1. Paper watches

This is a fun exercise where children print and cut out free blank watches from a resource craft book. They then draw numbers on the clock face and each student draws hands on the clock to mark a particular time. The students decorate their watch bands and fasten their paper watches to their wrists. Then, with a record sheet each, they will go around the class asking, “What time is it?” of each of their classmates. They will look at their classmate’s watch and record the time depicted on their sheet, until they have collected them all.

2. The hula hoop clock

If the sun is out, take your lesson outside and have fun with a clock made of a hula hoop placed on the ground, and some coloured chalks. You can use coloured sticks as the clock’s hands, and the children can have fun helping to design the clock face. Once the clock is ready, you can ask the students to depict various times on their hula hoop clock and test each other on getting them right.

3. Musical clocks

Print out blank clock faces from a draft resource book and hand them out to each student. Ask them to draw a time on their clock face, then leave it lying face up on their desk. Make sure each student has a recording chart and a pencil, then start some music and have the students dance around the desks. When the music stops, they must record the time on the clock face on their chart and the name of the person it belongs to. Start the music again and dance once more; the first student to have recorded everybody’s name and time is the winner!

These fun time-telling games and tasks are a great way to teach children the time and have them engaged and motivated.

4. I-spy the time

Hide paper clocks with various times recorded on them all around your classroom and ask students to hunt for each clock and make a note of its time on a record sheet. “For even more of a fun challenge,” says Claudia Sonne, a parenting blogger at UK Services Reviews and Revieweal, “write ‘What will the time be in ____ minutes?’ beneath each clock. After students have recorded the time showing on the clock, they must note down the correct future time.

5. The paper plate clock

“One of the more tricky aspects of learning how to tell the time is comprehending how the number one equates to five minutes, the 2 to ten minutes – and so on,” says Henrietta Hollis, a psychology writer at UK Top Writers and Best British Essays, “but you can use a paper plate clock with coloured paper markers to show different time periods.” Get students to cut out different coloured wedges of ‘time’ and move them around on the clock face to help them make the connection.

6. Recording elapsed time

An interesting and fun activity is to give students a worksheet to take home and ask them to record the amount of time they have spent on various activities like watching television, eating dinner, piano practice, or doing their homework.

7. Time bingo

Bingo is always a winner in the classroom! Print off some clock bingo cards and play bingo according to the time skills you are currently teaching – whether that’s minutes, quarter hours, or half-hours.

These fun time-telling games and tasks are a great way to teach children the time and have them engaged and motivated. All easy to set up and execute, and using basic classroom materials, these accessible and simple activities will help your students learn tell the time”¦ in record time!

Rebecca Leigh is a writer on marketing strategy for Do my assignment and Assignment help. She contributes to tech and marketing conferences, is a business consultant, and writes articles for online magazines and blogs like Write my paper.

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Dear friends, donors, partners, and all those who follow us around the world and support the work of our Foundation for many years, the holiday season always reminds us that, when united, we can help even more and provide support where it is most needed.

We thank everyone who has joined our Season of Giving. We are getting closer to our goal! It won’t be long before we help 100 children in Odzaci to start preschool. This year, we used the holiday season to bring joy to children in the entire Eastern Serbia, and gave them presents.

May the New Year bring us all lots of love, good health, peace of mind, shared family moments and plenty of memories that will last a lifetime. On our own and the whole Foundation’s Team behalf, thank you for always being with us, for supporting our work, and for trusting us.

Together with you, we will strive to continue to expand our mission and fulfill children’s dreams.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year,

Novak & Jelena Djokovic

You can watch the video of their New Year’s greeting at this link.

And what did we do together this year and in what ways did help children and support parents throughout our country and the region? Let’s start from the beginning…

January

• We successfully completed our most successful Season of Giving ever, during which we raised EUR 346,315; half of which was donated by our founders.

February

• At the Pavilion of the Republic of Serbia at EXPO Dubai, we presented our work to the international community. At the head of our delegation were the founders Novak and Jelena Djokovic.

February: At the Pavilion of the Republic of Serbia at EXPO Dubai, we presented our work to the international community.

March

• We participated at the Milano Marathon as silver partners, where we raised funds for our new Feel to Heal program.
• The new cycle of the program “Support, not perfection” marked the opening of the new Centers for parents within the partnership with Generali osiguranje Srbija and The Human Safety Net.
• Opening of our 50th preschool in Veliki Popovic.

April

• Our 61st preschool in Svrljig.
• The “Path of a Champion” program organized a panel discussion on International Sports Day. On this occasion, the new edition of the Handbook for parents of young athletes was also promoted.
• We were presented with a Charter of Friendship by the Puppet Theater “Pinocchio” on their 50th anniversary.
• We received the gold plaque “Benefactor” in the field of charity work.
• The opening of a preschool in Brzi Brod from the funds collected during the Season of Giving campaign.

April: The opening of a preschool in Brzi Brod from the funds collected during the Season of Giving campaign.

May

• Through the Walk of Pleasure, we announced a partnership with the Belgrade Marathon.
• We joined the Association of Dramatic Artists of Serbia at the humanitarian play “The Ship Sails for the Miners’ Children”
• We supported The Human Safety Net Global Challenge.
• We organized a webinar on the topic of Sibling Relationships

June

• The 100th study room opened within the project “Inclusive early childhood education and care”
• We organized the second webinar on the topic of Sibling Relationships

June: The 100th study room opened within the project “Inclusive early childhood education and care”

July

• Welcoming our founder Novak Djokovic to Belgrade after winning Wimbledon

August

• Increased activity of blog posts and active preparations for the last quarter

September

• The Conversation on Parenting with Dr. Shefali and Jelena Djokovic delighted the audience in Ljubljana, Zagreb and Belgrade
• Donated equipment to the City Organization of the Deaf in Belgrade as part of the Global Challenge
• The Original platform organized a conference on entrepreneurship – Original Boost
• The Union of FON students supported the work of the Foundation via the Humanitarian Sports Tournament

September: The Conversation on Parenting with Dr. Shefali and Jelena Djokovic delighted the audience in Ljubljana, Zagreb and Belgrade

October

• The Inclusive Early Childhood Education and Care project achieved its goal months ahead of the schedule
• The fourth panel of the Path of Champions program was held, entitled “Talent in sports – truth or myth?”
• We attended the regional conference “Safety and Responsibility”
• We attended the Education Fair with our partners, the Ministry of Education
• We celebrated Children’s Week in Serbia

November

• We opened our 53rd preschool in Boljevac through a partnership with Hyatt Regency Belgrade
• Opened our 54th preschool – “Blue Star” in Sajlovo, from the funds collected during the Season of Giving
• The Novak Djokovic Foundation delegation attended Networks 2022 in Venice – the annual conference of our partners The Human Safety Net
• We held a workshop for parents in Ljubljana

December: A new Season of Giving officially began on Giving Tuesday

December

• A new Season of Giving officially began
• We celebrated International Volunteer Day
• We held workshops in 10 places where we equipped study rooms as part of the “Inclusive early childhood education and care” project
• We held a webinar entitled Where there is good will, the situation is better – I choose nonviolence!
• We distributed New Year’s presents to 400 children in Eastern Serbia

During this year, the most significant projects have been: the opening of 5 new preschools with the support of our partners and donors, with which we have come to 54. Also, within the project “Inclusive Early Childhood Education and Care” 3,200 places have been secured for children in preschools throughout Serbia. Our signature programs, “Support, not Perfection” and “The Path of the Champion” continued to provide much-needed support to parents, while Dr. Shefali‘s guest appearances were the real icing on the cake.

Before we sign out, we would like to thank you for supporting another Season of Giving campaign — this time for the opening of a new preschool in Odzaci. We are very close to reaching the goal of 50 thousand euros. And all that thanks to you! Don’t forget that, like every year, Novak and Jelena will match all your donations! We are convinced that we will reach the goal together, and we very extremely grateful for that.

Once again, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

The post Novak and Jelena Wish You Happy Holidays! Let’s Remember 2022 and All the Great Things We Did Together appeared first on Novak Djokovic Foundation.

“Support, NOT perfection” has been one of the blueprints of our work for years. Created and led by our Head of programs, Smiljana Grujic, it has so far helped more than 2,600 parents across Serbia. In recent years, in accordance with the epidemiological situation, we have had to organize the workshops online, and Smiljana was joined on several occasions by our co-founder and global CEO, Jelena Djokovic, who shared her parenting experience and the challenges she faces on a daily basis.

With the support of our long-term partners, Generali Osiguranje Srbija and The Human Safety Net, last year we started the project of building 15 Parent Centers throughout Serbia, which have become a gathering place for parents and guardians over the past couple of cycles of workshops. As we look back on the year that is about to end, we share with you the experiences of the Mesaros family who attended the recently completed workshops in the city of Pancevo. We look forward to the new contingent of workshop participants who will have the opportunity to socialize and share experiences in a cozy environment.

I would say that the foundation chooses facilitators very carefully and successfully, at least in our case it was like that, because Aleksandra introduced us and guided us through the program with ease, always managing to keep our attention and emphasize the most important points. – Anika Mesaros on our facilitator Aleksandra.

The Mesaros family impressions can be read below:  

For me, parenting is the most beautiful and at the same time the hardest “job” I’ve ever had. Full of daily challenges, without a scheme or instructions on how to do it. It became clear to me very early on that something was “not right” with the model we inherited from our parents, and I did not come across a model that was “better” and applicable in practice. While reading books on parenting, I realized that it can be different from what we picked up from our families, but it was difficult for me to put it into practice.

Attending the Support, not Perfection program, I realized that what I lacked were actually self-regulation techniques, because everything I knew in theory was very difficult for me to apply until I calmed down the “inflamed” amygdala.

Sharing experiences with other parents was useful on many levels – from understanding the fact that we are all in the same situation & that we all have similar problems, to concrete suggestions and solutions for certain situations, which we applied successfully.

I would say that the foundation chooses facilitators very carefully and successfully, at least in our case it was like that, because Aleksandra introduced us and guided us through the program with ease, always managing to keep our attention and emphasize the most important points. An enjoyable atmosphere was created very quickly, we formed a small community, which, I believe, will continue to exist in some form even after 10 weeks of the official program.

I would recommend to all parents not to miss this experience, no matter how well they navigate their parenting journey, because support is something we always need.

Anika Mesaros

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I joined the program to become a better father and husband – to master some new and useful techniques (e.g. “I messages”), share my parenting experience, and learn from others about it.

What benefited me the most was that I had the opportunity to understand that everything is a matter of openness towards myself, my partner and children, how far an individual will progress as a person and a parent, and that the power of parenting and raising children is in OUR hands – the hands of parents. It means a lot to me now to know that all parents share the same or very similar concerns, problems, and hopes regarding their children and family. I made some new acquaintances that I plan to develop into closer relationships and to continue family gatherings to the mutual pleasure of everyone involved.

I recommend the workshop to every parent, regardless of gender and age of the child!

I would tell the future participants to apply for the workshop sincerely and without hesitation, because through it they will have the opportunity to learn everything they wanted and needed to know about parenting and life in a family with children.

Gabrijel Mesaros

Anika and Gabrijel Mesaros with their two little daughters.

The Novak Djokovic Foundation thanks all the participants of the workshops. We hope we have made your parenting journey easier and more meaningful. With that in mind, we are looking forward to a new cycle!

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The caravan of happiness is going east! The Novak Djokovic Foundation traveled from city to city in the past few days and shared New Year’s joy with children in the 6 largest cities/towns of Eastern Serbia – Kladovo, Negotin, Bor, Majdanpek, Zaječar and Boljevac. This covered the entire region and at the same time continued the action started last year. We remind you that in December 2021, the Foundation and its partners distributed 300 presents in the following 12 cities of South and South-Eastern Serbia: Niš, Vranje, Pirot, Leskovac, Prokuplje, Kuršumlija, Vlasotince, Vladičin Han, Bujanovac, Dimitrovgrad, Bela Palanka and Doljevac.

In Zaječar, the children expected presents with Pippi Longstocking.

In cooperation with preschool institutions, local self-governments and centers for social work, this noble idea brought together a total of 19 socially responsible companies-friends of the Foundation who gave their contribution in the form of various donations: toys, board games, books, cosmetics and hygiene, clothing, transportation, accommodation, consumables and package transport. The Foundation expresses its special gratitude to the local cultural centers – as well as cinemas, theaters and schools – who lent their premises and thus greatly helped in the realization of this charity event: the Cultural Center in Kladovo, the Cultural Center in Majdanpek, the Negotin High School, the “Zvezda” Cinema in Bor, the “Zoran Radmilović” Theater in Zaječar, as well as the Cultural Center in Boljevac.

Flying high in Bor.

“Our Foundation is active in all parts of Serbia, we are often on the road and sometimes we don’t spend much time together. This trip served as a great opportunity for our entire team to enjoy the camaraderie and wonderful atmosphere, which we shared with people in all the cities we visited. We were very well received everywhere and we are glad that we brought smiles to many children’s faces. Inspired by last year’s event, which we are repeating now, we are guided by the belief that every good deed lasts in time, and we will continue to try to make children all over Serbia happy, like these children who have seen that there are people outside their micro-community who love them and who are there to help them. We hope that this time spent with us, Santa Claus and other children will give them additional strength growing up,” said Maja Kremic, National Director of the Foundation.

Santa Claus thanking our partners.

The companies that supported the project are: Raspberry Plum Ltd., Pertini d.o.o., Forma VS d.o.o. – Jungle Baby, Orbico d.o.o., JRJ d.o.o., Oralent d.o.o., Transfera d.o.o., Knjaz Miloš a.d., Lomax Company d.o.o. – Kosili, Mekdan d.o.o. – TC BIG, Aksa d.o.o., Serbia Zijin Copper DOO – Hotel Jezero Bor, Jumbo Travel d.o.o., Sitel SBA d.o.o., Endava d.o.o., CPA Global d.o.o. – Clarivate, Mist International Plus d.o.o., ChipsWay d.o.o., Delicious Food d.o.o.

The Novak Djokovic Foundation traditionally helps children from vulnerable social groups during the New Year and Christmas holidays – children from foster families and children’s hospitals, members of the Roma national minority, recipients of financial social assistance, children in shelters, etc.Along with this project, the Foundation is implementing the Season of Giving 2022 campaign, within which funds are collected for equipping a new kindergarten in Odzaci, with a capacity of 100 places. You can support the campaign by donating on the website fundraise.novakdjokovicfoundation.org.

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In the past two months, parents and guardians from Rača, Obrenovac, Novi Selo, Velika Plana (Bresje/Veliko Orašje), Batočina, Bođani, Kušiljevo, Dolovo, Čajetina and Pećinci had the opportunity to attend free workshops for parents where they discussed children’s need for:

• Stimulation,
• Understanding, and
• Happy parents.

At the workshops, among other things, there were discussions on healthy relationships, mutual understanding and appreciation, the principles of stimulating interactions, the importance of physical activity, and the healing power of understanding.

Results of workshops held in numbers:

• 10 preschool institutions included  
• 195 parents/guardians attended
• 440 children who were indirectly influenced

Workshop in Velika Plana.

• 70% of parents belong to socially disadvantaged categories
• 20% of single parents/guardians
• 10% of fathers

Key messages and working principles that we adhered to in working with parents:  

• Every parent wants the best for their child.
• No two families are the same, and no two children are the same, so there is no one-size-fits-all recipe for parenting for every child and every family at all times.
• There is no such thing as perfect parenting; children do not need perfect parents.
• With adequate support, every parent has the capacity to meet their child’s needs to grow up in a safe and stimulating environment with a caring adult.
• Every parent has knowledge and experience that others can learn from.

Workshop in Rača.

And, finally, we share with you the impressions of the parents-attendees to whom we send nothing but love:

“I have never attended a workshop like this, and I needed it so much: to ask, to hear, to understand, in order to be better for my children. I don’t know a lot, and that’s why it’s important to say that all this is very, very necessary.” – Father from Rača

“I will talk more and preach less. I will read more bedtime stories. We need more meetings like this.” – Mother from Obrenovac

“I started thinking about how much I need to talk to experts who know this problem, because I am under constant stress and I see that I can’t do it.” – Mother from Pećinci

“More games. More laughs. More conversations. Better communication.” – Father from Velika Plana

The “Inclusive Early Childhood Education and Care” project, which has been implemented since May last year, has so far helped preschool institutions in 31 municipalities in Serbia. During that time, 134 classrooms, i.e. 3,201 places in preschools for children throughout Serbia, were opened.  

If you are interested in such workshops, you can apply for the workshops of our “Support, not perfection” program, which is realized in cooperation with Generali Osiguranje Srbija and The Human Safety Net. The program is implemented in 15 Parent Centers throughout Serbia and the next cycle begins in the spring of 2023. Follow the communication channels of the Novak Djokovic Foundation, where we will inform you in a timely manner when applications are open.

The post Supporting Children’s Well-being: We Held Workshops in 10 Towns Where We Equipped Study Rooms Within the “Inclusive Early Childhood Education and Care” Project appeared first on Novak Djokovic Foundation.

Aligned with our mission to provide every child with access to quality preschool education, we are joining the Season of Giving and organizing a global fundraising campaign for the fifth year in a row. The holiday season is every family’s favorite: we spend time together, laugh, play, have fun, daydream, sleep like babies and dream big dreams. This is also the time that reminds us that, no matter how hard the year behind us have been, there are always plenty of reasons for happiness and gratitude! Moreover, this is a great opportunity to show our gratitude by being generous and helping others as much as we can. Don’t forget – everyone’s contribution is equally important!

As you sit wrapped up in a blanket, drinking tea and reading your favorite book in the warmth of your home, and the chimneys on your houses work tirelessly””other chimneys (Odzaci, remember?), are calling you to join them and help the little ones who live there go to preschool. By participating in the Season of Giving, you will play a part in erasing the entire waiting list for enrollment in Odzaci and thereby make 100 children and their families happy. The Novak Djokovic Foundation’s plan is to fully equip four new study rooms in the new block at the central kindergarten, the construction of which was already started by the Municipality of Odzaci and the Preschool “Poletarac” (nestling in English).

Grandma Mira knitting Elena a sweater.

In the event that this amount is exceeded, as it was the case in last year, the extra funds will be invested in opening new preschools across Serbia. Last year, for example, enough funds were collected not only for Nis – the project for which the campaign was originally intended – but also for the opening of new preschools in Brzi Brod (125 children) and Sajlovo (250 children) – both of which are up and running. The opening of the preschool in Niš is planned for next year.

Our founders, Novak and Jelena Djokovic, remind us that the main goal of the Foundation is for every child in Serbia to have access to preschool education by 2030:

“No victory is as important as those that we achieve together year after year by including more children in early years programs and enabling them to develop in the best possible way. Together with our partners, donors, friends and institutions that support us, we are raising awareness of this important goal for a happier future, and I am proud that our community is growing in numbers and becoming more dedicated to the realization of this goal,” says Novak Djokovic.

“Our mission and daily inspiration is to create the best possible conditions for a more dynamic and meaningful investment in children and their future, and we are very happy to share it with an increasing number of friends who support our values every year. The encouragement we draw from every success and happiness of children and families opens up opportunities for even bigger goals and new ideas, and we are sure that raising funds for another four study rooms in Odzaci will be another great occasion to confirm humanity, solidarity and the wisdom of everyone who will work with us during the Season of Giving,” emphasizes Jelena Djokovic.

Season of Giving will enable Elena to meet new friends.

You can watch the story of little Elena and her Grandma Mira at the following link on our YouTube channel.

How to join the campaign:

1. Donate

At this  link, you can support this campaign by donating and #MakeAWishForOdzaci. Your donations will help change their lives! Fundraise together with your family and friends. While you’re at it, why not make an adventure out of it? You  can:

• donate,
• start your own fundraiser – choose a name, set your goal, and pick your crew, or
• support a fellow fundraiser.

Don’t forget to leave a few words for us when you donate! Share why you opted to donate and how important early development is for you. Together, we are spreading a valuable message for  everyone!

*Our Foundation is officially registered as a charity organization in the United States, United Kingdom, and Italy. If you are donating from the USA, you will get a receipt and your donations will automatically be eligible for tax deductions. If you are donating from the UK, contact our Fundraising Team at giving@novakdjokovicfoundation.com, as well as for any further  questions.  

2. Share the news with your company

Does your company match?  Speak to your HR or CSR department – your gift could have double the impact! Opening preschools does not only help the children and their families but our society as a whole. We are ensuring that our future generations are using their full potential and building a brighter future for all of  us.

3. Use the power of social media – Be an advocate

You can read the stories from Odzaci on our blog,  Facebook,  Twitter,  Instagram,  LinkedIn. Share them on your social media profiles and call your friends to join us. Do not forget to tag us in our posts and to use  #MakeAWishForOdzaci. In that way, you’re helping us spread the news about our goal and gain more members of our NDF family.

Thank you for putting your trust in us all these years. Let’s reach our goal together once again and enrich the lives of 100 children in Serbia!

Chimney sweep Vlada who will fulfill Elena’s wish””with a bit of help from you! 😉

Our Foundation, together with the founders Novak and Jelena Djokovic, as well as partners and donors, has over the past 15 years invested over EUR 15 million into programs and projects aimed at early childhood development. The construction and the adaptation of preschools, with the goal of creating a safe and stimulating environment where children can grow, develop and learn, is one of our most important projects. Thanks to this initiative, so far, 54 preschools in Serbia have been reconstructed and furnished, more than 52,500 children helped, 2,200 teachers trained, and 7,500 parents supported.

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