Kids and Hands On Learning

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Mum, what are you doing? That's music to parents' ears during these turbulent times in schools. Use the questions to sneak in real education like census and other topics that require answering questions on government, bank and other forms.

Hands on training is redundant, I know. YouTube is here with instant answers. Education is preparing kids for the future, away from home, navigating life in the same city, another city, next state/province, or even in another country.

That’s why home schooling should include how to fill in paper and online forms. Forms usually want information that will determine if you are eligible for something, it could be school, business or personal.

Our lives are online now, even buying a handkerchief, but there are still forms that arrive in the mail. Parents should make it a habit to ask kids to open utility and store bills. Bank statements are forms but most people get them online. Canada had a census in 2021 so they sent out paper forms telling households about the online questionnaire. Get a copy online, for this blog.

What’s in the forms?

Young kids will enjoy checking the mail with you because they still believe that the sun rises and sets with you. Savour it, because they don’t have a cellphone yet.

We will use the census letter for example. It has a date when it was mailed. Why is the date important? Forms will help kids add new words to their vocabulary, like logos. All forms have logos to show who sent them. The government of Canada in this case. How do kids know that place that sells hamburgers and fries? They recognize the sign, the logo. That's why parents avoid driving past it.

Canadian parents will ask kids to read the right side of the census notice. They can’t because it’s in French. Why is that? Parents will explain Canada’s French and English history. The census notice is signed by Anil Arora on behalf of the government. New vocabulary, what is a signature? Why do we sign things?

The census notice is one example. There are many letters we get in the mail, directing us to fill forms online. Start the kids with paper forms. It will make filling online forms a breeze.

Nonqaba waka Msimang

Executive Blogger 

 

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