Octava Foundation’s Post

Grateful to the inspiring team at Playeum and askteachersam who worked with us to put this paper together. (Thank you from the bottom of my ♥️!). 🎁The paper is our little contribution, a small voice — to encourage teachers, parents, aunts, uncles, grandparents to let children play freely when possible because our children need these experiences to grow healthily, all-round. 🛝Children look up to us and need us to give them permission to play; they also benefit when we step back and watch from the corner of our eye how play helps transform them into strong, imaginative and creative beings. 🪴🍄 People today have little time to read 🥲So this white paper was not easy to create as we wanted a short-enough paper 😅to cater to our local audience of busy parents and professionals, but there exists A LOT of existing scientific papers that show the benefits of free play with supportive / responsive adults standing by. Eventually, we had to choose our references judiciously and settle for what we thought really matters as a first installment. ⭐️We are not saying ‘play to learn’ or ‘play with screen devices’… we chose to focus on more physical, tactile and social play 🪀🪁🛼🏀which can get loud, chaotic and even physically risky in our adult eyes. Hence the title… Are we brave enough to let our children play?😊 We will share more if you find the white paper useful/encouraging. We certainly hope to create a little social movement to return children the right to play and have joyful childhoods, through which our children can grow to be healthier, mentally stronger, more responsible, and more empathetic people.

We might be too focused on pushing children to do well in school and not focused enough on showing them how fun learning can be in everyday life. It's important to help children become creative and emotionally aware individuals by letting them enjoy learning in different ways. ⛹♂️ Play can take many forms and doesn't have to cost much or take much time. It creates a safe space for us and our children to be playful, refresh our minds, and imagine better things. It also strengthens relationships and helps us manage our emotions. Here are a few ideas I picked up: 💡 Most important! Spend time playing with your kids whenever you can, as an equal partner. 💡You can play anytime. You can play at the bus stop, on the train, or while waiting for your meal. Some quick play ideas include 'I spy,' 'Paper, Scissors, Stone,' creating a story, making up a riddle, or playing a reflex or reaction game. 💡Have a hobby? Why not let your kids join you, and show them how you enjoy it?

Grateful to the inspiring team at #Playeum and #askteachersam who worked with us to put this paper together. (Thank you from the bottom of my ♥️!). 🎁The paper is our little contribution, a small voice — to encourage teachers, parents, aunts, uncles, grandparents to let children play freely when possible because our children need these experiences to grow healthily, all-round. 🛝Children look up to us and need us to give them permission to play; they also benefit when we step back and watch from the corner of our eye how play helps transform them into strong, imaginative and creative beings. 🪴🍄 People today have little time to read 🥲So this white paper was not easy to create as we wanted a short-enough paper 😅to cater to our local audience of busy parents and professionals, but there exists A LOT of existing scientific papers that show the benefits of free play with supportive / responsive adults standing by. Eventually, we had to choose our references judiciously and settle for what we thought really matters as a first installment. ⭐️We are not saying ‘play to learn’ or ‘play with screen devices’… we chose to focus on more physical, tactile and social play 🪁🛼🏀which can get loud, chaotic and even physically risky in our adult eyes. Hence the title… Are we brave enough to let our children play?😊 We will share more if you find the white paper useful/encouraging. We certainly hope to create a little social movement to return children the right to play and have joyful childhoods, through which our children can grow to be healthier, mentally stronger, more responsible, and more empathetic people.

Encouraging self-reliance in young children is key to their growth and confidence. 🌱✨ Learn how to foster independence with our latest blog post! 👉 [Read more](https://lnkd.in/erWUFUEE) #Parenting #Montessori #ChildDevelopment #Independence

Youth mental health is a growing global crisis that is clear and urgent: - Greater than 50% youths globally were adversely impacted by the pandemic.  - A study showed that one in three young people in Singapore exhibit symptoms of mental health issues (up from 1 in 5 back in 2017); - Suicide is now the leading cause of death among young people in age 10-19;  - As much 27% of youths in Singapore harbor suicidal thoughts; more and more young people are engaging in self harm. In this webinar, we bring together parents, educators and experts to start a conversation about creating environments that can nurture our children's physical, emotional and cognitive wellbeing - at home and in the school. - What are the roles that parents, caregivers, teachers, schools, organizations and governments can play - What are some innovative approaches to designing safe and supportive spaces? - What are some practical strategies for fostering holistic child development while advancing their wellbeing? - How can each of us contribute to shaping a collective vision for nurturing environments that empower every child to thrive? Join us this Saturday to participate in this critical conversation. Ashokan Ramakrishnan Hana Alhadad, PhD Eric L. Joline Lim

Language delay in preschoolers can be challenging, but the right strategies can make a huge difference! Swipe through to discover strategies to help your child thrive. For more details, click the link in the comments. #LanguageDelay #EarlyIntervention #SpeechTherapy #ChildDevelopment #TotalCommunication

We had a wonderful and insightful teleconference with Yeled V'Yalda, where we explored the important topic: "The Need to Belong." A sense of belonging is fundamental to children’s emotional security and success in the classroom. During our discussion, we highlighted how feeling valued and connected at school can significantly impact children’s emotional well-being, academic performance, and social development. When children feel they belong, they are more likely to thrive in their learning environment, engage with peers, and develop a strong sense of self-worth. We are excited to continue this important conversation and work together to create supportive, inclusive spaces where every child feels seen, heard, and appreciated. . #SenseOfBelonging #ChildhoodDevelopment #EmotionalSecurity #InclusiveEducation #SocialEmotionalLearning #KidsWellBeing #AcademicSuccess #SchoolCommunity #SupportiveClassrooms #ChildrenFirst #MentalHealthMatters #FutureLeaders #EmpathyInEducation #PositiveSchoolCulture #BelongingMatters #EducationMatters #Belonging #EmotionalWellBeing #ChildDevelopment #YeledVYalda #CommunityBuilding

Understanding the 6 stages of play is essential for recognizing how children develop social skills. 🌟 From unoccupied play at birth to social play in preschool years– each stage is crucial for growth. Do you recognize the social stage your little one is in? Let us know in the comments below. #ChildDevelopment #EarlyLearning #ApexSocial #SocialSkills #GrowingTogether

𝐂𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐧'𝐬 𝐖𝐞𝐞𝐤: Teaching the Importance of "𝐆𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐓𝐨𝐮𝐜𝐡 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐁𝐚𝐝 𝐓𝐨𝐮𝐜𝐡" As we honor our young ones this week, let's focus on empowering them with the knowledge they need to stay safe and confident. Understanding "𝐆𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐓𝐨𝐮𝐜𝐡 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐁𝐚𝐝 𝐓𝐨𝐮𝐜𝐡" is crucial in helping children recognize boundaries and feel secure in their environments. 𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐤𝐞𝐲 𝐩𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐮𝐬𝐬: 1) 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐚 𝐠𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐭𝐨𝐮𝐜𝐡? (Hugs from family, high-fives, etc.) 2) 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐚 𝐛𝐚𝐝 𝐭𝐨𝐮𝐜𝐡? (Touches that make them feel uncomfortable or unsafe) 3) 𝐄𝐧𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐧 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐟𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐨𝐫 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐦𝐞 4) 𝐓𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐭𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐞𝐞𝐤 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐝𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐬 Every child deserves to feel safe and supported. Let's use this week to educate, empower, and ensure their well-being. #ChildrensWeek #GoodTouchBadTouch #ChildSafety #Empowerment #Education Dr Vishesh Kasliwal Rachita Kasliwal Mehul Jain CA. Umanshi Agrawal

Why should the older kids have all the fun? Little ones benefit, too. Check out these five reasons to send your preschooler to camp: https://bh.social/3xBHQ1e #SummerExplorations