By: Sitara Soleil.

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I remember growing up, my mom always used to let me have conversations with her colleagues whenever we met, especially if it was based on something I strongly believed in. She would let me ask the questions and would not interrupt. And then on our way home, she always told me how proud of me she was that I was able to hold my own with her friends. 

And I would say, “But this thing I said wasn’t right and they had to correct me”

And she would say, “But you learnt something new, yes?”

And I would say, “ Yes!”

How Did This Help Me? 

Well, as a shy young girl, my mother’s efforts towards building my confidence as a child have largely impacted the confident conversationalist that I am today.(Thanks mom!) So now, what are some of the other ways we can help build toto’s confidence?

1.Ask Them For Their Advice and Opinion. 
Yupp! Whether it’s what to cook for supper or what outfit to wear. Ask your kiddo for their opinion. Why is this important? You may wonder… As adults, when someone asks us for our opinion, we feel valued. The same applies to children. It makes them feel like they matter. 

For instance, in one of my nephew’s favourite shows on Akili Kids! Esme and Roy. Esme, a monster sitter, is always asking Tillie how she feels about certain games and activities. This in turn makes Tillie feel valued and appreciated. 

2. Let Them Lead. 
It’s not easy! I constantly find myself taking over my nephew’s game, telling him what to do and how to do it. I am learning to take a step back and let Leshan call the shots during play time. This helps him believe in his abilities as he is given an opportunity to lead and make decisions. Kind of like how in, A Day As, on that episode where Skye, gets to spend the day with a designer from Akili Network, it was quite interesting to see Fitz allowing Skye to try out her own ideas and how empowered she felt as a result. (Go Fitz!) 

This takes us to our 3^rd tip

3. Allow Them To Fail.
Naturally, as parents, we always want our kids to succeed and get things done correctly right from the first trial. Unfortunately, this is not possible. One way of building toto’s confidence is by being patient and allowing them to try, try again because when children develop expertise, it can grow confidence in their knowledge and build upon their self-worth.  Read more on this here.

4. Resist Comparing Toto to Others.
As Kanye West famously said, there’s always going to be someone who is better than us. But that does not mean we shouldn’t appreciate ourselves for who and what we are. Same, same with our children. The only way they can grow to appreciate their own unique talents and abilities is if we (try really hard to) resist comparing their capabilities others. Pretty much like how Bob the Builder, does it. Check it out, you may get a tip or ten. 

Then maybe you could come back and share what works for you? 

We’d be delighted to hear! 

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The recent enforcement of lockdown restrictions in certain parts of the country, have not only left Kenyans struggling to stay afloat financially but have also made travelling across the country especially for students a lot more difficult. Take for instance the many students who were left stranded and confused after completion of their KCSE, some even having to sleep in parks. 

With school re-opening, I would like to share some tips to help keep toto safe as they go back to school: 

1. Ensure your kiddo has an emergency contact. 

Whether a day scholar or a boarder, you have to ensure that toto has at least 3 people that they can contact in case of an emergency. 

2. Travel in Groups

I studied very far away from my home in high school. I found it safer and fun to travel to school with schoolmates who used my route. 

If you as a parent can organize with other parents or even with the school management to have the kiddos travel together, that would make life a little easier and less worrisome. 

3. Help toto understand what is currently happening

The best part of closing or opening school was sometimes straying and taking a stroll while admiring items we could not afford. Unfortunately, students do not have that luxury anymore.

Help toto understand that the country is operating under restricted hours and there’s no time to kill strolling with friends. 

4. Prior preparation.

This was an area I did not thrive in. I exceled in last minute packing. Under the current circumstances we cannot afford to do this. Toto has to prepare and get their items ready a day or two before, especially if they are travelling to a different town for school. Prior preparation means that the travelling day is left only for that, travelling. No other business. 

5. Pocket Money.

These are tough economic times for most of us. While getting school fees under the current circumstances is already challenging, toto will definitely need some pocket money as they travel to school. Just enough to ensure that they are able to make a call, get a hotel room or a taxi if the need arose. 

What are some other safety tips parents can take into consideration as schools resume?

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Today’s piece is largely inspired by an episode of Ubongo Kids that tackled consent. Yes, consent does not only apply to adults, but to children as well and it’s never too early to start talking to kiddos about consent because they also have emotions and opinions.

So What Exactly is Consent?

Consent is the permission given for something to happen or agreement to do something. Respecting a person’s own boundaries as well as the boundaries of others.

Consent largely involves communication and respect. 

It could be verbal or non-verbal. 

And most importantly, consent does change from time to time. One moment toto might refuse to give you a hug and before you know it, they are running to your arms.

Why is it important to teach children about consent?

First, it helps kiddos understand that their emotions are valid. In addition, children from a young age need to also understand that they have the ability to make decisions especially those concerning their bodies. 

So next time instead of telling toto to give aunty or uncle a hug, you could ASK THEM whether they would like to give a hug. And most importantly respect their response, however unexpected it may be. 

Secondly, helping toto understand what consent is means they will respect other people’s boundaries and especially their peers’ and that way, the next time they are playing and their friend asks them to stop doing something or starts stepping back (consent could be verbal or non-verbal) they will do just that!

Consent also largely involves encouraging your child to speak up when something feels off and even more important, BELIEVING them when they do. And why does this matter, you may ask. Because it helps build trust between you and toto. 

These are crucial conversations that we need to start having with children. And just like it was played out in Ubongo Kids where Kiduchu was rightfully upset at her friends and strangers who constantly touched her hair without her permission, and Nuru was feeling violated because strangers were randomly pushing his wheel-chair across the road without asking him and Amani was agitated by people who were always touching her skin; children have rights and boundaries that need to be respected.

How do you teach your kiddos about consent? 

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Eric, my cousin, strongly felt like most of what he was learning in school would not be relevant to him later in life. Phew!! I could relate! He wishes schools taught practical things such as financial education, problem-solving skills and emotional intelligence (I have to admit he is a bit too focused for his age. I was definitely not thinking about this when I was in form 2!).

Luckily, there are ways to supplement children’s studies with content that is focused on developing them wholesomely.

By now you know that most of my free time is spent babysitting my nephew and that simply means watching Akili Kids! and lots of it! From lessons on saving tips and environmental conservation on Ubongo Kids, Gender equality on My Better World and Sci Girls, managing emotions and conflict resolution with  Esme and Roy , community building with Rastamouse and problem solving on ABC Mouse Search and Explore! I am still in awe of how much I continue to learn from this channel!

If only Eric grew up having such content to supplement his studies, then maybe he would not be in such a situation. (Sigh) I’ m curious to know, what’s that one topic you studied in high school and are yet to apply anywhere?

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How do we ensure our kids are not exposed to harmful content when left unsupervised?

I remember way back when I was 12years old in boarding school, I longed for the holidays just to catch up on my favourite shows, some of which had scenes that my parents did not approve of and to be honest, I did not quite understand what the fuss was about. Why was it such a big deal if I watched a soap opera past 10pm? I didn’t get it. 

Fast forward to 2021. I occasionally babysit my sister’s kids, and with that responsibility, I have come to understand what the fuss indeed was about. Here’s a little breakdown:

Learning from TV

Did you know that before 2020, there was no Free-to-air kids’ TV station? We only had a designated 2 to 3 hours of cartoons on weekends and that was it. The rest of the day was spent consuming adult content, the idea of learning from TV was a myth. But now, I’ve noticed that there are TV channels specifically dedicated to airing kiddie content with learning outcomes! And if you don’t believe that kids could learn from watching TV, check out this article.

Representation

Haya, if you are a 90s kid like I am, you may remember hearing about certain kids TV channels with cartoons from all over the world, but nothing that we as Kenyans could watch and go like: “I know that place! That’s Kisumu” or “That character looks like someone I know!” Up until, last year, when Akili Kids! Kenya’s first free-to-air children’s channel was launched. And voila! A TV channel with Kiswahili Shows and African features? My nephew was definitely going to be watching this channel.

Safety 

Finally, in knowing that children are largely influenced by the content they consume on TV, the last thing parents need, is to worry about what kids are being exposed to. Unless we know for a fact that it could only be more learning, fun and adventure. Then it’s okay. I find peace in knowing that I can always leave my nephew on Akili Kids! As I go about my day because with Akili Kids! TV wako sawa kabisa!

Do you also subscribe to this school of thought ama you have your own ways? Let us know. 

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Well, here are some facts I bet you didn’t know!

She was an academic!

Wangari Maathai was a Senior Lecturer in Anatomy at The University of Nairobi. Yes! She was the first woman to chair the Department of Veterinary Anatomy at the university. 

That’s not all. She used her position to champion for equal benefits for the women working at the University!

A Force to reckon with in the Political Arena. 

Most of us know Wangari Maathai’s political works as a Member of Parliament and an Assistant Minister but her political career began long before all this. She was at the fore front in the struggle for democracy and Multi-party system in Kenya. She played a key role in unifying Kenyans and challenging tribal based politics.

She was a mother!

Evidently, motherhood and being a career woman are not mutually exclusive! Wangari Maathai thrived in the different paths she ventured be it academia, politics, advocacy and did so while being a mom!

She was a great writer!

Some of her most renowned works include her Memoir; Unbowed, The Challenge for Africa and the Green Belt Movement. Add them to your reading list!

Like most, if not all of us she had tough times!

 Wangari was a force to reckon with! And her being a woman, fearless in the pursuit of political, social and economic advancement of Kenya did not make life any easier for her. 

She faced political opposition as well as personal problems leading to a divorce. In addition, she encountered financial challenges, lacked employment and was even evicted from her staff housing. But clearly, she conquered all this!

This March, as we celebrate Women’s Month, let us take time to nurture the young girls in our lives to fully explore their potential. Read them books and expose them to kids’ content that will bring out the best in them. Akili Kids! TV is my go-to destination for that!

 My nieces get to see young girls just like them doing great things on shows like Dora the Explorer, Word Girl, Sci Girls, Ubongo Kids and My Better World! 

What are some of the icons you grew looking up to? 

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She worried that if we left my natural hair open, I would have trouble combing and keeping it neat since I was always having it plaited. But she was sure Wambo, her salonist who she trusted with her life, would have a solution to all this. After all, she was the one who had given her a perm in the early 90s and had been servicing it since then. 

 I dreaded visits to Wambo’s Salon. I hated the pulling, occasional yanking of my hair and neck in all directions as Shiko tried to comb it. Don’t get me started on the plaiting that took forever, which was always accompanied by Shiko’s constant complaints about the volume of my hair, ‘Na uko na nywele mingi ngumu, ni kama steelwool!’.  

Did it have to be this painful? Was this every little girl’s experience? I wondered. 

We visited Wambo’s salon and I ended up relaxing my hair. According to her this would make my hair more manageable. Sixteen years later, I shaved the permed hair, started rocking my natural hair and I am loving it! I no longer find it hard and difficult to manage. Although I have to say it has been a journey. I have had to unlearn a lot of what I believed to be true about my natural hair growing up. 

Looking back, I wish I had grown up hearing more positive things about my glorious natural kinky hair. It is important to let little girls know that their natural hair is beautiful just as it is. It is not hard, it is not untidy, it is not ugly and most of all, it is not difficult to manage. It is beautiful just as it is. 

And I believe that this all starts with the content they consume, especially in this age of technology. When I was growing up, I didn’t get to watch cartoons or kids’ content that had characters who had hair like mine. 

But now with my weekends being spent baby-sitting my nephew Lesho, it gives me so much joy to see him watch Akili Kids! and see characters rocking their natural hair. I am happy that little girls in Kenya get to see Kiduchu and Kibena of Ubongo Kids who look just like them. Not forgetting Rosa, Abi and Grace of My Better World who also rock their natural hair! This without a doubt, is what we have been waiting for!

What inspiring messages do you give your kids about loving their natural hair? Let us know.

What inspiring messages do you give your kids about loving their natural hair? Let us know.

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Watching this episode sparked some nostalgia, and I thought to myself:

How awesome would it be, if I shared with you some goal setting tips from my childhood days? 

So here goes: 

Set Realistic Goals.

In my final year of Primary School, I vividly remember setting a goal to wake up at 3am every morning and sleep at midnight so as to have ample time to study for my K.C.P.E. Wueh! Sema ambition! 

The fatigue eventually caught up with me and I had to revise the whole schedule. After a lot of thinking, I finally settled on waking up at 6am and being asleep by 9pm. Safe to say, this worked like magic! And I was better able to focus on my studies.

Make an Execution Plan Together.

Now, this is where the work is! As I prepared for my K.C.P.E, improving on my Kiswahili was one of my goals. My mum helped me come up with a daily revision timetable ensuring that I set aside enough time to read Kiswahili books, newspapers and practise my Insha writing skills. Knowing that my mom was in this with me, motivated me to work even harder for that A.

Track and Review Progress.

But to improve in any task, one has to know whether they are making progress or not.

I used to keep a notebook where I would record my test scores. This helped my parents and I track my progress. My Sunday afternoons were also spent reviewing my weekly schedule and making the necessary adjustments. 

Celebrate All Wins

Suffice it to say, I was finally able to get my A grade in Kiswahili. And to celebrate this big win, I remember my parents buying me a pair of shoes that I had been eyeing for a while. We were all so happy! But for me what stood out the most, were the big packets of yoghurt that I used to get every Sunday after progress review sessions. To me, it felt as if they were celebrating these small milestones with me in their own little ways, which is what motivated me to work even harder and smarter.

But this is just a story about me and what worked for me as a child. How about you? Which goal setting tricks do you and your kiddo practise that you would like to share?

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I just wanted to clear the air, Mon.

I’m 10 years old, and me and my friends are the children of loving, kind and mellow families. My Dad works two jobs and my Mum works a job and takes care of the house and us kids, and they are both the best parents a mouse could have. My parents are also Rastafarians and raised me to be one too.

My friends and I look after our neighborhood. There’s always a mystery to be solved, and kindness to be given. We find misunderstandings every day! Sometimes a neighbor thinks they are the victims of theft, or that another neighbor is a criminal, only to realize that they misplaced what they were missing! Or sometimes, miscommunication can lead to frustration. There are even times when a person is judged by the way they look, not by their behaviors or actions.

I try really hard to be kind, thoughtful and friendly, and share those values with all the other kids who watch my TV show. But many times, there are people who see that I’m a Rasta, and think because of my accent or the color of my hat, that I am a bad mouse. I’m not! My friends and I are important parts of our community, and while some may look at us and say we’re bad and we’re trying to turn other kids into Rastafarians, we have a different perspective, Mon.

We think everyone on this planet is special and deserves to be treated with fairness and kindness regardless of their religious or cultural beliefs, or the color of their fur. We kids are just trying to be the best mice we can be, and want to make you laugh, make you think, make you realize all people have goodness in them. We also want to help you solve problems, think about things critically, and use logic instead of emotion when it serves.

We understand some people don’t like Rastas. Some people don’t like mice. Some people don’t even like kids! My friends and I realize this, and we hold no grudges. Even if you don’t like us, we understand. It’s sad, because kids, no matter what their parents believe, should have an opportunity to grow up without learning prejudice. If you think we are bad mice, then your kiddos will grow up thinking we are bad mice, and without even getting a chance to know us.

I’ll leave you with this thought: do you ever feel like people don’t like you because of who they think you are, but they never take a moment to get to know you? I sure do.

Peace.

Rastamouse TV Schedule

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