Sink or Float

“If we want our children to be safe, capable, and healthy, we need to allow them the space and time to play outside everyday.”   Angela Hanscom, Balanced and Barefoot

Nature play gives young people the opportunity to recognise patterns, compare, hypothesize, test, and analyse. At Prescott Primary Northern, students were given the opportunity to determine whether items could sink or float in water. By playing with different objects, some heavy and some light, students could compare what happened with each item when placed in a body of water. From ice cubes to metal bolts, balls to pop sticks. Students had fun immersing each item in water to determine whether they would sink or float. The joy on each face was delightful to see as they tested each hypothesis.

Last week, I shared an article about how challenging and rewarding parenting is. This week, I would like to follow it up with another practical article on how important we as dads, take the time to go beyond what are initial steps for us. I have learned over the years, that the best parenting I have done, was firmly rooted in my relationship with my children. If I didn’t put the time and effort into building relationships with my kids, it became very obvious in times of significance like helping them through struggles and disciplining them. I hope this article is a helpful one, particularly for our dads.

“Seven-year-old Thomas lay crying on his bed wrapped in the arms of his father. Thomas was upset and his dad was trying to find out what was bothering his son. His voice was quiet, and his words were soothing.

Gradually, Thomas opened up, sharing with his father how his best friend had embarrassed him in front of others at school. Unable to articulate his disappointment and anger, Thomas’s father did so for him. “I guess you feel let down. I’d be really mad too if that happened to me.”

Thomas let out a sigh, relaxing even more into his father’s embrace knowing he understood how he felt. Empathy has a soothing effect on upset children.

Popular parenting author Steve Biddulph is correct when he wrote that activity is the main language of fathering. Dads use physical touch and play to build relationships and as a tool to develop self-control, teamwork, fairness, and other values.

However, if activity is the only way a man relates to his children, his impact will be limited. As Thomas’s father discovered, physical touch may provide an entry point but it’s through talking that we get to the heart of matters that bother children and young people.

Anecdotally, talking with kids about their worries and anxieties is still largely a mother’s preserve. Sexuality educators report that mothers do most of the talking when it comes to sexuality, respectful relationships, and consent.

Talking through personal problems with a son or daughter is a new role for many men, especially for a generation whose fathers stoically advised them ‘get on with it’ when problems emerged. Many males feel more comfortable giving advice rather than solace to kids who are struggling.

The most effective parents are those who adapt to the times in which they live. The COVID-19 era requires parents to be even more patient, calm and focused on children’s wellbeing. Parents of both genders need to communicate from their hearts as well as their heads, finding words to support and heal, as well as to advise when children and young people struggle.” (Grose 2021)

Have a great week with your kids,

Mark B

When tragedy hits, it is normal to question the existence of God.  In fact, a common objection against the belief in God is, “If there is a loving and all-powerful God, then why is there so much pain and suffering in the world?”  This is a fair question.  In fact, this is a question that even believers in God have asked many times.

In order to realise why bad things often happen to good people in our world, we need to understand the meaning of what Jesus said in John 19:30, “It is finished!”  When Jesus said these words, he was proclaiming to the world that his mission, to pay the price for our sins so that we may all have eternal life, had been fulfilled. 

Jesus’ mission was never about giving us a perfect life in this world, where we would have no pain, sorrow, or suffering, his focus was always on getting us into the next world, where all of these things will be gone forever (Revelation 21:4). 

The reality is that we are living in a broken, and messed up world, and because of this, tragedies will happen that seem totally unfair, and which make no sense at all.  But God promises to be with us always through these dark times, and in Jesus, we have the wonderful hope that this world is not the end. 

If you are going through a tough time right now, remember, that Jesus has prepared the way for us to be with God and our loved ones forevermore in heaven, on the day of his wonderful return (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18).  May this amazing truth give you strength, comfort, and peace. 

God bless,

Roland Talamaivao-Amituanai

Prescott College

To request an enrolment pack, contact Prescott College on 8269 1655.