Established a group of Soul buddies as thier Facilitator and Mmanunu Muleya (Learner support Agent) for CSLT(Care and support for Teachers and Learners) at Melotong Primary school in Mopyane.
I sat down with them to have a young chat about ” Family” as we had celebrated family day on the 5th of April 2021. This Day follows on the Monday after Good Friday making it a Long Weekend known as “Easter Weekend”. And this allowed our learners space and time to say whether they understand family dynamics or not or whether they are from child headed families or not.
Call it a true family— defined as the sense of loyalty, selflessness, love and genuine care and concern for others. After all, they have known you since from birth and have loved and cared for you since the very beginning, no matter what. Unfortunately for some of our learners family means anyone that is there for them at a time of need.
A family could include grandparents, aunts and uncles, godparents, or close friends. What is important is the love or common interests that bind them together. Regardless of biological relationship, you may be a part of several “families.” Your school classmates or soccer teammates may be a family to you. Even a brother and/sister whose there for you while your parents neglect you can be your family.
How to Explain a Family Tree to a learner…
- Sparking children’s interest in their family history. They must be proud of who they are. So do a bit of research using thier surname and get thier origin.
- Explaining the family ties. Introducing the concept of generations and fraternity. Both sides(the mother amd the father’s)
- Ask questions and make them play detective. Allow them time to go and investigate on thier own. Having conversations with the elderly people which always seems so interesting.
Family is the single most important influence in a child’s life. From their first moments of life, children depend on parents and family to protect them and provide for their needs. They form a child’s first relationships.
Family is the one of the most important and valuable gifts of our life. The word “Family” itself is so important that it means to feel secure with people around you whom you can always count on, whom you can always share your problems, whom you can play with all the time, whom you can freshen up your mood anytime.
Best part about knowing our roots is that sometimes it can connect us in a way to our past that we never knew we were missing. There is a sense of pride in hearing about our ancestors and families and what they went through. This is why it is so important to know our roots and at times to eat our roots too.
And so our learners shared beautiful stories of what they did on the day but my wish is for parents to at least use a day like this to teach them who they are(family history) and spend time together talking to thier children so they too can kmow them well and know whats bothering them. ❤?