Fatima Koise's Blog, page 6
October 28, 2017
Why children need time away from social media
Hello there,
It is 03.07am but I am fully awake, passionate about my new blog and blogging about issues that affect children all over the world. one of such is the impact of social media on the lives of children, and how much pressure it could be adding to children’s lives.
Although social media (twitter, facebook, Tumblr, Youtube, Linkedin etc are used not only a very powerful socialization tool but also as a tool to facilitate learning most especially in children. It also plays a significant role in terms of changing the way people communicate, seek support, gain easy access to communities, and knowledge, the disadvantages are also enormous.
With new apps, video, photography and smart technologies proliferating the internet whereby, photos and other content can easily be created, edited, and easily shared, both children and parents no longer have the control that they might have been enjoying previously when communication used to take place via a physical space setting.
In those days, parents could tell who their children might be talking to at any time of the day. Now, companies keep track of the habits and demographics of the people who visit their sites. They use this data to bombard these kids with advertising. This deprives the kids of the time they need to invest in their studies but spend more time on materialistic issues. This is where the risk sets in for children, teens, and even parents.
One of the negative effects of social media is in the risk of children being bullied online. Because these children are often not aware of the privacy policies on social media and whether or not their privacy is being violated. almost every mobile app requires access to your contacts, photo, files etc. Any attempt to answer no to their request might result in one’s inability to download the app. This is to me like a trade and barter, giving away your privacy concerns for an exchange with a social media access.
Prior to now, parents could walk into a school where their child is enrolled and speak with the authorities. Now, the bullying takes place online with little or no trace of its occurrence. This way children get exposed to mental issues such as depression, negative peer comments, verbal and sexual abuse; poor grades and on the extreme case even suicide.
According to an adage; “Too much of everything is bad.” Thus, the need for moderation on the amount of time children spend on social media, monitoring the calibre of people kids interact with online and their mental health at all times.
We will be happy to receive your comments on the above issue please as to how children and parents can ensure that children are given the necessary space to be kids with resultant effects of being bullied online at the barest minimum.
Kind regards
Fatima
Picture: Courtsey of Freepik.com
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Writing Contest-The AfterMath
Millions of children all over the world are affected by war, conflict, violence, physical harm, danger, exploitation, fear, and loss. Many witness the death of loved ones, forced to take up arms while many are forced to flee. While many communities are devastated and ripped apart, thereby unable to ensure the safety of lives and properties, schools and homes are damaged or taken over by armed groups leaving many parents and teachers highly displaced.
[image error]3D render of a silhouette of a soldier saluting against a sunset sky
The overall effect of the war has a long-lasting effect on a country’s economy with indirect negative consequences on the environment, natural resources, the infrastructure, public health provision, and social order. These indirect consequences are often over-looked and highly under-appreciated.
The AfterMath is a contest based on a blend of art, science, journalism, aimed at improving the quality of life on the planet and reversing the effects of environmental degradation due to war, pollution, poor policy implementation amongst other things.
The Challenge: The challenge is to create a 500-1000 word short story on the effects of war and how the quality of lives on the planet can be improved.
You as authors, fiction writers, scientists, and policymakers are invited to cast your minds and imagine the planet decades from now (a decade up to 100 years into the future)—when the effects of war and environmental pollution has made clean fresh water and air more precious than silver and gold most especially in Africa.
You are expected to create compelling stories about the future of the earth and share the whole story with us on this blog with hashtag #Aftermath.
Submission guidelines:
1-Entries must be in English
2-Max-500-1000 words
3-Must be tagged #Aftermath
4-All entries must be received within the stipulated time
5-All entries must be submitted via our blog
6-Entry must be original, may not have been published elsewhere
The top ten selected stories will be featured on our website
Eligibility & restrictions: All countries and ages
Methods of entry: Through writing or commenting with hashtag #Aftermath
The best story/comment will be featured as a guest on our blog.
Content: 500-1000 words maximum
Deadline:
Length of the contest: 30 days
Start Date: 01.11.17
End Date:30.11.2017
Announcement of the Winner: 30.12.2017
Location: All over the world and all ages
Time Zone: GMT
Prizes:
1-10 Best Write Ups get posted on my blog
2-You get a follow on your blog;
3-The No. 1. Best writer gets featured on my blog as a guest
Judging: Founder/Sponsors
By partnering, or submission of write up, you agree to be bound by the rules and regulations of the founders and or sponsors which is full and final.
Read and review our Terms of Service before submitting your contest to ensure that your contest doesn’t violate the rules.
Thanks for being here. And looking forward to receiving your entries.
Yours Fatima
October-What a Special Month to the World
Hello everyone,
October is the Tenth Month of the Year in the Gregorian calendar and the eighth month in the Roman calendar. It is linked commonly with the autumn season and spring in the Northern and Southern Hemisphere. October is a very special month in the history of the world.
Many countries got their independence in October:
October 1 – Independence Day (Nigeria)October 1 – Independence Day (Tuvalu)
October 1 – Independence Day (Palau)
October 2 – Independence Day (Guinea)
October 4 – Independence Day (Lesotho)
October 8 – Independence Day (Croatia)
October 9 – Independence Day (Uganda)
October 10 – Independence Day (Fiji)
October 12 – Independence Day (Equatorial Guinea)
October 24 – Independence Day (Zambia)
October 27 – Independence Day (Saint Vincent and the Grenadines)
October 27 – Independence Day (Turkmenistan)
October 1 – International Day of Older Persons
October 5 – International World Teachers’ Day
October 2 – International Day of Non-Violence, birthday of Mahatma Gandhi
October 26 – National Day of Austria
October 1 – National Day of the People’s Republic of China
October 1 – National Day (Cyprus)
October 10 – National Day in the Republic of China (Taiwan)
October 11 – National Coming Out Day (United States)
October 12 – National Day of Spain
October 3 – Unity Day (Germany)
October 4 – World Animal Day
October 16 – World Food Day
October 6 – Armed Forces Day (Egypt)
October 5 – Republic Day (Portugal)
October 21 – Trafalgar Day (United Kingdom)
October 23 – Remembrance of the Hungarian Revolution (Hungary)
October is United Nations Day. And more to many people. But, most especially, to me, October is my birth month. In celebration of that, I have decided to launch this website to connect with kids, parents, teachers, authors, bloggers, and many others, share stories, learn and connect.
In recognition of my birth month, I have tried to give my books a new cover to reflect my target audience (children). I offer free copies of my children’s books on Amazon.com and Kindle. The new editions are available for a limited time only (till 29.10.17) via amazon.com/author/fatimakoise.
Hurry and get your free copy now.
Kind regards
Fatima[image error]
Picture: Credit to Freepik
Which is your favorite Disney Character/Story2
Hello there,
I am sure, you will be wondering my obsession with DisneyWorld. I am very passionate about Disney, their stories, their characters and many other things.
As an author, I find so many connections in their stories, their characters, and other things. My most favorite of them all is ”Rapunzel’ or ‘Rapponce’ or ‘The Tangled’.
The first I watched the movie, ‘Tangled’, was in 2010, in Paris where I was doing a doctoral programme. I was passing by and I saw people queuing up for the movie. I checked in to see. And ended up buying a ticket for it. The Cinema was very close to the hotel where I was staying. That was my first time being to a cinema (please don’t laugh).
I watched the French version, ‘Rapponce’ but could quickly connect with the character and her situation. I was able to identify with her, her innocence, inner beauty, and her mum too reminded me of someone very close and dear to my heart.
I watched the movie again (in English), but I could not get enough, I came back the third time before reaching a level of satisfaction.
I remember, while I was in my University days, a lady used to call me ”Rapunzel’ because I used to have a very long hair and a nice figure. 2010, was a year of discovery for me, of discovering my real self. It was the year, I discovered amazon, createspace and the Kindle Publishing Tool (later).
It was then that I knew how close she was to the truth.
Thanks, Disney for bringing such a wonderful character alive.
Thanks for helping connecting to the Child within me. And to my real self.
Thanks for being here. If you like this post, please leave your comments below please.
Kind regards
Which is Your Favorite Disney Story/Character?
Hello Everyone,
I think in my previous blog posts, I have shared with you my passion for the Disney World. Today, I wish to share with you my most favorite Disney Character. And why?
My favorite Disney Character is Rapunzel while the Story is the ‘Frozen’ which I watched while on leave in August this year. The entire Story, the animation, and music were so awesome, so entertaining, and engaging. I could not move an inch from my TV while watching even though my daughter was busy trying to get my attention.
On that day, she wore a new light blue top and a matching trouser which I bought for her with Ella’s picture on the front.
My daughter has never been exposed to cartoons in her life, so I tried to get her mind engaged but to no avail.
Before the end of my leave, a day before I left, I bought her posters of the movie, with all the characters beautifully crafted. This I posted in a very strategic place in my bedroom. On the front of my wardrobe. And as soon as she saw the pictures, she said, ‘Mum, Cartoon.”
I was happy that I have been able to develop her interest in watching cartoons. Now, she comes to me demanding for cartoon to be played on the telly.
Please share with us your most favorite Disney Character or Story or any other story. And if you like what you have read, please share with your friends. And let me know your views on this.
Kind regards,
Fatima
My Disneyland Experience
Hello There,
Thanks for dropping by.
My visit to the Disney Park in Paris, France brought back a lot of childhood memores. It was in the year, 2010. I was privileged to be there while doing my Studies. With me were my South African roommate, Sisanda and Saudi Arabian friend Maimuna.
The experience was magical. Having read books about Cinderella since the early 80’s, I was surprised when I saw the coach lying so beautifully as we walked past it, it felt so real like I have seen it before even though, it was my first time. The same when we tried taking pictures and shaking hands with Mickey Mouse. I felt like I was part of the Disney Family. That is exactly what books do to the soul of the reader. I might have been transported ‘literally’ without even knowing. No wonder the entire Disney world looked and felt so familiar.
Do you have any similar experiences that you can share here with us? Please do. We will be happy to have you share your story or experience of being ”literally” transported to a place, going there and feeling like home.
Have you ever been to the Disney World? Or wish to be there. What was your experience? Was it magical? Please share your experiences with us and comments.
Thanks for sharing
Fatima
Why I write for kids
Hello everyone,
As an author, I have chosen to start writing for children. Why, you may ask? Reasons are:
1- I love kids. I look forward to having my own one day. Though I currently live with my ”daughter, she was named after me. She is just three years old. Her parents are separated and I couldn’t sit still and watch her live all by herself, without a mother. The mother left in anger and probably to spite the father, she left her and her three other siblings.
2-I grew up with lots of children’s books since childhood. I had the privilege of having read, Snowwhite and the Seven Dwarfs, Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood. These books have shaped me as an individual. And I try to re-tell some of these stories in a way that our children all over could connect with the stories. I tried to introduce characters that are of African Heritage and if a child from Asia or US, reads, he or she can connect very easily with the stories.
3-As a child growing up, I used to be called the “Smiling baby” because I was the happy child, always smiling. I had all the love I could get from my parents. Everything seemed perfect. With the demise of my father, in 1989, my entire world came crashing. Eversince, that inner happiness and glow just died down. My father encouraged me to read books and always applauded me because I always came home with excellent grades.
4-I have always loved the idea of a story taking one to a magical world or a place where all things are possible. By reading some of my books, kids, parents or others that have never been to Africa can easily connect with and feel transported to Africa.
5-As a child, my parents tried to inculcate a lot of values into us, values of love, humility, resilience, and empathy etc. These are values I hold dear, and weave into my stories.
6-I have always been fascinated by stories, most especially the type that takes you into unbelievable places or worlds where the impossible becomes possible, where dreams always come true and the happily ever after type. These are things I also weave into my stories.
7-Writing for children keeps me connected to the child in me, my playful and creativity side
8-It makes me want to relate to some of the ”lost childhood” moments I might have had. I wish to connect to children all over the world, give them hope, share some of the values I had growing up and just get world into a new world. The way, I was taken into an entirely different world with my visit to the Disney World, Paris with all the magical experiences that it brought. This is what I try to give to children-my main target.
If you like this post, please like it, comment and share with your friends.
Thanks for your time.
Fatima
WRITING CONTEST
TOPIC: No to Cyberbullying
With the recent advancement in technology, millions of teens all over the world could be at risk of cyberbullying or might have experienced cyber-bullying?
The Challenge: The challenge is to create a 500-1000 word short story on how to detect, deal with cyberbullying or how one can who has experienced the awful experience rise above it. It could be your own personal experience on dealing effectively with the issue or lessons learned as a result of the experience. You should tag your story #Notocyberbullying.
Submission guidelines:
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1-Entries must be in English
2-Max-500-1000 words
3-Must be tagged #Notocyberbullying
4-All entries must be received within the stipulated time
5-All entries must be submitted via our blog
6-Entry must be original, may not have been published elsewhere
The top ten selected stories will be featured on our website
Eligibility & restrictions: All countries and ages
Methods of entry: Through writing or commenting using hashtag #NotoCyberbullying
The best story/comment will win a prize.
Content: 500-1000 words maximum
Deadline:
Length of the contest: 14 days
Start Date: 01.11.17
End Date:14.11.2017
Announcement of the Winner: 30.11.2017
Location: All over the world and all ages
Time Zone: GMT
Prizes:
1-10 Best Write Ups get posted on my blog
2-You get a follow on your blog;
3-The No. 1. Best writer gets featured on my blog as a guest
Judging: Founder/Sponsors
By partnering, or submission of write up, you agree to be bound by the rules and regulations of the founders and or sponsors which is full and final.
Read and review our Terms of Service before submitting your contest to ensure that your content doesn’t violate the rules.
Kind regards,
Fatima
August 1, 2017
PROMOTION
I am doing a promo on my books effective today till September 01.09.2017
My e-books are available on amazon and kindle at $0.99
Kind regards
