“Sexual education is a highly controversial topic in Egypt! Some parents totally avoid it, while others still use the “stork” and “cabbage patches” myths to respond to their children’s totally normal questions.” said Marwa Rakha, writer, and Montessori educator.
To help parents overcome their inhibitions, shame, and sense of taboos, Rakha offers them a sexual education course, using Montessori-inspired activities, that would help them explain the difference between male and female bodies, reproduction, puberty, and such concepts to their children until the end of puberty.
“I felt that it was not enough! I wanted to reach the children myself. That was when I thought of the book – an authentic book in Arabic that simplifies sexual education without turning it into fable of some sort.” That was how Rakha got the idea of the book.
“The Bees & The Birds Talk” or “حديث النحل والطيور” is unique in so many ways! It tackles sexual education, addresses children, in Arabic, and it is available as a web app, a desktop app, and a mobile app.
““Kotbee Author” is the platform that I used to make my dream come true! I was able to turn my idea into an application that the young reader would find entertaining and educational at the same time.” explained Rakha.
The way the book unfolds, the sequence and selection of information, and the choice of interactive elements, are aligned with Marwa Rakha’s years of studying and applying the “Montessori Philosophy”.
“The Bees and The Birds Talk” starts with a girl who loves studying plants and flowers in the garden, and a boy who enjoys birdwatching and learning about their behavior. They both have “deep” questions.
Their progressive and involved parents realize the importance of accurate graduated scientific information. Conversations initiated by the children’s observations and inquiries, they understand concepts such as pollination, insemination, fertilization, mating, sexual reproduction, and asexual reproduction.
As for the children reading this book, they will have the opportunity to deepen their knowledge and understanding by playing interactive games like crosswords, word search, and puzzles.
They can watch embedded videos and photo galleries, listen to the story narrated by the author, manipulate 3D objects, and apply their knowledge by answering “True or False”, “Multiple Choice”, and “Drag and Drop” questions.
In the near future, Rakha is planning on releasing an English version of the book and she aspires to creating her own e-library of interactive web and mobile application books.
Joined by her 12-year-old son, Adam, Marwa Rakha takes the press, content creators, and aspiring parents and teachers on a live demonstration of the first Arabic interactive sexual education book for preteens and reviews her experience with Kotobee Author for those who want to make an extra cash from home.
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