Earth Babies Blog

The week end past Sally and I did a little marketing at the Living and Loving Baby Expo at Emperors Palace. I did not get to look at too many stall as I rushed through everytime and honestly having past the baby stage not much really jumped out at me BUT I did see two things that I fell in love with and they have shot to the top of my want lists. I want them because of the products themselves, but also for what they represent for South Africa.

The first is a basic African language teaching tool in the form of flash cards, puzzles and posters. I will be buying this set for myself and my kids as soon as we have finished moving and finances allow for a little splurge (I want us to learn a third South African language and this is a perfect medium to start with the basics).
www.puo.co.za

PUO My Body poster (senses & expressions)

Puo is a producer of educational products in African languages and with African images that are targeted at children from ages zero to nine.
The mission of Puo is to invest in our languages while instilling pride in our cultures and history. In fulfilling its mission, the aim of Puo is to supply products that achieve the following:
• Provide an avenue through which to interact with and teach children African languages and culture;
• Educate and inform by developing children’s basic developmental skills;
• Increase the awareness and pride of varying cultures and languages of the African continent in order to appreciate our diversity and achieve a better understanding of one another; and entertain

The second is childrens CD’s by African Cream Music.

Singalong African Kidz

Wendy Oldfield sang a few of her songs live at the show over the course of the weekend and I LOVED listening to them.
The cd Singalong African Kidz will be the next item on my want list for the near future (followed by some of the others), her songs are beautiful, simple and fun.

Hot on the heels of the successful Under African Skies, an album of traditional African stories set to music comes Singalong African Kidz also crafted by renowned singer/songwriter Wendy Oldfield. This very special collection of original children’s songs was written by Oldfield for her own children to provide enjoyment, entertainment and variation from their traditional children’s fare. They have been tried, tested and approved by nursery school children nationwide! Written for the children between the ages 0-5 years of age who are singing as part of their language development and as a social game, topics like animals, nature and of course…mud, can easily be related to by African children and children around the world.

I am rather disappointed at the time slots the organisers scheduled for Wendy Oldfield – they could have used her appearances at times when people were already sitting and waiting with nothing to do and both entertained them and allowed her decent exposure for for music and stories that are so beautifully appreciative of Africa, its culture and our children.

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