
Do you know who your child speaks too online? Do you know if they accept people they don't actually know to befriend them on social network sites or x box live?
I can hand on heart say it's a difficult task to monitor. Some simple rules really do help. Checking your child doesn't accept strangers. Accessing the internet in family areas. Dipping in and out of conversation with your child about what's the in thing right now really can help as I guarantee you, they know a whole different technological world to you. Setting limits is acceptable as a parent. If you're unhappy with something, go check it out. Find out all the information on things so you can make an informed decision.
Go online and do your own research for more hints and tips. Here are a few links that may guide you and save you some time looking for some good advice.
Think you know
Childnet
Kidsmart
BBC Webwise
Wisekids
Certain websites, such as social networks, have a reporting button. So if you see anything that you believe to be inappropriate, you can click and let the right people know.
Set your boundaries and make some real family memories rather than relying on technology to entertain your children. Get on the floor and play, do activities together, talk and more importantly laugh together. Whatever their age, your child/ren will appreciate this time much more than sitting in front of a screen. They will remember all the happy family times, but won't recall the latest episode of a soap, or when they defeated someone on X box live. Get out there and make those memories together.
Sunday, February 24, 2013
IF
Nearly one billion people go to bed hungry every night and two million children die from malnutrition every year. We've made progress in other areas, but hunger is still the great scandal of our age. All around the world, even in the UK, people are struggling to feed their families.
In 2013, the government has promised to provide 0.7% of national income for aid and to host a Hunger Summit. We must make sure they keep these promises. In June, the world’s most powerful leaders will meet in the UK at the G8.
This is our best opportunity to tackle hunger. We must make IF happen.
IF we all take action, we can make hunger a problem of the past. This is our big chance to be heard, so take heart and speak up!
Here’s how YOU can make IF happen.
The world produces enough food for everyone, but not everyone has enough food. We can make 2013 the beginning of the end for global hunger. Share this film and demand that world leaders take action.
In 2013, the government has promised to provide 0.7% of national income for aid and to host a Hunger Summit. We must make sure they keep these promises. In June, the world’s most powerful leaders will meet in the UK at the G8.
This is our best opportunity to tackle hunger. We must make IF happen.
IF we all take action, we can make hunger a problem of the past. This is our big chance to be heard, so take heart and speak up!
Here’s how YOU can make IF happen.
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