Masikhule

10/06/2026

Well done Shijham Yaanah Majiedt and Elizabeth Pedersen (aka Aunty Anne!) - great interview - we look forward to sharing it soon for those who could not watch it yesterday.

10/06/2026

"For more than three decades, whether through computers, robotics or six small Lego bricks, that has been the thread running through Hutcheson’s work. Not simply teaching children what to think, but giving them the confidence to discover what they are capable of thinking for themselves."

When children are given six plain Lego bricks, something remarkable happens. Educator Brent Hutcheson tells Oliver Roberts why imagination may be more important than knowledge.…

08/06/2026

Pre-writing Skills

Pre-writing skills are the fundamental skills children need to develop before they are able to write. These skills contribute to the child’s ability to hold and use a pencil, and the ability to draw, write, copy, and colour.

Here is a snippet from last month's Radio Eersteriver interview with Tannie M to explain some of this. We will be sharing more with you over the next few weeks. To see more activities, follow https://www.instagram.com/masikhule.maskot/

03/06/2026

𝑴𝒂𝒔𝒊𝒌𝒉𝒖𝒍𝒆 𝑬𝑳𝑷 (𝑬𝒂𝒓𝒍𝒚 𝑳𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑷𝒓𝒐𝒈𝒓𝒂𝒎)

THEME: AUTUMN

The ECD educators attending our ELP Program (0 - 3 and 3 - 5 years) had great fun during the training session for the Autumn Theme. This means that the children in their ECD Centres are going to have heaps of fun too! Learning through play is the route to follow in these age groups.

Remember to follow MASKOT on Instagram for more ideas - all of our themes are included on our free app - including posters, activities, books, songs, etc: https://www.instagram.com/masikhule.maskot/

01/06/2026

Make sure to watch our interview tomorrow with Tannie M on Radio Eersteriver at 09h00! This month Shijham Yaanah Majiedt and Elizabeth Pedersen (Anne) will be demonstrating Pre-cutting Skills for 3 - 5 year olds.

These activities are useful to anyone who interacts with this age group and they make use of recycled materials. So if you are an ECD educator, a carer, a parent, sibling or grandparent - this is for you!

If you missed last month - have a watch and listen below:

01/06/2026

𝗢𝗧 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗘𝗖𝗗

Our little OT groups have been hard at work developing important skills through fun, play-based activities!

This past month the children participated in activities targeting bilateral coordination, fine motor control, motor planning, eye-hand coordination, problem-solving, postural control, and body awareness.

From building trees and folding caterpillars to shape-making, target tossing, and movement games, the children showed great participation, persistence, creativity, and enjoyment throughout each session.

It’s always wonderful to see the children challenge themselves, support one another, and have fun while learning through play!

26/05/2026

Community Builders

Many thanks to Marilize for this great interview with Michaela Fortuin, our OT, giving some insight into this part of our offering to the ECD communities we work with.

Have a listen: https://masikhule.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Masikhule-18-May-2026-clip.mp3

Thank you HelderbergFM 93.6 for your support of the NPOs in our area!

22/05/2026

𝑴𝑨𝑷𝑷 (𝑴𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑷𝒖𝒓𝒑𝒐𝒔𝒆𝒇𝒖𝒍 𝑷𝒍𝒂𝒚) - 𝑷𝒉𝒂𝒔𝒆 𝟐

Here's a lovely message by Gail Sykes of Helderberg Sunrise Rotary Club in their latest newsletter (pertaining to our post below):

"Report back on a visit to Masikhule.

On the 19th May I visited the premises of Masikhule Early Childhood Development to observe the results of a shared project between our club and District 1800.

We were invited to visit Masikhule and see the handing over of gross motor skills equipment to some of their Early Childhood Development teachers. The project evolved after a need was identified to concentrate on the development of gross and fine motor skills in young children. Without such efforts they cannot learn the skills required to grow and do well in the educational space.

The program was as follows:-
• 08:45 – 10:00: Arrival, administration, and introduction to MAPP, including why gross motor development matters
• 10:00 – 13:25: Practical rotations in small groups, led by trainers at each station, focusing on use of the gross motor kit items, with links to fine motor development, grading of activities, and school readiness (early literacy and numeracy).

I arrived in good time to hear the presentation made to all attendees wherein the necessity for such efforts was explained and the methods to attain the necessary goals outlined. The teachers were all enthusiastic and participated willingly in all activities.

They then moved on to the practical training where they rotated through 5 stations each hosted by a Masikhule representative who showed them how specific items from the kit were to be used. The kits contained all necessary items as well as a laminated booklet outlining the use of and reason for each activity. At the end of the day each teacher was given a kit which included:
 20 material squares
 1 parachute
 10 beanbags
 4 sets of stilts
 2 big balls
 10 tennis balls
 10 cones
 Chalk
 10 Hula hoops.

These were then taken back to the schools where storage arrangements had already been made.

The teachers left the room equipped with all the tools necessary to put into practice all that they had learned – what a fantastic addition to their schools made in such a practical way."

Thank you Gail - we appreciate you and your Rotary club!

22/05/2026

𝑴𝑨𝑷𝑷 (𝑴𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑷𝒖𝒓𝒑𝒐𝒔𝒆𝒇𝒖𝒍 𝑷𝒍𝒂𝒚) - 𝑷𝒉𝒂𝒔𝒆 𝟐

Phase One was the installation of fantastic jungle gyms at 14 ECD Centres. This week, Phase Two, comprised our MAPP training with 48 ECD educators focused on how gross motor development supports fine motor skills, school readiness, confidence, and participation in the classroom.

Attendees explored practical activities using the Gross Motor Kits that each ECD Centre received and learned how purposeful movement can support children’s development through everyday play.

These kits included:
* 20 material squares
* 1 parachute
* 10 beanbags
* 4 sets of stilts
* 2 big balls
* 10 tennis balls
* 10 cones
* Chalk
* 10 Hula hoops.

The activities included:
* Obstacle courses
* Balance and coordination activities
* Crossing the midline activities
* Beanbag throwing and catching games
* Parachute games
* Ball skills (kicking, throwing, catching, aiming)
* Jumbo chalk pre-writing activities
* Hula hoop movement games
* Stilts and balance challenges
* Movement pathways using masking tape and material squares
* Group participation and turn-taking games
* Activities supporting posture, core strength, and school readiness skills.

Our grateful thanks to the following Rotary International clubs that have made this MAPP project possible:

Rotary Club Schwarmstedt Aller-Leine-Tal (Germany)
Helderberg Sunrise Rotary Club (South Africa)
Rotary District 1800 (Germany)

18/05/2026

ELP TRAINING

The theme was Healthy Food and Bodies - and everyone enjoyed it! From the ECD educators attending the training to the children they showed how to implement in their ECD Centres.