The incentive for learning any additional language is distinctive to every household. However, in the South African context, given the vast social, cultural, historical and practical benefits, isiZulu is a great language to choose and learning it has many advantages and benefits.
As lock down enters its second month most Moms and Dads are staring blankly in a daze thinking of another idea to entertain the busy toddler.
It is normal for children to be afraid of the dark at some stage or another. Preschoolers aren’t always able to distinguish between reality and fantasy. Couple this with very active imaginations and it becomes easy for them to believe monsters are under the bed or in the cupboards, waiting to pounce once the lights go out.
According to doctors and professionals keeping fit is one of the most important things to do during lockdown. Exercise will strengthen your immune system, elevate your mood and get those endorphins flowing.
Cosmetix (best known for Caribbeantan, CATRICE and essence) is proud to introduce you to their newest product launch, ViroClean, an advanced hand sanitizer. Manufactured by Cosmetix in Cape Town, this fast-drying, non-sticky sanitizer contains 70% alcohol.
Our Three-Cheese Broccoli Pizza isn’t just family-friendly, it’s also SO easy to make. A meal that practically cooks itself and takes less than 30 minutes to get on the table!
World Meningitis Day is on 24 April and the theme for 2020 is #DefeatMeningitis. The aim of this day is to raise awareness about Meningococcal Meningitis in particular, a disease that can be devastating, with high fatality and a life-changing permanent impact on survivors, even when adequate treatment is provided.1a+f
Proudly South African children’s clothing boutique, Keedo, part of the Cape Union Mart Group, operates with a passion for children, and a love for creating items that are best suited to their growth, development and comfort. With decades of experience in designing items exclusively for kids, “Keedo” has become a trusted name when it comes to child health, safety and care.
Parents who find themselves at home with children who are not in school are having to find interesting ways to keeping their children interested and entertained while continuing to work from home.
Purity and Elizabeth Anne’s are brand names that I’ve always trusted. As a new mom, using Purity products was one of the easier decisions I’ve had to make.
Opera, one of the world’s leading browser developers, together with international non-profit organisation – Worldreader, are keeping young South African minds stimulated during the country’s lockdown, as a result of the coronavirus outbreak, by giving them access to an expanded range of eBooks via the Opera Mini browser. Starting this week, Worldreader will offer a new selection of eBooks to Opera Mini users as well as a brand-new web app designed to offer reading material tailored specifically for young adult readers.
“I feel like I’m in a tornado! I am exhausted! My children are showing signs of stress and anxiety and I do not know how to fix it! I am doing my best to survive! We are overwhelmed by the coronavirus pandemic – it is unsettling and frightening!”
Being unable to be a part of the outside world has created a new trend #learnsomethingnew among adults and children, with most of these new skills being learned through technology. Technology has recently become many things in a household: an educator, a baby-sitter, a news source and quite simply, a view to the outside world.
COVID-19 has profoundly disrupted every aspect of daily life across the globe. We are united in a struggle to make sense of the drastic changes, adapt as best we can and cope with a future that has never felt so completely uncertain. Of course, no one has it easy, but the young people in their final year of school will be feeling the challenges of the global pandemic in a unique way. On the cusp of putting their school days behind them and entering into a new world where they carve out their futures as adults, they now find themselves in a potentially long-lasting limbo, hanging between two vastly different worlds.
The South African calendar is littered with events and days of commemoration with a safety or human rights theme – such as Human Rights Day, Freedom Day, Women’s Day, and the 16 Days of Activism Campaign to name but a few. Safety and security is a topic that deserves regular discussions and focus, and parents should keep this conversation going throughout the year.
The world is reeling! Panic buying due to the lockdown on Thursday has left most people feeling overwhelmed, helpless and a little frightened. It is unprecedented and we are all trying to cope with the uncertainties of our current reality as best as we can. Cindy Glass, Owner and Founder of Step Up Education Centres explains, “We are all in the same boat and it is essential to understand that, at this time, there are things that are out of our control – the virus itself, other people’s reactions and government’s decision to lock down institutions, borders and other activities. The GOOD news is that there are many things that we CAN control – our own attitudes and reactions, personal hygiene, social distancing and of course, homeschooling!”
Some elephants are better at social distancing than others, prides of lions are useless, especially at mealtimes, and giraffes are fickle, moving from one group to another.
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, South Africans enter Week 2 of the national lockdown. Ford South Africa, like all other major players in the local auto industry, has temporarily suspended production at its vehicle assembly plant in Pretoria, and its engine assembly plant in Port Elizabeth.
Are you worried that your house needs a thorough disinfecting, but you don’t want to overdo it on harsh chemical-filled cleaning products especially with the kids around?
As parents, our greatest wish is to protect our children from anything that will cause them pain, be it physically or emotionally. But in reality, tragic things happen. That is life and unfortunately there is just no getting around it; it’s tough and it’s going to be hard. However, there is a way we can be there for our children when this does enter their lives. Every event that is considered “tragic” has to be dealt with as its own individual event, so the way one would break the news of a death of a loved one would be different to the way one would break the news of a person getting divorced. There are some things one must consider though when breaking sad news to children…
As a pre-school child, I was always eager to be outside, “helping” my parents wherever I could. I would watch as my mum and dad used to potter in the garden for hours at a time. Always having plenty decisions to make. Where in the garden should they place the newly bought plants? How deep should my dad dig the hole? The list is endless. Looking back, I now realize the patience they had, allowing me to “help”, the accommodations they would make so I would feel like a big girl with responsibilities for our garden to look beautiful.
From generation to generation, PURITY has been an integral part of South African families and continues to bring essential nutrition, care, quality and support needed for raising happy and healthy children.
They say it takes 21 days to form a new habit – the exact time we have been told to stay at home in order to flatten the curve. Memes all over social media have suggested that most of us have one fear being at home – the refrigerator! And, our fears are not unfounded according to Catherine Clark, Owner and Founder of the Harvest Table. She says that a study conducted by Dr Sandi Mann from the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) showed that people who are bored crave fatty and sugary foods.
The kids are at home, and the family is following government advice: staying indoors and only venture outside when necessary.
Welcoming a baby is a life-changing experience, bringing major changes to every aspect of your life. As a new parent, you can never predict exactly what is to come, but there are a few things you can do to make sure you are as stress-free and organised as possible in the hours before and after your newborn enters the world.
“Looking at the year from the vantage point of January, Matric finals seem a long way down the road, and eight months feels like ample time to get to grips with your work before you have to sit for your finals,” says Natasha Madhav, Senior Head of Programme: Faculty of ICT at The Independent Institute of Education, SA’s largest private higher education provider.
Here are 21 activities that you can plan with your children and the perfect opportunity to spend some quality time together.
When you’re preparing for the arrival of a newborn to the family, the amount of things to consider is innumerable. You thought moving house was a big deal until you’re confronted with preparing for the birth of your first child and a whole new level of responsibility dawns on you.
Every day with your child is an adventure, and now simplifying your routine just got easier. Enjoy each moment with Thule Spring, a lightweight, compact stroller that lets you and your family discover the world with ease.
For parents-to-be and their loved ones, pregnancy is a wonderful, almost magical time, filled with joy and anticipation. For expecting women with chronic conditions though, it can also bring anxiety and discomfort.
