Advice Column - Parenting Hub

Advice from the experts

Mental health vs mental illness: Why knowing the difference matters

An estimated one in three South Africans will experience a mental health condition during their lifetime, yet many people still struggle to distinguish between poor mental health and mental illness. While the terms are often used interchangeably, they are not the same thing. Everyone has mental health, just as everyone has physical health. Mental health refers to our emotional, psychological and social wellbeing and can fluctuate in response to stress, life events and everyday challenges. Mental illness, on the other hand, refers to diagnosable conditions such as depression, anxiety disorders, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia that can affect how a person thinks, feels and functions. According to Dr Themba Hadebe, Clinical Executive at Bonitas Medical Fund, knowing the difference between a difficult period and a potential mental illness is an important first step towards getting help. “It’s normal to experience stress, sadness or worry from time to time. However, when these feelings persist, worsen or begin affecting daily functioning, they may indicate something more serious that requires attention and support,” he says. Recognising the signs early can make a significant difference. Here are five indicators that it may be time to seek professional support. Persistent feelings of sadness, anxiety or hopelessness Everyone experiences difficult emotions from time to time. However, if feelings of sadness, worry, fear or hopelessness continue for several weeks and begin interfering with your daily life, it could be a sign of an underlying mental health condition. Pay attention to emotional changes that don’t improve with rest, self-care or changes in circumstance. Changes in your sleep patterns Mental illness often affects sleeping habits. You may struggle to fall asleep, wake frequently during the night, experience restless sleep or find yourself sleeping significantly more than usual. Over time, disrupted sleep can affect concentration, energy levels, mood and overall wellbeing. Withdrawing from people and activities A common warning sign of mental illness is losing interest in activities that once brought enjoyment or distancing yourself from family, friends and colleagues. While it’s natural to need time alone occasionally, ongoing social withdrawal may indicate that something deeper is affecting your wellbeing. Difficulty coping with everyday responsibilities If routine tasks suddenly feel overwhelming, or you’re struggling to focus, make decisions, meet deadlines or manage responsibilities that once felt manageable, it may be a sign that your mental wellbeing requires attention. “One of the biggest misconceptions about mental illness is that seeking help is a sign of weakness,” says Dr Hadebe. “In reality, recognising when you need support and taking action is a sign of strength.” Relying on unhealthy coping mechanisms Turning to alcohol, overeating, substance use or other unhealthy habits to cope with emotional distress may provide temporary relief, but often masks underlying challenges. Recognising these behaviours early can help prevent them from developing into longer-term problems and can signal the need for professional support. Mental illness is not a personal failure, and effective treatment and support are available. The earlier a condition is identified and managed, the better the outcome is likely to be. “We need to normalise conversations about mental illness in the same way we normalise conversations about physical health,” says Dr Hadebe. “Awareness helps reduce stigma and encourages people to seek help before challenges become crises.” Understanding the difference between mental health and mental illness can help people recognise when they or a loved one may need support. If symptoms persist, worsen or begin affecting daily life, speaking to a healthcare professional is an important step towards recovery. Bonitas members also have access to a dedicated Mental Health Programme, which offers professional guidance, counselling support and resources to help them better understand and manage their condition. Looking after your mental health is important, but recognising the signs of mental illness and seeking help early can make a meaningful difference to your long-term health, wellbeing and quality of life.

October 1, 2026

Adventure Time: Side Quests premieres exclusively on Cartoon Network

Finn and Jake are back — and this time, the adventures are bite-sized. Adventure Time: Side Quests premieres exclusively on Cartoon Network (channel 301) on Monday, 5 October, airing every weekday at 18:15 CAT. One of Cartoon Network’s most beloved and imaginative franchises, Adventure Time captivated audiences with its heartfelt storytelling, playful humour and richly creative world. Side Quests builds on the spirit of the early seasons, delivering lighter, self-contained adventures designed to introduce a new generation of fans to the Land of Ooo, while giving longtime fans more of what they love. The series brings standalone, silly quests and playful challenges — celebrating the joyful chaos that made Finn and Jake’s adventures so unforgettable in the first place. Whether you grew up with the original series or you’re discovering Ooo for the first time, Side Quests is built to be an easy, fun weekday watch — short, self-contained stories that don’t require any homework to enjoy. Grab your backpack and join Finn and Jake every weekday from 18:15 CAT, only on Cartoon Network.

October 1, 2026

Managing Bumps, Bruises and Minor Aches as Kids Get Active Outdoors

After just an hour outside, your child can come back with grazed knees, a fresh scrape on one elbow and a bruise the size of a plum on their shin. How did all of that happen in one afternoon? The reassuring answer is that, in most cases, this is simply what an active childhood looks like. And with warmer weather keeping kids outdoors longer, climbing, running, riding bikes, and seeing just how high they can jump, you may notice a few more bumps, scrapes, and bruises that need a little TLC. Why do children get bruises? Bumps and bruises are almost a childhood rite of passage. Most are nothing to worry about. They’re simply part of having an active and adventurous child who is still figuring out where their body ends and the coffee table begins. Children may seem to bruise more than adults, but that doesn’t necessarily mean their skin or blood vessels are more fragile. Kids spend more time running, jumping, climbing, falling and bumping into things than the average adult, who has generally learned to walk around furniture rather than through it. Add a little built-in childhood clumsiness into the mix, and bruises are almost guaranteed.1 First aid for bumps, bruises and minor aches Cuts, bumps and bruises can all come from the same tumble, but they happen in slightly different ways. A cut breaks the skin, while a bruise forms underneath it when tiny blood vessels are damaged and a little blood leaks into the surrounding tissue.The majority of small injuries can be treated at home so long as bleeding is light or has stopped, your child is not in severe pain, and they can move the area normally. If the injured area has a skin scrape, wash it with mild soap and lukewarm water. You can apply an antibacterial cream to prevent infection. Cover the wound with a sterile gauze pad and tape or a simple plaster.2 Bruises may not appear straight away, but the skin can still be painful and often feel tender at first. Most need nothing more than a cold pack wrapped in a towel (or even a bag of frozen veggies), for no more than 20 minutes. And if your baby seems in pain, an age-appropriate pain reliever with paracetamol may help.3 Stocking a child-safe first aid kit A first aid kit stocked with a few essentials gives you peace of mind when your child gets hurt. Start with plasters in a range of sizes and antiseptic wipes for cleaning small cuts and grazes. A digital thermometer is also worth keeping close for checking your child’s temperature. Add tweezers for splinters, blunt-tip scissors for cutting gauze or tape, and sterile gauze pads for anything too big for a plaster.Saline solution is useful for rinsing eyes or wounds, while a cold pack can help soothe bumps, bruises and sprains.4 Keep an age-appropriate pain reliever such as Panado® available in handy single-use 5 ml sachets13 on hand, along with oral rehydration salts for bouts of vomiting or diarrhoea and burn gel for minor burns or scalds. Finish with disposable gloves and hand sanitiser.4 When should you call the doctor? Most childhood bumps heal themselves with time, a hug, and maybe an extra story before bed. But a few situations warrant a trip to your child’s paediatrician. Any head injury followed by vomiting, slurred speech, pupils that look different in size, or a sudden change in the way your child walks needs medical attention.5 The same goes for a limb your child suddenly refuses to walk on or put weight on, cuts that are long, deep, or ragged edged, any visible deformity,numbness around the injury, or pain that seems far bigger than the bump itself.Redness, swelling, discolouration, or pus are all signs of infection worth flagging quickly, while anything needing stitches or an X-ray is usually best handled at a hospital rather than waiting it out at home.6 The power to fight pain and fever Panado®’s Paediatric Range delivers the trusted7 pain relief South African families have relied on for generations. The range includes Infant Drops,8 named Product of the Year 2025 in the Child – Health category following a Kantar survey of 2,000 South African consumers,9 as well as Peppermint Syrup10 with improved taste11 and Strawberry Syrup,12 which is also available in handy single-use 5 ml sachets13 for families on the go. Panado® products are available from Baby City, Pick n Pay, Checkers including Hypers, Shoprite, Clicks, Dis-Chem and independent pharmacies. For more information, visit: https://panado.co.za/ and join the conversations on Facebook and Instagram. For references and legal disclaimers, visit https://panado.co.za/references. Approval ticket #09.09.2026.10000064388. September 2026.

October 1, 2026

When Life Does Not Come With a Manual

There are times in life when being capable, experienced and generally quite good at what you do is remarkably little help. Your teenager is trying to work out who they are, where they fit, which opinions matter and what they want their future to look like. You are trying to work out when to step in, when to step back, which boundary really matters and why a perfectly innocent question such as “How was your day?” can receive the comprehensive, barked response of “Fine!” – end of interrogation. And while all this is happening, you may also be running a business, managing people, meeting deadlines, dealing with clients, paying bills or simply trying to get through a working day without another person needing something urgently. Different situations. Different pressures. But there is a common thread: it can be remarkably difficult to see your clearest options when you are standing right in the middle of the situation. Perhaps that is worth remembering – for our teenagers, and for ourselves. Your teenager is beginning to practise adulthood Adolescence brings a gradual shift towards greater independence, responsibility and personal decision-making. A 2024 review of adolescent autonomy makes an important distinction: becoming autonomous is not simply about separating from parents. It also involves learning to make choices that increasingly feel like one’s own, while parents continue to play an important supporting role. Read the developmental review. In other words, your teenager is beginning to practise adulthood while still very much being a teenager. They are forming opinions, testing boundaries, choosing friendships, dealing with disagreement, making mistakes, comparing themselves with others and beginning to make decisions that can feel surprisingly consequential. Subject choices. Relationships. Friendships. Social groups. Sport. Further study. Careers. And then there is the world in their pocket. Social media can give teenagers connection, information, friendship and opportunities they might never encounter otherwise. It can also bring distraction, comparison, misinformation, peer conflict and cyberbullying into spaces previous generations considered private. UNICEF South Africa’s guidance reflects precisely that complexity: the online world is not simply something to ban or fear; young people need to learn how to manage it. Read UNICEF South Africa’s guidance. So perhaps the challenge is not that today’s teenagers are such a mystery. They are learning to navigate a world that increasingly expects adult decisions and responsibilities from them while they are still building the experience and judgement that come with adulthood. And parents are learning alongside them. When wanting the best starts becoming complicated Most parents want their children to have opportunities – sometimes opportunities they themselves never had. We want them to make good choices. We want them to avoid some of our mistakes. We want them to use their abilities and build a future in which they can support themselves and, hopefully, find satisfaction in the life they create. The difficulty is that we inevitably bring our own experience to that picture. If you built a successful business, you know the value of commercial skills. If financial uncertainty shaped your own early adulthood, security may loom particularly large when your teenager starts talking about careers. Our own successes, disappointments and experiences naturally influence what we believe will give our children the best chance in life. None of that makes parental guidance wrong. But there is a point at which helping a young person explore their future can quietly become deciding what that future should look like. The teenager sitting opposite you may have different strengths, interests, values and ideas about what a satisfying life looks like. What represents security, success or fulfilment to you may not look quite the same to them. They may know exactly where they are heading. They may have several possibilities competing for attention. Or your Grade 11 learner may have changed career plans three times this term and currently consider “I don’t know” a perfectly respectable five-year strategy. Adolescence is a period in which identity and autonomy are actively developing. That makes conversations around choices especially important. Read the 2024 study. Sometimes the useful shift is not finding the answer more quickly. It is becoming curious about what may be sitting underneath the answer you are getting. Sometimes the argument is not really about the argument The messy bedroom may be about responsibility. The curfew argument may be about trust and independence. The subject-choice disagreement may contain two very different ideas about security and success. And the teenager who appears to be saying “leave me alone” may simultaneously want considerably more independence and the reassurance that someone is still paying attention. That does not mean every disagreement needs deep analysis. Sometimes a wet towel on the floor really is just a wet towel on the floor. But family relationships carry history, emotion, expectation, fear, love and responsibility. We do not approach them as neutral observers. That is one reason perspective can be so difficult from inside the situation. Young people do not have to be in trouble to benefit from support Take the free What’s Really Going On With Your Teen – Parent Quiz We tend to think about additional support for teenagers only once there is a serious problem. But there is an enormous territory between “everything is fine” and “something is seriously wrong”. A young person can be perfectly capable and still struggle with self-doubt. They can have friends and still find certain friendships difficult to handle. They can be doing reasonably well at school and still feel overwhelmed by choices about what comes next. They may also benefit from becoming better at handling setbacks, communicating more confidently, making decisions or recognising how strongly other people’s opinions affect their own. None of those things automatically means a teenager needs psychological treatment. A 2025 systematic review of coaching with secondary-school adolescents examined 28 publications covering personal, social, emotional, cognitive and moral development. Areas commonly addressed included interpersonal relationships, conflict resolution, perceived competence and motivation. The findings varied according to the type and duration of the coaching, so this is useful

September 30, 2026

The Freedom to Play Starts Here

Looking for an exciting indoor play experience near Tokai? Whether you are planning a family day out, a birthday party, a school-holiday treat or simply a way for the kids to enjoy active play, there is plenty of fun close by. At Playstation, children can explore, imagine and play in a vibrant indoor play park created especially for younger adventurers. Conveniently located for families from Tokai, Steenberg, Bergvliet, Constantia and the wider Southern Suburbs, it is a brilliant place to turn an ordinary day into something special. From imaginative play to active exploration, Playstation by Rush gives children the freedom to play, make friends and create happy memories. Your Preferred Indoor Play Park in Tokai Finding an activity that keeps children entertained, engaged and moving can make all the difference to a family day out. Younger children need space to explore safely, use their imaginations and enjoy play that feels made for them. This is where Playstation comes in! We’ve got a lively indoor play park where children can discover, climb, move and enjoy the excitement of active play. It is designed for younger children, offering families a fun and welcoming environment where play comes naturally. The freedom to play means there is no need for a complicated plan. Visit after school, meet friends for a playdate, enjoy a weekend treat or make a special occasion even more memorable. Tokai’s Play Park for Little Adventures Contrary to our name, Playstation is not about gaming consoles — it is about real-world play, imagination and movement. The kids can step into an exciting environment where they can explore, challenge themselves and enjoy the simple joy of being active. It is a space that encourages confidence, curiosity and connection, while giving children the opportunity to play alongside friends and siblings. For parents, it is a refreshing alternative to another afternoon at home or a routine shopping-centre outing. Children get the chance to move and explore, while families enjoy quality time together in an indoor setting designed for play. Family Fun in Tokai A great family activity should be easy to plan and enjoyable from the moment you arrive. Playstation by Rush gives Southern Suburbs families an indoor play option that works beautifully for younger children. Rainy days, hot afternoons and last-minute weekend plans do not have to limit the fun. A visit to our play park gives children a chance to be active and imaginative, whatever the weather is doing outside. It is also an excellent choice when friends or relatives are visiting. Instead of trying to coordinate a complicated outing, families can enjoy a fun, child-focused experience where kids can play and adults can relax, connect and share in the excitement. The Freedom to Celebrate Your Way Playstation is more than a park for family outings. It is great for birthday parties as well! Birthdays should feel exciting, joyful and full of moments children will remember. Our park offers a colourful, energetic setting for kids’ birthday parties, playdates and special celebrations. A play-park birthday party gives young guests the freedom to explore, move and have fun together, rather than simply sitting around a table. It also gives parents a simpler way to plan a celebration, with an activity-led environment that keeps children happily entertained. Whether you are celebrating a birthday or gathering a small group of friends, play creates the kind of shared memories that last well beyond the day itself. Older Kids? We’ve Got You Covered! For families with older children, like teenagers and young adults, that are looking for a more high-energy experience we also have Rush Claremont nearby. Our sister park offers a different kind of indoor adventure, with opportunities for bigger movement, jumping and active challenges. This gives families in the Southern Suburbs the freedom to choose an experience that suits the ages and interests of their kids. Playstation by Rush is ideal for younger children who love imaginative, active play. Rush Claremont is perfect when older siblings are ready for bigger adventures. Plan Your Next Family Outing in Tokai For families searching for indoor play parks near Tokai, Playstation and Rush are ready to welcome kids of all ages. It is a place for imagination, movement, laughter and the freedom to make the most of time together. Gather the kids, plan a playdate or book a celebration, and discover a favourite new place to play in the Southern Suburbs.

September 29, 2026

Veganism and pregnancy

Veganism is becoming an increasingly popular lifestyle which abstains from the consumption and use of animal products, predominantly for health, and/or ethical reasons. If you’re vegan and are considering pregnancy, or are pregnant, you are probably wondering how to best provide nutrients for your growing baby, and if veganism is still the best option for both of you. Can I stay vegan while pregnant? Veganism is often criticised for its lack of certain vitamins and minerals that a typical ‘balanced’ diet contains. Luckily, it is still possible to stick to your vegan diet during pregnancy – you’ll just have to make sure that your growing baby receives the nutrients that she needs. While pregnant, it’s important to eat foods that contain folic acid (a B vitamin), calcium, vitamin D, iron and protein – you can get this from the food you eat as well as supplements. If you’re wondering where you can find these important nutrients in a plant-based diet, read on. Citrus fruits, dried beans and leafy green veggies are all foods that include folic acid. Typically dairy is a source of calcium, however, non dairy foods rich in calcium are broccoli and kale. Vitamin D can be found in mushrooms and fortified products, such as rice milk and soy milk. Although meat is often seen as a primary source of protein, beans, peas, nuts and seeds are all rich in protein. Potatoes and tofu are also good foods to eat when replacing meat protein, and iron can be found in spinach and beans. What nutrients are typically lacking in a vegan diet? As a vegan, there are certain nutrients that you can’t find in plants – during pregnancy it becomes even more important to supplement these. Vitamin B12 (which helps with proper brain development), vitamin D (which aids bone and teeth development), omega 3 fatty acids and iron (you’ll need about twice as much when pregnant) are vitamins and minerals you might need to supplement. Even if you’re not vegan, making sure your baby gets all the correct nutrients is important and may mean adjusting your diet. If you are planning on sticking to a strict diet plan it’s a good idea to consult with someone knowledgeable first.

September 28, 2026

Academic Success Is More Than a Mark

A learner receives 80% on a test. That’s useful information. But what does it actually tell us? A mark measures performance at a particular point in time. Learning goes deeper. Understanding Matters A learner who understands a concept doesn’t simply remember the correct answer. They know why it works. They can explain it, apply it and potentially use it in a new context. That’s where genuine learning begins. Independence Matters Too As children progress through school, they should increasingly take responsibility for their own learning. They should learn to manage their time, identify gaps, ask questions and seek support when necessary. These behaviours may not appear on a report card, but they are essential for long-term success. So Does Resilience Not every test will produce the result a learner hoped for. That isn’t necessarily failure. It can be feedback. A disappointing result can help a learner understand what they need to improve and what they should approach differently next time. The question isn’t only “What did you get?” It is: “What did you learn from it?” Preparing Beyond the Classroom Academic achievement matters. But education should also develop curiosity, critical thinking, confidence, communication, and adaptability. Because examinations eventually end. The ability to learn doesn’t. At Wingu Academy, we believe strong academic foundations and future-ready skills should work together. The goal isn’t simply to prepare learners for their next test. It’s to prepare them for what comes after it. Explore a different approach to learning? Connect with Wingu Academy.

September 28, 2026

Brick Flicks Week brings a full week of LEGO DC adventures

The entire Justice League just got rebuilt — one brick at a time. Cartoon Network (channel 301) goes full LEGO for Brick Flicks Week, a five-day superhero takeover running Monday to Friday from 28 September, daily at 11:00. Monday throws The Flash into a nightmare time loop he can’t escape in LEGO DC Comics Super Heroes: The Flash. Tuesday raises the stakes as Wonder Woman, Supergirl and Batgirl go undercover to expose the sinister secret behind Uber High in Super-Villain High. Wednesday brings the ultimate team-up (and team-down) when the Justice League joins forces with their own Bizarro counterparts to stop the megalomaniac Darkseid. Thursday goes full-scale disaster movie as the Joker, Lex Luthor and an entire rogues’ gallery try to tear Gotham City apart “brick by brick” — forcing Batman, Superman and the Justice League into their biggest fight yet. And on Friday, Batman finally meets his most terrifying opponent of all: a forced vacation. Five days, five LEGO DC blockbusters, one seriously stacked week. Gear up for daily 11:00 airings, Monday to Friday from 28 September, only on Cartoon Network.

September 28, 2026

Why the Best Early Years Educators Do More Than Teach

The qualities of a great early years educator in 2026 extend well beyond patience and a love for children. Observation, emotional steadiness, adaptability, reflective practice and strong communication with families are becoming increasingly important, supported by ongoing training and classroom coaching. Patience still matters. But it is only the starting point. According to Dibber International Preschools South Africa, a skilled educator notices the child who has gone quiet, recognises frustration before it becomes overwhelming and understands when to intervene or give a child more time. “The quality of an early year’s educator is often visible in what they notice,” says Ursula Assis, Managing Director of Dibber International Preschools South Africa. “It may be a friendship beginning, a child losing confidence or a new skill that is close to falling into place. Those tiny moments matter.” Emotional steadiness is equally important. Preschool classrooms can be noisy, unpredictable and full of strong feelings. Children look to the adults around them for cues, which makes a calm and consistent educator an important source of security. Great educators also reflect on their own practice. They ask why something worked, why it did not, and what could be done differently next time. “Experience is valuable, but experience without reflection can become habit,” Assis says. “Strong educators remain curious about their own practice and about the children in front of them.” Adaptability sits alongside that curiosity. No two children learn in the same way, and an activity that works beautifully for one group may fall flat with another. A capable educator can alter the plan without losing sight of what the children need to learn. Families are part of that work too. Parents increasingly want to understand what their child is experiencing at preschool and why particular approaches are being used. “Parents know their children in one context, and educators see them in another,” Assis explains. “When those observations are shared well, both sides gain a fuller understanding of the child.” Dibber believes these qualities develop through training, mentoring, feedback, and regular classroom observation rather than simply being natural personality traits. At Dibber, this approach forms part of the development of its Engaged Educators™, with ongoing coaching and reflective practice built into their professional growth. “The work of an early years educator deserves to be treated as a craft,” says Assis. “There is always something more to notice, understand or improve.” Patience and warmth will always matter in early childhood education. What increasingly distinguishes a great educator is the ability to observe, remain steady, adapt thoughtfully and keep learning. For young children, the adult in the room can shape far more than the day. They can shape how learning itself begins.

September 25, 2026

The certificate South African parents find out about too late

A South African family enrols their child in an international curriculum. The reasoning is sound: the qualification travels, universities abroad recognise it, and if the family relocates the schooling continues without a break. The child works hard and comes out with strong A Level results. Then they apply to the University of Cape Town, and someone asks for a certificate of exemption. This is the point at which a number of families discover that an international qualification does not admit a student to a South African university by itself, and that the requirements for the certificate were determined by subject choices made three years earlier. What the exemption certificate is Universities South Africa, the body representing the country’s public universities, issues a certificate of complete exemption. It confirms that a foreign qualification is equivalent to a National Senior Certificate with a bachelor’s pass, which is the entry standard for degree study. Every South African public university accepts Cambridge and Pearson Edexcel qualifications through this route. The University of Cape Town, Wits, Stellenbosch, Pretoria, KwaZulu-Natal, the Free State, Rhodes and Johannesburg all take students on it every year. The route is well established and it works. The complication is in the conditions. The two rules that catch people The certificate requires a specific combination of subjects, and it requires them to be completed within two examination sessions. The subject combination rule means your child cannot assemble any five subjects they enjoyed and expect the certificate to follow. There are requirements around language and around the number of subjects at each level. A child who drops a language after International GCSE because the timetable was crowded may find the exemption unavailable. The two-session rule is the one that ends university plans for a year. Sitting a subject in a third examination session, whether because a child was ill, or resat a paper to improve a grade, or spread the load across three years to reduce pressure, can put the certificate out of reach. The decision that caused it usually looked sensible and kind at the time. Neither rule is obscure. Both are published. The problem is that they sit with a university admissions body rather than with an examining board, so a school focused on teaching the curriculum will not necessarily raise them, and a parent researching curricula will not necessarily go looking. When to sort this out Grade 9, or the start of Grade 10. That is when subject choices are made, and it is the last comfortable moment to work backwards from the destination. The questions to answer are straightforward once someone asks them. Where might this child study, in South Africa, in the United Kingdom, in the United States, or somewhere not yet decided. What does each of those destinations require. Which subject combination satisfies all of them at once, and can it be sat across two sessions. Families who keep both local and international options open often combine subjects across curricula, taking some CAPS subjects alongside Cambridge or Edexcel ones. It works, but it needs the examination calendars aligned so the workload does not collapse onto one term. What each international pathway offers Two pathways dominate. The International British Curriculum runs through International GCSE, AS Level and A Level, examined by Cambridge Assessment International Education and recognised in more than 160 countries. Students at online schools sit these as private candidates at independently registered centres. At AS Level, practical examinations are compulsory for Biology, Chemistry and Physics, which affects which centre you can use. Pearson Edexcel runs International GCSE and International A Level qualifications recognised in more than 80 countries. Edexcel sciences are assessed entirely through written papers with no practical component at any level, which removes the laboratory question from centre selection. The United States K to 12 route produces a high school diploma, reaches South African universities through the same USAf exemption, and is the pathway that matters for families pursuing NCAA college sport in America. What to ask a school before enrolling Get past the brochure and ask these. Who plans my child’s subject combination against the exemption requirements, and when? If the answer is that parents handle university requirements themselves, factor in what that costs you in research time and risk. What happens if my child needs to resit a paper? Ask them to explain the two-session rule back to you. If they cannot, that is your answer. Which examining body, and are you accredited by them or preparing candidates for them? These are different arrangements with different consequences for who registers your child and where they sit. Show me the university destinations of your last three cohorts. Named institutions, not percentages. CambriLearn is accredited by Cognia and Pearson Edexcel, registered with SACAI and the IEB, and NCAA approved. It teaches the International British Curriculum through live timetabled lessons with subject specialists, and assigns academic advisors to map subject combinations against exemption requirements from Grade 9 rather than in matric year. Its university pathways guide sets out how each curriculum reaches local and international institutions. The school reports a 98 per cent university acceptance rate and more than 25 million dollars in scholarships earned by its students to date, across a community of more than 80,000 learners in over 100 countries. An international curriculum is a good decision for a great many South African children. It only stops being a good decision when nobody works backwards from where the child wants to end up. Start that conversation in Grade 9, while every option is still open.

September 25, 2026

Education Beyond the Classroom: Preparing Your Child for the Future

What Will Your Child Need to Succeed in the Future? Good marks are important. Qualifications are important. But today’s students need more than academic knowledge. They also need confidence, independence, problem-solving skills, adaptability and the ability to continue learning throughout their lives. The World Is Changing The careers available to today’s children may look very different from the careers their parents considered when they were growing up. Technology is changing the way we work, communicate and learn. That means education needs to prepare students not only for the next test, but also for the world beyond school. Learning Independently Matters One of the valuable skills students can develop through online learning is independence. When students learn to manage their time, work through lessons, identify areas they don’t understand and take responsibility for completing their work, they are developing skills that can benefit them long after their school years. These skills can help them become more confident learners and better prepare for further education, work and life. Parents Play an Important Role Parents don’t need to have all the answers. Your role can be as simple as encouraging your child, helping them establish a routine, celebrating their achievements and reminding them that learning is a journey. The goal isn’t perfection. The goal is progress. Looking Ahead At Educ8 SA, we believe education should help students prepare for what’s next while giving families flexibility in how that education happens. Whether your child is working towards completing their school education, exploring alternative learning options or preparing for their next step, the journey starts with creating an environment where they can learn, grow and believe in their potential. This September, let’s look beyond the classroom. Let’s look at the person your child is becoming. Educ8 SA — Building confidence for the journey ahead.

September 24, 2026

Batwheels Unstoppable Marathon airs in isiZulu for Heritage Day

Cartoonito (channel 302) marks Heritage Day with something special: a Batwheels marathon dubbed in isiZulu, airing Thursday, 24 September from 08:00 to 17:00. The all-day marathon brings together a selection of fan-favourite episodes. In “Razzle Dazzle Frazzle,” MOE creates a super sparkly new paint, prompting the Batwheels to host a talent show to decide who gets the shiny makeover. “Air-Show Don’t Tell” follows Batwing and Goldie as they secretly enter the Gotham Air-Show, only to face a tough choice when Batman needs their help. In “Bats in Show,” Robin enters the rough-and-tumble Ace the Bat-Dog into Gotham’s annual dog show to keep an eye on a scheming Harley Quinn, while “Save the Bat Dance for Me” sees Redbird dance his way to victory to save Robin from one of Toyman’s traps. Airing in isiZulu, this marathon is a wonderful way to celebrate Heritage Day and bring beloved characters closer to home for local audiences. Settle in for a full day of Batwheels fun, Thursday 24 September from 08:00 to 17:00.

September 24, 2026

Movie Star Holidays: a week of movie magic on Cartoonito

Buckle up, because Cartoonito (channel 302) is about to turn every afternoon into movie night! Movie Star Holidays kicks off Thursday, 24 September, with a fresh blockbuster premiering daily — outlaws, pirates, aliens and rock stars all included. It all kicks off with a wild chase across Tasmania in Taz: Quest for Burger (24/09), before Tom and Jerry saddle up for ranch rivalry in Cowboy Up! (25/09). Things get spooky fast when Scooby-Doo! Pirates Ahoy! (28/09) sails into the Bermuda Triangle, and the mystery gang teams up with rock legends KISS for a cosmic ghost hunt in Rock and Roll Mystery (29/09). Just when you think it can’t get bigger, Tom and Jerry go full swashbuckler in Shiver Me Whiskers (30/09) — then blast off to Mars to save Earth from aliens (01/10)! The countdown to spooky season continues with Scoob!‘s biggest mystery yet (02/10), a Taz repeat (03/10), a Rabbids mission to Mars (04/10), and Bugs Bunny and friends going full Hollywood heist in Looney Tunes: Back in Action (05/10, tbc). Ten days, ten adventures — grab the popcorn, because Movie Star Holidays has a blockbuster for absolutely every mood, starting 24 September on Cartoonito.

September 23, 2026

Playtime that gives back: A new school programme that helps raise funds while children have fun

What if a family day out could help your child’s school raise money, without parents having to spend anything extra? That is the thinking behind the new beActive Schools Programme, an initiative that turns visits to beActive Life’s indoor play and adventure parks into a simple fundraising opportunity for participating schools. The concept is straightforward. Once a school signs up, families register their children through a personalised link. When those families visit a participating venue (be.UP, Rush or Playstation by Rush), the visit is automatically linked to the school and earns it a financial reward. There are no vouchers, no cards to carry and no cash to collect. beActive manages the administration. Each quarter it calculates the qualifying visits and pays a cashback to the school, to be used where it is needed most. For schools, it offers a way to generate an additional income stream from something many families are already doing: taking their children out to play. For children, the benefits go well beyond fundraising. In a world where much of children’s leisure time is spent in front of screens, indoor play parks provide an opportunity to move, explore, socialise and simply have fun. They are designed around active, supervised play, offering children a safe environment in which to burn off energy while developing confidence, coordination and social skills. ‘Schools are constantly looking for ways to raise funds and parents’ finances are stretched, so we wanted to create something simple but with real benefits,’ says Damon Walmsley, Operations Director, beActive Life. ‘It is uncomplicated. If families are coming to one of our parks to play, that visit can now benefit their school.’ The programme is also designed to have a wider community purpose. As it grows, funds will support children from under-resourced communities through a partnership with the Sporting Chance Development Foundation. This South African NPO has spent more than 30 years using sport and physical activity to help children play, learn and develop important life skills. ‘Sport is about so much more than physical activity,’ says Natalie Pollock, Director at Sporting Chance. ‘It gives children the opportunity to develop confidence, resilience, teamwork and a sense of belonging. Partnerships such as this help us create more opportunities for children who may otherwise not have access to these experiences.’ For every 10 children enrolled in the programme, beActive will sponsor an outing for a child from an under-resourced community. The partnership is particularly focused on helping overcome one of the practical barriers faced by community organisations: transport. Through the programme, beActive is committing to raise funds towards the transport costs that enable Sporting Chance participants to visit its parks. For participating schools, there are additional benefits, such as access to group discounts, vouchers, class experiences and opportunities for staff team building, with more available as participation grows. Importantly, there are no upfront costs or financial targets to meet. Schools do not have to handle cash or have access to information about the visits. All the administration is managed by beActive. It is also voluntary, parents can opt out at any time. ‘This programme creates a fundraising opportunity without asking parents to spend anything extra, while at the same time encouraging our children to have fun and be active. It’s a win-win,’ says Charné Stirling, Business Manager, Rondebosch Boys’ Preparatory School. ‘Our parks are about creating spaces full of energy, movement and fun but we also want to be part of the communities in which we operate,’ says Walmsley. ‘This programme allows us to support schools, while also helping more children experience the benefits of active play. ‘Ultimately, the programme is based on a simple idea. When children play, everybody can benefit.’ How it works 1. A school signs up. Participating schools join the programme. 2. Parents register their children. Families link their child or children to their school once. 3. Families visit as usual. Qualifying visits to participating beActive Life parks are automatically recognised. 4. beActive handles the administration. There is no cash collection or visit tracking required by the school. 5. The school receives quarterly cashback. Qualifying visits generate a contribution that is paid to the school. 6. More children benefit. Participation also contributes to the partnership with Sporting Chance, helping children from under-resourced communities enjoy opportunities for active play. For more information go to www.beactivelife.com/school-program.

September 22, 2026

Everything you need to know about having a miscarriage

Deciding to become a mom, or even finding out by chance that you’re pregnant can be an exciting time in your life. However, sometimes you will spontaneously lose the embryo before 20 weeks and this is known as a miscarriage. You may be wondering what causes a miscarriage and how to notice the symptoms and signs of one. What is a miscarriage and what causes them? Miscarriages are defined as the spontaneous ending of a pregnancy before 20 weeks. Miscarriages can both be emotionally and physically painful to deal with, but it is thought (according to the NHS) that 1 in 8 pregnancies end in miscarriage, with many happening before a woman notices that she has missed her period (meaning she probably won’t even know that she’s been pregnant. American Pregnancy Association (APA) states that the most common cause of miscarriage is an embryo that is genetically abnormal, which can be either genetic or spontaneous. However, miscarriages can be caused by underlying health conditions such as diabetes, or poor lifestyle choices, such as drug use and drinking. Maternal age is also a contributing risk factor, as women over 35 have higher chances of pregnancy loss. How do I know if I ‘m having a miscarriage? Symptoms of a miscarriage can be similar to that of your menstrual period. You may experience cramps and abdominal and back pain, as well as bleeding which can vary from light spotting to heavy discharge. It is normal to have pain and bleeding after a miscarriage, and these period-pain type signs should stop after two weeks. If you experience heavy bleeding, fever or chills be sure to seek professional help as you could have an infection. Unfortunately, the miscarriage process can’t be reversed and if you think you are having a miscarriage you should speak to your doctor about how to manage it. Can I have a normal pregnancy after having a miscarriage? Many women may worry that having a miscarriage may affect their chances of getting pregnant again – however, many women have healthy pregnancies after miscarriage. Most doctors recommend waiting a period of time before trying again, so speak to your health care provider about the best way forward.

September 22, 2026

CN Movies: a two-night superhero and Pokémon double bill

Two nights. Four movies. Zero dull moments. Cartoon Network (channel 301) is stacking the schedule with a can’t-miss movie stunt from Thursday, 24 to Friday, 25 September, kicking off at 11:00 each day. Thursday goes wonderfully wrong from the start: in Storks, a delivery company that ditched babies for packages accidentally gets an order for an actual baby — and chaos ensues. Things only get bigger when Superman and the entire Justice League are kidnapped in DC League of Super-Pets, leaving Krypto the Super-Dog to assemble an unlikely squad of superpowered shelter pets to save the day. Friday cranks up the mystery with Pokémon Detective Pikachu, as a missing-persons case turns into an electrifying investigation, before Space Jam: A New Legacy sends basketball legend LeBron James into an animated multiverse showdown alongside Bugs Bunny. Superhero pets, a Pikachu-powered mystery and a legendary hoops battle — this line-up has it all. Clear your schedule for 11:00, Thursday 24 and Friday 25 September, only on Cartoon Network.

September 22, 2026

Online School vs Traditional School: Which Is Right for Your Child?

The debate around online school and traditional school often focuses on which one is “better.” But that may be the wrong question. The better question is: which environment is better for your child? Every learner is different. Some thrive in a traditional classroom environment. Others perform better with greater flexibility and independence. That is why educational fit matters. What Does Online Learning Offer? A quality online school provides more than digital worksheets. It combines structured learning, teacher support, academic content, assessment and technology within an online environment. For some families, this offers greater flexibility and a learning model that better suits their circumstances. Independence Matters Online learning can also encourage learners to take greater ownership of their education. These are not simply school skills. They are capabilities learners will need throughout their lives. Technology Is Part of the Environment Today’s learners will enter a world where digital technology is fundamental to education, communication and employment. Learning through technology can therefore help learners develop confidence in digital environments while engaging with their academic work. But the Learner Comes First Online education isn’t automatically the right answer for every child. Parents should consider their child’s personality, independence, academic needs, family circumstances and the support offered by the school. The goal isn’t to choose between “traditional” and “online.” The goal is to find an environment where your child can learn and grow. Wingu Academy provides families with an alternative approach to education — combining structured online learning with academic support, flexibility and a future-focused learning environment. Wondering whether online school could be right for your child? Speak to Wingu Academy Consultants today!

September 21, 2026

Batwheels: Heroes vs Villains — Cartoonito celebrates Batman Day

Cartoonito (channel 302) is joining the Batman Day celebrations with a special stunt, Batwheels: Heroes vs Villains, airing Saturday, 19 September from 08:10. The Batwheels and Batman are teaming up to take on the villains of Gotham City in a lineup of fan-favourite episodes. In “Batcomputer for a Day,” the other Batwheels step up to help Batman battle Harley Quinn while Batcomputer is offline for a system update. “Tough Buff Blues” sees Buff earn a new nickname after an impressive wheel-slam takedown of Riddler. In “The Tumbler Begins,” Batman calls on his newest and most flexible vehicle to navigate the Joker’s funhouse lair, while “Batdraft” has Batman, Buff and Ace put their firefighter training to the test when a magical fire breaks out in Poison Ivy’s fortress. It’s a jam-packed celebration for young superhero fans, combining Batwheels’ signature humour with classic Batman villains and high-energy action. Tune in from 08:10 on Saturday, 19 September to celebrate Batman Day with the Batwheels crew.

September 18, 2026

How to Help Toddlers Learn the Language of Emotion

Many preschooler tantrums begin with a simple problem, the child feels something strongly but does not yet have the words to explain it. Dibber International Preschools South Africa is encouraging parents and caregivers to build emotional vocabulary in toddlers through ordinary conversations, stories and daily experiences, helping young children gradually recognise, name and communicate their feelings rather than relying only on tears, shouting or physical reactions. By the age of two, children can understand considerably more language than they can say themselves. That gap can become particularly visible when emotions run high. A toddler may know that something feels wrong when a block tower falls, a parent leaves the room or another child takes a toy. What they may not yet know is whether the feeling is frustration, disappointment, anger or worry. “When children do not have a word for what they are feeling, the emotion often comes out through behaviour,” says Ursula Assis, Managing Director of Dibber International Preschools South Africa. “Crying, hitting or dropping to the floor may be the clearest form of communication they have available in that moment.” Giving the feeling a name can begin to change that. A parent might say, “You look frustrated because the blocks keep falling,” or, “You seem disappointed that it is time to leave.” Hearing those words repeatedly helps children begin to connect what is happening inside them with language they can eventually use for themselves. The process does not need to become a formal lesson. Picture books offer an easy way to talk about emotions at a comfortable distance. Asking how a character might be feeling allows a toddler to explore sadness, excitement or fear without having to talk about their own experience. Adults can also model emotional speech in everyday life. A simple comment such as, “I felt disappointed when I dropped my coffee,” shows children that feelings have names and that adults experience them too. For children who cannot yet find the right word, a simple feelings chart with expressive faces can give them another way to communicate. Pointing to a worried or angry face may come before being able to say the word aloud. “The language grows slowly,” Assis explains. “At first, children may know happy, sad or angry. Later they begin to understand more precise feelings such as nervous, proud or disappointed. Each new word gives them a little more clarity about what is happening to them.” That does not mean tantrums disappear as soon as a child learns a few emotion words. Toddlers are still developing the ability to manage intense feelings. Some days they may name an emotion clearly. On another day, the same frustration may finish with tears on the kitchen floor. The adult response matters in both situations. “Emotional vocabulary develops through repetition and patience,” says Assis. “A difficult reaction does not mean the child has forgotten what they have learned. It often means the feeling has become bigger than the language available to them at that moment.” This is why correcting the behaviour without acknowledging the feeling can miss part of what the child is trying to communicate. Adults can still maintain boundaries while helping the child understand the emotion underneath the reaction. At Dibber, educators weave emotional language into ordinary moments throughout the preschool day. When a child struggles with sharing, misses a parent or becomes frustrated during play, educators help put words around the experience rather than waiting for a dedicated lesson about feelings. Over time, the vocabulary becomes richer, and the child gains another way to be understood. A toddler who can eventually say, “I’m angry,” “I’m worried”, or “I’m disappointed” has begun to turn an overwhelming feeling into something they can communicate.

September 18, 2026

Read the 2025 matric results properly before you choose a curriculum

On 12 January 2026, Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube announced that the Class of 2025 had achieved an 88 per cent pass rate in the National Senior Certificate, the highest in South African history. More than 656,000 of over 900,000 candidates passed. For the first time, all 75 education districts cleared 80 per cent. That is a real achievement and it deserves to be read as one. It is also not the number a parent choosing a Grade 10 curriculum should be looking at. The figures underneath the headline Three movements matter more than the pass rate. Mathematics fell from a 69 per cent pass rate to 64 per cent. Accounting fell from 81 per cent to 78 per cent. Physical Science ticked up from 76 to 77 per cent. Gwarube named gateway subject performance as the area requiring intensified effort, and she was right to. Those are the subjects that determine whether a child can study engineering, medicine, actuarial science or accounting. Bachelor passes hit a record 345,000, an increase of more than 8,000 on 2024. As a proportion, they fell from 48 per cent to 46 per cent. Both statements are accurate. More children than ever qualified for degree study, and a slightly smaller share of the cohort did. Retention is the third figure. Gwarube noted that roughly 84 per cent of learners reach Grade 10, with significant drop-off between Grades 11 and 12. ActionSA ran the cohort calculation against the 1.14 million pupils who entered Grade 10 in 2023 and put effective completion at 57.7 per cent. It is a different measure answering a different question, and it is worth holding alongside the headline rather than instead of it. The Independent Examinations Board reported 98.3 per cent for its 2025 candidates, slightly down on the 98.47 per cent of 2024. IEB candidates are a smaller, largely independent-school cohort, so the two figures are not comparable in any direct sense. What a parent should take from this The national pass rate tells you about the health of a system. It does not tell you what will happen to your child. What determines that is subject choice in Grade 9, the quality of teaching in mathematics and the sciences, and whether your child is in a room where those subjects are taught by someone who studied them. Which brings you to the question of examining body. CAPS, IEB and SACAI, briefly Parents routinely confuse curriculum with examining body. They are separate things. CAPS, the Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statement, is the national curriculum. It sets out what is taught in every grade. It does not set the final examination. The National Senior Certificate is the qualification. Several bodies are authorised to examine towards it, and all of them are quality assured by Umalusi, the council responsible for the credibility of South African qualifications. The Department of Basic Education examines the majority of candidates. The Independent Examinations Board examines an independent-school cohort and sets its own papers against the national curriculum, with a reputation for question styles that lean towards application and extended reasoning rather than recall. SACAI, the South African Comprehensive Assessment Institute, is an independent assessment body registered with Umalusi that administers CAPS examinations for home-educated and distance learners. A child sitting an IEB paper and a child sitting a departmental paper both receive a National Senior Certificate. Both certificates carry the same standing with South African universities. The difference is in how the questions are set and marked, not in the value of the document at the end. Choosing between them The honest answer is that it depends on the child. The IEB style suits a learner who reasons well under open-ended questioning and who is heading towards competitive degree programmes. It asks for interpretation rather than reproduction, which rewards some children and unsettles others. The departmental and SACAI route suits families who want the national curriculum administered without the independent-school fee structure, and it is the established path for home education in South Africa. SACAI has administered examinations for home-educated candidates for years, which matters if your child is not sitting in a school building. Either way, ask a school three questions. Who examines my child at the end of Grade 12. Who teaches mathematics, and what did they study. What happened to the previous cohort in gateway subjects specifically, not overall. Schools that cannot answer the third question, or that answer it with a pass rate rather than a subject breakdown, are telling you something. Where online schools fit Families moving to online schooling for academic reasons, rather than for convenience, are usually solving one problem: getting a subject specialist in front of their child for mathematics or physical science. CambriLearn, an accredited online private school with live timetabled lessons taught by specialist teachers, is registered with both SACAI and the IEB and offers six curriculum pathways. Details of the IEB pathway and the CAPS curriculum are set out separately, including which grades are currently available on each. The school has taught more than 80,000 students across 100 countries in almost two decades. The 2025 results were the best South Africa has recorded. They also showed maths slipping and drop-off concentrated between Grades 11 and 12. Choose for the child in front of you, using the subject numbers rather than the headline. Figures cited are from the Department of Basic Education’s 2025 National Senior Certificate results announcement of 12 January 2026 and the Independent Examinations Board’s 2025 results release. CambriLearn is accredited by Cognia and Pearson Edexcel, and registered with SACAI and the IEB.

September 18, 2026

You Look After Everyone Else. Isn’t It Time You Put Yourself Back on the List?

For busy parents, finding time to exercise can feel like one more impossible demand. Body20’s 20-minute EMS training helps you prioritise yourself, making your limited time feel meaningful and rewarding. For many women, self-care happens last. After children, partners, work, and endless daily admin, your own wellbeing quietly slips to the bottom of the list. The problem is rarely that women don’t know they should exercise. It’s finding the time and energy actually to do it. That’s where Body20 can make a difference. What if your workout only needed 20 minutes to be effective? Body20’s guided EMS sessions fit into your busy day, making fitness achievable without sacrificing time or energy. Body20 uses guided Electro Muscle Stimulation (EMS) training in personalised sessions that take just 20 minutes. Instead of finding an hour or more to exercise, Body20 offers busy parents a structured session that removes the time barrier. A coach guides you through your workout, adapting to your fitness level and goals. Join a community that understands your busy life and supports your journey. This spring, Body20 is encouraging members to put themselves back on their own priority lists through its 2026 National Transformation Challenge, with R10,000 up for grabs. But transformation doesn’t have to mean chasing a dramatic before-and-after photograph. “Too often, fitness is judged by what someone looks like before and after,” says Philip Hughes, Body20 Global CEO. “But the most important changes are often the ones a photo can’t capture.” For a parent, those changes might mean feeling more confident, carrying shopping bags or picking up a child with ease, and knowing you’re taking control of your health in just 20 minutes. This empowerment can extend to every part of your life, making you feel stronger and more in charge. Make your Body20 session the anchor and book a free demo today to see how just 20 minutes can fit into your busy schedule and transform your routine. When life is busy, don’t aim for a perfect routine. Make your Body20 sessions the anchor of your routine. You don’t need to add extra workouts. What you do between EMS sessions should support your training and recovery, not add complexity. Gentle walks, stretching, taking the stairs, or playing with your children all count as everyday movement. But your structured Body20 training remains the foundation. You can also do a few simple things to get more from it. 1.Eat to support your training Exercise and nutrition work together. Body20 Nutrition Doctor Melissa Nel recommends avoiding restrictive diets and focusing on foods that nourish and sustain you. “There’s no one-size-fits-all approach,” says Nel. “A routine only works if it brings you joy and fits your life.” Start by building meals around vegetables, quality protein, fibre-rich carbs, and healthy fats. Protein is especially useful when you are working to get stronger because it gives your body the nutritional building blocks it needs. Think eggs, chicken, fish, lentils, yoghurt, beans, and nuts—simple, everyday foods. The goal isn’t to eat as little as possible, but to fuel the body you want to build. 2. Don’t arrive dehydrated Proper hydration matters when you train. Drink water consistently throughout the day, not just before your Body20 session. If your day disappears into school runs, meetings and errands, keeping a water bottle somewhere visible can be one of the easiest healthy habits to maintain. 3. Give your body time to recover More training is not automatically better training. Your body needs recovery as well as stimulation. Sleep, rest, and good nutrition are all part of fitness. Don’t feel guilty for missing a workout; focus on arriving at your next Body20 session ready to train. Consistency matters more than perfection. 4. Keep moving between sessions Let Body20 be your structured workout, and let ordinary movement keep you active between sessions. Walk, take the stairs, stretch while watching TV, or play outside with your children. It doesn’t need to become another item on your to-do list. See these activities as supporting, not replacing, your Body20 training. 5. Work with your coach A key Body20 advantage: you don’t have to figure it out alone. Tell your coach how you feel, discuss your goals, and let them know when you’re ready for more. Personalised progress matters more than comparison. “Time is my scarcest resource” For Body20 Ballito member Rashmika Govender, that may be the biggest benefit of all. Govender joined Body20 in 2023 while managing a demanding life and health challenges including PCOS, insulin resistance, asthma, and eczema. “Time is my scarcest resource,” she says. Since then, her experience has been about far more than weight. Govender reports losing about 15kg, gaining muscle, and improving strength, mobility, and endurance. She has more energy and can now run without her asthma pump. But perhaps the most powerful change is the way she describes herself. “I walk into rooms differently, take up space, and feel empowered in my own skin.” That is the kind of transformation a bathroom scale cannot measure. Consistency beats perfection There will still be chaotic weeks. A child gets sick. Work explodes. You sleep badly. Dinner comes from the nearest takeaway. You miss something you intended to do. None of that means you have failed. Govender says consistency was the hardest part of her Transformation Challenge, and it may be the most valuable lesson for other women. You don’t need to overhaul your life overnight. Book the Body20 session. Drink the water. Eat something that nourishes you. Get enough protein. Take the short walk. Sleep when you can. Then come back and train again. Progress is built on what you do repeatedly, not one burst of motivation. The 2026 Body20 National Transformation Challenge celebrates exactly that kind of progress—the decision to keep showing up for yourself. Putting yourself back on the list isn’t selfish. When you feel stronger, healthier, and more confident, those benefits extend to every part of your life. Twenty minutes is a great place to start. Experience Body20 for yourself and discover how 20

September 17, 2026

How breast density matters in breast cancer

One of the most important and least understood factors in breast cancer detection, is breast density. Dr Marna du Toit, a radiologist from SCP Radiology who recently obtained a European Diploma in Breast Imaging (EDBI), explains what dense breasts are, the impact on the kind of imaging that will be used and explanations of each one. Breast cancer remains the most commonly diagnosed cancer in women globally and multiple factors determine a women’s risk of being diagnosed. One of which is dense breasts. Dr du Toit says, ‘It is not only an independent risk factor but also has an impact on breast cancer screening.’ Breast tissue density is plotted on a typical Bell curve: What do dense breasts actually mean? Your breasts are composed of fibrous tissue (supports and holds tissue in place), glandular tissue (milk glands which produce milk and ducts that transport the milk) and fatty tissue (fills the space between fibrous and glandular tissue). If you are told that you have dense breasts – referred to as ‘fibroglandular density’ – it means that you have more fibrous and glandular tissue and less fatty tissue. How many women have dense breasts and why? Having dense breasts isn’t something you can control, it is often inherited but can change over time. Some women are more likely to have dense breasts, such as those who are pre-menopausal, are menopausal and taking hormone replacements or are lean with low Body Mass Index (BMI). How does this impact breast screening? Dense breast tissue can make breast cancer more difficult to see or detect on a mammogram, for the following reasons: Average woman lifetime risk of breast cancer: About 2-13% . Women with Type D breasts: Often estimated about 18-25% lifetime risk. ‘This means you probably need supplemental imaging in addition to a normal digital mammogram,’ explains Dr du Toit. Digital mammogram A digital mammogram is the primary imaging method for screening. It uses low-dose X-rays to take detailed pictures of the breast tissue, to check for the possible presence of breast cancer and benign breast disease. Why it’s useful A mammogram can pick up breast cancer before any symptoms develop and detect a tumour that cannot be felt – this means less aggressive treatment and a reduction in mortality rates. Something to consider: Younger women often have more dense breast tissue, which means changes in the breast might be obscured. Therefore, a mammogram is not used as a screening tool in women under 40 but can be used diagnostically. Dr du Toit says there is a difference between a screening mammogram, which looks for breast cancer before there are any symptoms or a diagnostic mammogram which investigates a specific symptom or abnormality. When to start Average risk: Annual screening starting at age 40 and continuing for as long as you are in good health. If you have a first degree relative diagnosed at a young age, speak to your doctor about starting your screening earlier. ‘There are various supplemental screening methods used for women with dense breasts. These include: Ultrasound, a 3D mammogram (tomogram) and an MRI’, explains Dr du Toit. A 3D mammogram (tomogram) This captures multiple X-ray images, from different angles, to create a series of very thin cross-sectional ‘slices’ of the breast. A radiologist will scroll through these images to look for areas of distortion, which is often an early sign of cancer before other symptoms appear. Advantages: It is helpful for women with dense breasts because it is a clearer picture than a 2D mammogram and improves detection rate. Something to consider: It does have a slightly higher radiation dose than a regular mammogram but it is still a safe dose ascribing to the ALARA (As Low As Reasonably Possible) rule in radiology. Ultrasound Ultrasound is a non-invasive procedure that uses sound waves to create images – particularly to investigate lumps felt by hand or seen on the mammogram. Advantages: It is especially helpful in younger women with dense breast tissue, as it can help detect cancers that may not be visible on standard mammograms. It provides a real-time view of the breast during the scan and is excellent for examining the lymph nodes in the underarm area. There is no radiation involved. Something to consider: It may not detect all cancers, particularly small lumps or micro-calcifications, which can be early signs of cancer. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) A breast MRI uses magnetic fields and radio waves to create detailed pictures of the breast. It can be used together with or instead of a mammogram. You do, however, need an injection of contrast dye. This is the ‘Gold Standard’ in breast imaging and has a 90% sensitivity. Can be used as screening in young or high-risk patients, diagnostic imaging, pre-operative to determine the extent of disease and breast cancer surveillance. Advantages: No radiation is used. It’s a good screening tool for high-risk individuals and patients with extremely dense breasts, as well as those with a strong family history and gene mutations. Something to consider: You may have an allergic reaction to the contrast dye containing gadolinium. This is very rare, usually mild and quickly treated. Most reactions are mild (nausea, warmth, flushing, dizziness, mild urticaria/itching) and don’t last long. Dr du toit says that knowing your breast density and the implications is crucial for assessing your overall breast cancer risk (and should be included on your imaging report). It also determines if you could benefit from supplemental screening tests – such as a breast ultrasound or MRI – to ensure early detection. The European Society of breast screening advises women aged 50 to 70 years, with extremely dense breasts, to have a breast MRI every 2 to 4 years. ‘Remember these tests can detect breast cancer long before you can feel a lump. Early detection is crucial,’ says Dr du Toit. ‘It can save your life.’

September 17, 2026

Pokémon Horizons: Season 3 — Rising Hope soars onto Cartoon Network

The adventure levels up. Pokémon Horizons: Season 3 — Rising Hope premieres exclusively on Cartoon Network (channel 301) on Saturday, 19 September at 13:10 CAT, airing on weekends. Find out what Liko and Roy have been up to — and how they’ve grown alongside Floragato, Crocalor and Captain Pikachu. Roy has even befriended a Lucario capable of Mega Evolution! This season, the group sets off on an exciting new journey alongside an unexpected new friend, Ult, determined to rebuild the Rising Volt Tacklers. Along the way, they’re tasked with investigating a mysterious pink mist affecting Pokémon across many regions — and they soon discover they’re not the only ones looking into it. With new friendships, new mysteries and new power-ups, Season 3 promises to be one of the most exciting chapters yet for Pokémon fans. Join Liko, Roy and the gang every weekend from 13:10 CAT, only on Cartoon Network.

September 17, 2026

When Your Child Says, “I Don’t Want to Learn”: Understanding Student Motivation

Every parent has heard it. “I don’t want to study.” “I hate school.” “I don’t understand this.” “I’m tired.” It can be frustrating when you know your child is capable of so much more, but they seem disconnected from their education. However, sometimes a lack of motivation isn’t about laziness. It may be a sign that something about the learning environment isn’t working for them. Children Learn Differently Some students enjoy a busy classroom environment. Others become overwhelmed by it. Some children love competition and group activities. Others prefer working independently. Some students understand something immediately. Others need to hear the explanation several times before it makes sense. There is no single formula that works perfectly for every learner. That’s why flexibility can be so important. Give Your Child Room to Learn Online learning can give students an opportunity to take greater ownership of their education. They can work through lessons, revisit challenging concepts and develop a learning routine that suits their individual needs. For parents, this can also create more opportunities to understand where their child is doing well and where they may need additional encouragement. Celebrate Progress, Not Just Results One of the most powerful things a parent can do is recognise effort. Finishing a difficult lesson. Understanding something that was confusing yesterday. Improving a test result. Staying focused for longer. These may seem like small achievements, but they are important steps in building confidence. Education isn’t just about marks. It is also about developing a young person who believes: “I can learn this.” A New Season. A New Opportunity. September brings the feeling of a fresh beginning. If your child has lost motivation or is struggling with their current education environment, perhaps it is time to look at learning differently. At Educ8 SA, we believe education should help students discover what they are capable of — not make them feel like they aren’t capable at all. Because sometimes the biggest change in education begins with simply giving a student another way to learn. Educ8 SA — Learn differently. Grow confidently.

September 17, 2026

222 Nights of Hope: Body20 Eases the Journey for Families Facing Childhood Cancer

For families grappling with the harsh realities of childhood cancer, the struggle extends far beyond the hospital ward. But this year, Body20’s nationwide fundraising campaign became a catalyst for hope: R155,800 raised for the CHOC Childhood Cancer Foundation South Africa, providing 222 nights of safe accommodation for children in treatment and the parents who never leave their side. The Body20 Cares initiative – a collaboration of heart and purpose – pledged half of all new member joining fees to CHOC from April to May 2026. Now in its second consecutive year, the campaign’s impact is growing: last year’s R151,525 contribution, combined with this year’s total, brings the grand sum to R307,325. These funds directly sustain CHOC’s Accommodation Programme—an essential lifeline for families forced to travel long distances to specialist centres. With each bed night costing R700, this year’s donation alone ensures 222 nights where families are spared the anxiety of where to sleep while their child battles illness. “CHOC Childhood Cancer Foundation South Africa is deeply grateful for this generous donation of R155,800,” said Antonella Swanepoel, Business Development Unit Manager at CHOC Childhood Cancer Foundation SA. “This meaningful support will help us continue walking alongside children and teenagers diagnosed with cancer or life-threatening blood disorders, and their families, during an incredibly challenging time. “The donation will support CHOC’s Accommodation Programme, where the cost of providing one bed night for a child and caregiver is R700. This contribution will fund 222 bed nights, offering families a safe and welcoming home away from home while their child receives treatment.” Childhood cancer continues to lurk in the shadows of South Africa’s health landscape. Officially, about 1,000 children receive a cancer diagnosis each year. Still, experts warn the real figure is likely much higher, hidden by late diagnoses and the silent toll in communities with limited medical resources. The survival gap is stark: while over 80% of children in high-income countries survive cancer, the odds fall dramatically in lower-income settings, where late diagnosis and barriers to care persist. For families, a diagnosis is not just a medical crisis but a financial one. Travel expenses, lost wages and the looming question of where to sleep can make an already dark time feel insurmountable. CHOC steps in to ease these burdens—offering accommodation, emotional support and practical help when it matters most. Philip Hughes, Global CEO of Body20, said businesses have an opportunity to make a meaningful contribution beyond their commercial activities. “Transformation has always been central to who we are. While we help people become stronger physically, mentally and emotionally, we also believe healthy communities are built through compassion and shared responsibility. Seeing our franchisees, coaches, staff and members unite behind this campaign has been incredibly encouraging.” He added that long-term partnerships often deliver the greatest impact. “The fact that this is the second consecutive year of support is important to us. Consistency allows organisations such as CHOC to continue delivering essential services to families when they need them most.”

September 16, 2026

Cartoon Network celebrates Batman Day with a Teen Titans Go! marathon

The Bat-Signal is up! Cartoon Network (channel 301) throws Gotham’s biggest party of the year on Saturday, 19 September, with an all-day Batman Day takeover starting at 08:00 — and it does not let up. Strap in for a non-stop marathon of all 10 “TV Knight” episodes from Teen Titans Go!, where Batman and Commissioner Gordon crash into Jump City to check in on the Titans’ chaos. Then the bricks come out: in LEGO DC Batman: Family Matters, mysterious invitations throw Batman, Batgirl, Robin and the rest of the DC roster into a suspicion-fuelled showdown, before LEGO Batman: The Movie — DC Super Heroes Unite raises the stakes to full world-ending mode, pitting Batman, Superman and the entire Justice League against Joker and Lex Luthor’s plot to blow it all up — one brick at a time. Ten episodes. Two movies. One unforgettable day of capes, chaos and comedy. This is the ultimate Batman marathon for fans of every age. Set your alarm for 08:00 on Saturday, 19 September — Batman Day starts now on Cartoon Network.

September 16, 2026

Spring Is Here: Time to Get the Whole Family Moving Again

Spring has arrived, the winter woollies are heading back into the cupboard and the days are finally getting warmer. After months of cosy weekends, blankets and chilly mornings, this is the perfect time for families to shake off winter and get moving again. And getting active does not have to mean dragging everyone out for a run or turning family time into a workout. The best kind of movement is often the kind that feels like play. That is where trampolining comes in. At BOUNCE, movement is about big energy, serious airtime and finding your free. Whether you are three, thirteen or the parent who swore you were only coming along to watch, there is a way to get involved. Movement that feels like fun Trampolining gets the heart pumping while challenging balance, coordination, agility and strength. It also keeps the core working as the body constantly adjusts to stay stable and in control. According to BOUNCE’s trampoline benefits guide, regular bouncing can support cardiovascular fitness, body awareness, coordination, agility, muscle tone and overall strength. Because the trampoline bed absorbs much of the impact of each landing, it can also provide a lower-impact way to exercise than many activities performed on hard surfaces. Then there is the part families notice immediately: it feels good. Physical activity can help release endorphins and provide a natural way to shake off stress, boost energy and reset after a long day. At BOUNCE, most people are far too busy laughing, jumping and trying something new to realise just how much work their bodies are doing. For kids, that makes movement exciting rather than something they have to do. For adults, it is a chance to get active without another repetitive gym session. And for families, it creates something even better: time spent moving, laughing and making memories together. Little adrenaline hunters start here For the smallest members of the family, active play is a huge part of discovering what their bodies can do. miniBOUNCERS are little adrenaline hunters who can walk independently and are under 125cm tall. Dedicated miniBOUNCE areas give them space to jump, climb, balance, explore and build confidence at their own pace. At this age, play is the workout. Every climb, BOUNCE, wobble, and try-again helps develop coordination, balance, spatial awareness, and body control. It also gives little ones opportunities to test their abilities and learn through movement. That first brave jump might look small to an adult. To a miniBOUNCER, it can feel massive. Big kids. Bigger challenges. As children get older, movement often has to compete with homework, gaming, phones, television and increasingly busy schedules. That is why active experiences that still feel fun matter. Trampolining gives older kids a chance to challenge themselves while improving agility, balance and coordination. As they learn to control their take-offs, landings and body position in the air, they are also engaging multiple muscle groups and building greater awareness of how their bodies move. Then comes the confidence boost. Landing something they have been practising feels incredible. Progress takes practice. Sometimes you miss. Sometimes you fall. Then you get back up, reset and go again. That is a pretty useful lesson both on and off the trampoline. Parents, you are not just the taxi Somewhere along the way, adults decided playgrounds were only for kids. We disagree. BOUNCE is one of those rare activities where different generations can actually get active together. BOUNCING works the legs and core, challenges balance and keeps the body responding constantly. It can raise the heart rate, support cardiovascular fitness and provide a full-body activity while still feeling like play. So yes, Mum and Dad, you are allowed to BOUNCE too. Spring is your invitation to stop watching from the edge, step onto the trampoline and remind the kids that you have still got a few moves of your own. Movement should include everyone Getting families moving also means recognising that every child experiences activity differently. BOUNCE is committed to creating opportunities for children with disabilities, sensory sensitivities and additional support needs to experience the joy of movement in a way that works for them. Our SEN Sessions at Fourways Mall and Menlyn Maine offer a calmer BOUNCE environment with reduced music and venue noise, limited flashing lights, managed attendance and access to quiet spaces. A parent, guardian or carer can also accompany the BOUNCEr at no additional charge. For some families, small changes to an environment can make a huge difference. Because movement, play, confidence and that unbeatable feeling of flying through the air should be something more children get to experience. Ready to level up this school holiday? Spring also means the Term 3 holidays are just around the corner, and the BOUNCE Freestyle Academy Workshops are back. Across three action-packed days, young BOUNCERS can sharpen their skills, learn new techniques and take their freestyle progression to the next level. Flips & Flops takes place on 28 September 2026, followed by Wall Running on 29 September and Freestyle with a Twist on 30 September. Each workshop focuses on different skills and progression, with plenty of coaching, practice, confidence building and, of course, airtime. Three days. Three different challenges. A whole lot of BOUNCE. That sounds like a spring holiday done properly. So pack away the winter woollies, get the family off the couch and make this spring the season you move more, laugh more and try something new together. You do not have to be the fastest, strongest or most fearless family. You just have to start. Get moving. Get flying. Get BOUNCING

September 16, 2026

Real-World Creative Learning: Inside Majozi’s Creative Circle at Koa Academy

At Koa, real-world learning is not something students encounter in theory alone. It comes to life through meaningful opportunities to explore, create, ask questions, and learn from people actively working beyond the classroom. One of those opportunities this year was Majozi’s Creative Circle – a small-group creative mentorship experience led by Koa’s Head of Arts and Culture and well-loved South African musician, Majozi. Across a series of online sessions, students stepped into a creative space where they could explore songwriting, poetry, music production, performance, creative confidence, and even the business behind the music industry. At its heart, the programme gave students the opportunity to experience creativity in practice: as something that can be explored, shaped, shared, and developed with guidance from someone who has built a life around creative work. A Safe Space to Create From the first session, Majozi carefully established the kind of environment he wanted the Creative Circle to become. Students were asked simple but meaningful questions: What do you enjoy making? What inspires you? What do you feel drawn to create? Their answers were wonderfully varied, ranging from music production, singing covers, and songwriting to poetry, guitar, painting, and doodling. Nthato spoke about his love for making music, while Jessica shared her passion for singing covers and drawing. For Caiden, creativity was closely connected to self-expression and the opportunity to share a part of herself with others. Kaithandi described poetry and guitar as ways to communicate deep emotion. Throughout the programme, Majozi returned to one particularly important idea: creative work may be an extension of who you are, but it is not your entire identity. That distinction matters, especially for young people. Sharing something creative can feel deeply personal. A song, poem, performance, or piece of writing often carries emotion, memory, and vulnerability. When someone does not respond in the way you hoped, it can be easy to feel as though they are rejecting you rather than responding to the work itself. Majozi helped students begin to separate the two. The message was clear: your creativity matters, but your worth is greater than anything you create. Learning to Begin with Honesty In the second session, students began with a writing exercise. Majozi asked each of them to write one honest line about how they were feeling. It did not need to be polished. It did not need to sound like the perfect song lyric. It simply needed to be true. He explained that writing is often the foundation of the creative process. Whether a student is interested in poetry, singing, music production, storytelling, or visual art, writing can help them discover and shape an idea before presenting it to the world. The results were honest and striking. Some students wrote about school stress, tiredness, and exams. Others wrote about feeling happy, calm, hungry, excited, or emotionally overwhelmed. Kendall wrote, “Today my heart feels like a quiet storm,” while Gustav described the world as having “turned soft around the edges.” From there, students expanded one another’s lines into poems, lyrics, and short creative pieces. The exercise became about more than writing. It also became an opportunity to listen. Students had to take someone else’s feelings seriously, interpret what had been shared, and build something meaningful from it. That is an important creative skill, but it is also a deeply human one. From Nervous Ideas to Original Work By the third session, students were ready to share what they had created. Their work took many forms, from poems, lyrics, and rap verses to melodies, guitar pieces, a cappella recordings, and self-produced songs. Many of the students felt nervous. That was part of the learning. Majozi consistently reminded them that the group was a safe space – not because their work needed to be perfect, but because sharing an original idea takes courage. When Leon first read the lyrics he had written, he explained that he imagined them as a song but had not yet worked out how to sing them. Majozi gently encouraged him to try. The moment Leon sang the line aloud, the idea came to life. Majozi recognised the shift immediately, telling him, “Never be shy. This is your vision.” It was a small moment, but a meaningful one. Leon was not only receiving feedback on a song. He was learning to trust the creative instinct behind it. Akhani reflected on how difficult it had been to write lyrics on the spot and later shared that performing one of his own songs for the group felt new and nerve-racking. Caiden transformed feelings of stress into imagery of waterfalls, storms, and the calm that can follow change. Linomtha and Matt shared poems exploring emotion, vulnerability, love, sadness, and joy. In each case, the experience went beyond creative technique. Students were learning how to express themselves, receive feedback, and continue developing an idea even when it still felt unfinished. Real-World Insight from Working Creatives One of the highlights of the programme was a guest session with music producer Chxrl, who joined Majozi to introduce students to the world of music production. From the outside, music production can feel intimidating. It is easy to imagine expensive studios, complex equipment, and specialist tools that are difficult to access. Chxrl helped students see the process differently. He demonstrated how a song can begin with something as simple as a laptop, a phone microphone, a voice note, a guitar line, a beat, an everyday sound, or even claps recorded in a room. Students were introduced to real production concepts such as digital audio workstations, plugins, equalisation, compression, reverb, delay, panning, autotune, quantisation, and layering. Importantly, Chxrl explained these concepts in a way that made the process feel accessible rather than overwhelming. Mia later reflected, “I think one of my favourite things from the session was how simple he made music feel.” She explained that people often associate music production with “big fancy things”, but Chxrl brought it down to something far more realistic and achievable. That shift in perspective mattered. Langa

September 15, 2026

Spring in Your Step: Simple Ways to Put Your Best Foot Forward

Spring has a way of making everything feel possible again. The days get longer, the weather warms up, wardrobes become lighter and there is a natural sense of wanting to get out, get moving and make a fresh start.But “putting your best foot forward” doesn’t have to mean reinventing yourself. Sometimes it is simply about making small changes that help you feel refreshed, confident, and ready to embrace what comes next. Start with a spring reset A change of season is the perfect opportunity to look at the routines that have become automatic. What is working? What feels like a chore? And what could be made a little easier?Start small. Clear out a cupboard, refresh your morning routine, plan a few easy meals, or set aside time each week for something you genuinely enjoy – something that feels fun and light. Even small wins can create a sense of momentum. Look after the person doing the walking Putting your best foot forward starts with feeling good in yourself. That doesn’t have to mean an elaborate beauty routine. Simple, consistent self-care can make a noticeable difference to how refreshed you feel.Spring is a good time to revisit your skincare routine, particularly after months of cooler, drier weather. Gentle cleansing, hydration and targeted products can help skin feel comfortable and cared for. SKNLOGIC Prebiotic Micellar Water provides an easy cleansing step, while their Peptide Booster helps to support the skin’s natural processes involved in collagen and elastin production, and improving hydration. For the body, a warm shower and Earthsap Wild Rose & Vanilla Body Wash can turn an everyday task into a small moment of indulgence. Follow with moisturiser and don’t forget areas that tend to become particularly dry during winter.And while we’re talking about overlooked areas, give hardworking feet some attention too. Citrusway Exfoliating Foot Scrub can help smooth away dry, rough skin, while SKNLOGIC Renew Foot Balm provides nourishing care for tired, dry feet – particularly useful before slipping into spring sandals. Refresh your outlook, not just your routine Sometimes putting your best foot forward is about your mindset rather than your appearance.Try replacing an overwhelming “I need to sort everything out” approach with one or two achievable goals. Take a walk instead of scrolling. Say yes to something that energises you. Say no to something that doesn’t. Get outside for some fresh air. Or simply make time to pause.Journalling, or talking things through with a close friend or councillor can be a good way to clarify your thoughts and help shift into a more positive perspective. Small rituals can help create that sense of reset too. For example, lighting a SoyLites Serenity Candle with soothing Lavender and Chamomile can become part of an evening wind-down, signalling that the day is over and it’s time to slow down. Or choose one of their zesty scents like Rejuvenation or Energise for a morning pick-me-up. Scents, particularly pure essential oils, are a great way to influence your mood. Get moving – togetherLonger, warmer days naturally invite us outdoors, making spring a great time to introduce more movement into everyday life. It doesn’t have to mean joining a gym or committing to an ambitious fitness program. Walk to the shops, explore a new park, spend time gardening, have a family picnic, or take a stroll after dinner.For families with babies who aren’t walking yet, getting outside can be just as easy. The Infantino Flip 4-in-1 Light & Airy Carrier provides a practical way to keep baby close while enjoying spring walks and family adventures. Put your best foot forward – your way Ultimately, putting your best foot forward isn’t about looking perfect or having everything figured out. It’s about feeling ready to take the next step.This spring, focus on the small things that make you feel more comfortable, confident, and energised. Refresh what needs refreshing, let go of what no longer works, make space for the things you enjoy – and take that first step.Sometimes, that’s all a fresh start really requires.

September 15, 2026

What is abdominal separation and how do I deal with it?

Abdominal separation or diastasis recti is the separation of the two parallel bands of muscle in your belly. This is common in pregnant women, and luckily often heals on its own, or with the help of exercises, after pregnancy. This condition is not only experienced by pregnant moms, but also by men, as well as women who’ve never been pregnant. You may be wondering how you’d know if you have abdominal separation, how to tell if it’s bad and what you can do to help your tummy return to normal. How do I know if I have diastasis recti? If your muscles have separated, you may notice a bulge in your abdomen where the two muscles have pulled apart. In addition to this, you may notice a sore lower back, constipation and bloating. Women who are expecting multiples or women who have been pregnant more than once (especially if the pregnancies are close together) are more likely to experience muscle separation. There is a way you can check if you have diastasis recti yourself. Lie flat on your back and then sit up slightly, engaging your core muscles. Put your fingers just above your belly button on the middle of your stomach. If you feel like the gap between your fingers is more than three fingers, then you probably have diastasis recti. However, this is not an exact science but rather a way to gauge if you may have a problem. How can I correct my diastasis recti? If you have a smaller separation, it may go away on its own or with the help of exercises, however, bad cases may need the help of a physio or even surgery. If you have a gap, chances are it’ll close up one or two months after birth. However, certain exercises may help the gap close up quicker. That being said, be careful of what exercise you do, some fitness practices make it worse. If you are worried about it, it’s best to talk to a health care professional and they can help you make the best choice for you and your body.

September 15, 2026

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