Advice from the experts
Parenting Hub

Hair care for active girls

Extremely active and love sports? This is how to care for your textured hair If you have natural, curly or kinky hair, chances are you probably have a complicated relationship with exercise. Textured-hair girls know that if you live a very active lifestyle and you love sports, it can be hard on your hair. Textured hair is prone to higher levels of moisture loss during workouts, which means you need to put in extra time to care for it, afterwards. And then there’s sweat. When you put a lot of time and effort into caring for your hair, the last thing you want is to ruin it after a sweaty exercise session… And for those who usually wash their hair once a week, how do you fit in multiple gym sessions? Some women avoid exercising simply because of the effect it has on their hair, and while we can understand the reasoning, we’re adamant to show women that you can lead an active lifestyle without ruining your hair. After all, exercise is one of the most important things you can do to keep your body and mind healthy.   Follow these tips to keep your natural hair protected and nourished without having to give up your workout. Wear your hair up This might seem like a really simple solution, but it works. Wear a bun, ponytail or pineapple to keep your hair out of your face and neck. This will reduce the amount of sweat your hair comes into contact with. You could also consider a protective hairstyle like Bantu knots or braids. Be practical about your workouts If sweat and frizz are a concern, try to exercise in cooler environments. If you like working out indoors, a gym is a great option as they have air conditioning to keep you cool. Prefer outdoor activities? Exercise first thing in the morning or late afternoon when it’s cooler. Wear light workout clothing that doesn’t cling to the body or trap heat, and remember to drink plenty of water to help regulate your body’s temperature.  Wear a satin-lined headband or scarf Satin is the perfect fabric to wear when you want to protect your hair or prevent frizz. A satin-lined headband or scarf will prevent your edges from getting frizzy, as well as reduce friction and breakage during your workout. Don’t tie it too tight though, or else you might trap sweat. Don’t shampoo your hair after every workout Sweat has the potential to dry out your hair, but so does shampoo. Over-shampooing can strip hair of its natural oils, leaving it dry and vulnerable to damage. Shampooing natural hair once a week is sufficient. To reduce moisture loss, we recommend using a sulphate-free shampoo like Cantu Shea Butter Sulfate-Free Cleansing Cream Shampoo(R195.95), weekly. It has a rich lather that removes heavy build-up and the gentle formula also helps prevent breakage and dehydration.   Refresh your hair in between workouts While you shouldn’t shampoo your hair after every workout, it’s still important to refresh it. This will eliminate odours and remove bacteria from sweat, which could lead to scalp irritation and itchiness. A co-wash is a good option as it’s much gentler than shampoo. Try Cantu Shea Butter Complete Conditioning Co-Wash (R215.00). It is infused with 14 natural butters and oils to deeply nourish hair. It gently cleanses hair and remove product build-up, while moisturising every strand.  Apply a moisturiser or leave-in conditioner every day to lock in moisture and help prevent breakage. Cantu Shea Butter Daily Oil Moisturiser (R175.00) uses the nourishing power of shea butter to help replenish lost moisture in dry and damaged hair. It also helps prevent breakage, tangles and frizz.  Deep condition Using a deep conditioning treatment once or twice a month is essential, and even more so if you are exercising regularly. Not only does it replenish your hair’s moisture content, but it also helps protect it from damage and the effects of sweat. Cantu for Natural Hair Deep Treatment Hair Masque (R59.99) penetrates deep into the hair shaft for an intense treatment to repair, restore and strengthen dry, damaged hair.  Practice makes perfect If you’re new to your exercise regime, it may take some trial and error to find your groove, especially when it comes to finding a harmonious relationship between your activities and your hair. It might be tricky at first, but you’ll feel better once you’re settled into a coordinated regime, with products you know and trust. Exercise and hair care will probably always have a complicated relationship, but you needn’t sacrifice one for the other. It’s possible to keep your body healthy by taking part in all your favourite physical activities, without ruining your hairstyle, or the health of your hair.

March 4, 2022
Bill Corbett

THREE THINGS TO DO WHEN YOUR KID GETS BENCHED

I remember the day my son lost first chair on the school marching band.  He came home and declared that he hated the trumpet and he never wanted to play it again.  When I asked him what happened, he did not want to talk about it.  My initial parental impulse was to go down to the school, find out what happened and defend my son in whatever the incident was. But I knew that racing in to potentially rescue my son was not the right thing to do.  If I wanted to raise a resilient young man, I had to do two things; trust in the “law of allowing” by giving him room to deal with the situation on his own, and to stand back just far enough to be available to coach him through the issue, if he needed me.  He obviously didn’t want to talk about what happened so I had to wait until he was ready to share. Some parents don’t wait it out.  They allow the protective momma or papa bear in them to quickly race down to the school or confront the coach to protect their child.  We’ve seen all the cell phone video footage of the dads who end up physically attacking the coach or worse, another child.  Yes, we must protect our child from danger and harm, but responsible parents must assess each situation to determine how much they should really get involved. Getting benched from a team is a very valuable life lesson for a child or teen.  It could offer a wakeup call that will keep the ego in check and also remind our children that rules, boundaries and procedures are in place to be followed.  I’m sure that some coaches put children on the sidelines unfairly, but I would be willing to bet that most do it responsibly and for good reason.  Here are three things to keep in mind If your child is ever benched while a part of a team. Avoid complaining to the coach to rescue your child, even if the coach wasn’t fair.  Life itself isn’t always fair so sheltering your children from real-world situations robs them of the opportunity to learn and grow.  Bad mouthing the coach, dance instructor or team manager behind their back also teaches children that back biting is acceptable.  If you want your child to become a young person of integrity, the training begins with modeling appropriate behavior for them to witness first hand. Don’t argue with your child if she begins to unfairly blame her predicament on others.  It may just be an automatic defensiveness to protect her feelings and suppressing them could cause her to move deeper into a false sense of denial.  Let her express her feelings about it without judgment and be ready to listen.  There will be plenty of time later on to help her understand what really happened.  Creating emotional space by encouraging her to talk about it is likely to lead her to draw her own realistic conclusions, when she’s ready. Finally, make it mandatory that he is to attend every game and practice, regardless of whether he is able to play or not.  Being there to support his teammates is paramount to teaching teamwork, and having him in attendance on the sideline may lead to a quicker resolution of the problem.  This could also move the coach to bring him back on the playing field or court.  Once the wounds heal, then it’s time for deeper parental discussion with your child on what happened and what he or she can do the next time.

February 28, 2022
Bill Corbett

HOW TO HELP YOUR CHILD BE A GREAT TEAM PLAYER

Team sports start pretty early these days, with children as young as four and five enrolling in soccer  leagues. For most children, that’s just the beginning. They’ll go on to participate in team sports throughout their school years and sometimes into their college ones. Besides sports, being part of a team will also be a requirement in the classroom and on the playground, and the same skills your child needs on the field can help him throughout life. Here are some key things to teach your child about being a great team player. Teach him that there is no I in TEAM. This saying is still popular among coaches because it’s so true. Children, by nature, are self-focused. It’s natural, especially at a young age, for them to think about themselves more than their teammates. They want to be the one to kick the ball in for a goal or hit the home run and win the game. Teach your child that no matter how great he is, he’s part of a team, and everyone on that team is a valuable player. Talk about how each person has something to contribute and should be given the chance to play. These ideas can be especially hard to get across to your child if he’s skilled and is considered a star of the team. When others set him apart because of his talent, it’s easy for him to fall into the trap of feeling like he can get things done all by himself. But he can’t. Even the star needs the support and help of his teammates to shine. Let him know mistakes are a part of everything in life. No one is perfect, and mistakes are just part of the game in sports. That’s easy to say, but often children don’t take mistakes with a great attitude. A missed ball or an out of bounds throw can cause anything from a few minutes of pouting to a full-blown meltdown. Take those opportunities to talk with your child about his feelings about the mistake. Remind him that no one on the team, not even the star player, gets it right every time. Help him remember a time when other team members made mistakes and it turned out OK. Helping him realize that his mistake isn’t fatal will help put things in perspective. Off the field or court, give your child lots of opportunities to try new things. Learning how to bounce back from mistakes in everyday life will help him do the same in the game. Show her how to win. One of the hardest things to teach your child is the lesson of humility. It’s her natural instinct to enthusiastically celebrate her team’s wins, and there’s nothing wrong with that. She and her teammates worked hard and they deserve to celebrate! They should be proud of themselves and enjoy the payoff of all their hard work and dedication. The key is to show kindness and respect to the other team while enjoying the win. That balance is hard to achieve, even for some adults. Remind your child what’s it’s like to be on the losing team. How would she like the winning team to treat her in those situations? What could they do or say that would make the loss easier to handle? By helping her see things from the losing team’s perspective, she’ll be much better prepared to show humility when she wins. Show him how to lose. The old adage “there’s nothing worse than a sore loser” still rings true today. Teaching your child to show humility when he wins is hard. Teaching him to show grace when he loses is even harder. His natural reaction is more likely to be anger and resentment towards the other team. Use these opportunities to talk about the importance of being proud of his efforts, even when they don’t result in a win. Books and films are filled with examples of good sportsmanship and can be discussion starters for you. Give her practice in being part of a team outside of sports. There are lots of opportunities in your child’s everyday life for her to learn and practice good team skills. Anytime she has to work with another person to accomplish a task will help her build up the skill set she needs to be a great team player. This can happen in free play with neighborhood kids when they come together to build a backyard fort or develop a new game. It can happen when she’s working with her siblings to get the Saturday chores done. Allow your child to learn from those situations and she’ll reap the rewards both on and off the field.

February 25, 2022
Aaliya Loureiro

How to teach your child to take care of the things they love

A common reaction to seeing your child behave in a manner you do not agree with is to reprimand them. It often ends up leading to a more-than-once conversation. However, there is a much more successful solution. Kindness…. When you react in a calm manner, you are leaving room to teach and have a conversation of understanding. I would suggest explaining to them, not just that what they are doing is not okay, but to create an environment where you take the opportunity to teach them why it’s not acceptable. Once you have explained this to them, demonstrate what you would like them to do instead. Children grow up mimicking their parents, so if you’re able to show them how to take care of something and why it was wrong in the first place, you should have a positive outcome.  Another solution is to teach them to treat their things like their friends. If they would not hit and hurt their friends or the people they love, they should not do it to the things they love.   Whether it is dishes, toys, or clothes. They should be taught to treat them like they would a person, with respect and kindness. This will continue on and develop by teaching them to take care of people. Although, I would not encourage a mix up in teaching them to treat people like objects. And again, I would recommend showing them how to take care of their things. I would also advise to speak about the toy or object as if it had human emotions. For a child, a big part of learning is through actions. Opening more opportunities for them to interact with their things or even your things helps develop a sense of responsibility. Allow your children to help you with whatever you have decided to take care of. Not only when they are teens, but I suggest starting all these steps from a young age. Allowing them to do something by themselves is an excellent and small way to encourage their growth in responsibility. I would not suggest enforcing this, but more so encouraging their them to take this step.  Not only does teaching your child to be kind to their things is a good way to achieve this responsibility, but teaching them how to clean up or even clean their things is a great skill to achieve this goal, too. After an activity is completed, encouraging tidying up helps teach the children that once things are put away, it is then ready for when they decide to play with it again. This can be achieved by creating and organised routine. For example, establishing a toy policy is a helpful way to create an organised environment or space to put their toys. To practice daily consistency can aid in this routine. I would encourage not to use labels. Labels or name calling such as; lazy, forgetful, irresponsible — discourages your child to be responsible and in turn, creates a negative environment. Instead, take a view steps back to kindness and creating understanding for them to grow in a positive environment. When your child is acting out kindness on their own, acknowledge what they are doing. Acknowledgement and praise will encourage them to continue what they were doing and to repeat their kindness in the future.   I’d like to point out that praise and acknowledgement should not involve rewards or be based off of them. This concept will teach children to act out of kindness in turn for something. Many children lose understanding when rewards are given, in turn, creating fuss and bad behaviour. Teaching your child this will also include them feeling entitled or owed something, leaving them to forget the bigger picture behind your life lesson. Without reprimanding or creating a discouraging space, if your child is not responding well to what you have explained to them, create consequences for when your child does not take care of things within the home. Some children need a little more help than others when it comes to taking care of things. I suggest to continue with the kindness, the acknowledgement, the honest explanations of why things are to be done in a certain way. Consequences discourages them from their bad behaviour, but your behaviour will encourage them to better how things are to be treated. Now, if you think a potential issue will occur, speak to them about their consequences. Have another honest conversation as to why you would be giving them these consequences. Once you have had this conversation, and it still continues then only proceed with the consequences that you had discussed with them. Keep in mind to be patient because with everything good, comes practice.  Another very important thing to discuss is the importance of self-love and how it works hand-in-hand with treating their things and people with kindness. When children practice this, they are able to learn and understand their physical and personal needs, leading them to be able to give and take care of all things and people around them. This too will take time, however, if you are open to self love from early on in their lives, they are able to develop everything I have previously mentioned, respect for themselves and their things, and many more benefits going further.

February 24, 2022
Bill Corbett

A Valentine-A-Day for your children

Just in time for Valentines Day, here are 8 tips you can use, one each day leading up to the big day, for demonstrating love to your children. Using a family meeting, have everyone create a craft project that represents love to them.Provide a wide selection of construction paper and craft supplies and allow your children to create whatever comes to mind.Put the creations on display for everyone to see and enjoy, and photograph them to look at for many years to come. Compose a poem about your child or describing how much you love her. Print it off on special preprinted paper with a border that can be purchased at office supply stores. Frame it and hang it on your child’s bedroom wall. You could even include the child’s picture or her foot or handprints if you had them done earlier. Sign it and read it to her nightly Have a movie night with your kids, complete with big pillows to snuggle up with and a big bowl of popcorn. The one difference in making this night special is that the movie being featured will be the home movies you have of your children! Help your child plan a V-Day party with all of her friends. For one activity at the party, provide a personalised mailbox (or bag) for each child. On blank slips of paper, have each child write down words that describe what they like about each of the other kids, one child per slip of paper. They will deposit them in each others mailboxes. Every Sunday night, schedule a date with each of your children for the week to come. Put it on your calendar and tell your child so they will have something to look forward to. Scheduling in these dates ahead of time ensures they will happen. Then everything else that is less important can fill in around them. Why not schedule a date with your significant other as well? Take a picture of you and your child, frame it, and then give it to your child to put in his or her room on the dresser or night table.If you have more than one child, create one for each of them.For an older child, put a picture of the two of you in a locket that the child can wear.This will also help calm a child who feels anxious when being away from the parent. Find a child’s illustrated book that sends a message of love and commit to reading it to your children every night, leading up to Valentines Day. My favourite is the book LOVE YOU FOREVER by Robert Munsch and illustrated by Sheila McGraw.It sends the message that I’ll always love you unconditionally, no matter how you behave and well into your adult years. Toddlers to teens love to be surprised. Hide a small valentine, an encouraging note, or a small valentine chocolate somewhere for them to find each day leading up to Valentines Day. Get creative and mix it up.You could also leave a note each day in one place that contains clues to helping them find what you’ve hidden.

February 9, 2022
Bonitas – innovation, life stages and quality care

Health at School

The school year is in full swing and children are as busy as ever with all their activities and homework. By following a few lifestyle tips you can keep your child healthy and cut down on their sick days says Bonitas Medical Fund.

January 30, 2022
Parenting Hub

10th anniversary of World Read Aloud Day – Here’s the story

If, ‘The journey of a lifetime starts with the turning of a page,’ thenNal’ibali – South Africa’s reading-for-enjoyment campaign – has been the catalyst for millions of lifetime journeys. Nal’ibali, (isiXhosa for ‘Here’s the story’), was founded in 2012 to spark children’s potential through storytelling and reading. Each year since, it has been leading literacy change in SA by galvanising adults into reading with their children through its annual World Read Aloud Day celebration.  What is World Read Aloud Day World Read Read Aloud Day (WRAD) is a sustained initiative to promote a culture of reading aloud with children amongst families, parents, caregivers, educators and society. 13 401 children were reached with Nal’ibali’s first call to action in 2013. In 2021, the campaign, together with its partners, read aloud to over 3 million children. The growth of this initiative suggests that South Africans have embraced the call to read aloud on the day. Reading is the foundation of education, and Nal’ibali works hard to promote reading and literacy throughout the year. Signing up 1 million families  As opposed to previous years when Nal’ibali’s focus has been on increasing the number of children being read to on WRAD, in 2022 the target remains 3 million children. However, the NGO aims to sign up 1 million families, with the help of partners such as Standard Bank, Liberty Community Trust, VW and City of Cape Town Library and Information Services to commit to reading regularly to their children over the next three years, starting on WRAD.  The importance of families ‘Where schools play a key role in teaching children the mechanics of reading, families play an equally key role in helping children to fall in love with stories and books,’ says Katie Huston, acting Director of Nal’ibali. ‘Children who regularly hear fun and engaging stories understand how books work and are more motivated and better equipped to learn to read themselves and to keep reading.’  Research also shows that families who participate in WRAD keep up a sustained habit of reading and sharing stories. Family literacy is essential for many reasons; one of the biggest is that when family members can read and write, it helps break the cycle of poverty.  Here’s the story ‘For children to enjoy a story, they must be able to understand it! Because of this we commission a brand-new story in all 11 official South African languages each year,’ explains Huston. The story is also made available in South African Sign Language and Braille through partners, SLED (Sign Language Education and Development) and Blind SA. ‘We then encourage adults everywhere to pledge to read it aloud to children on the day,’ Huston concludes. This year’s story, ‘A Party at the Park‘, was written by Mabel Mnensa, author of the children’s book ‘Kantinga Finds the Perfect Name.’ This year’s story, ‘A Party at the Park‘, was written by Mabel Mnensa, author of the children’s book ‘Kantinga Finds the Perfect Name.’  Reaching into Africa ‘A Party at the Park’ has also been translated into an additional six languages (Swahili, Shona, French, Chichewa, Portuguese and Lingala) to cater for the approximately two million children who are foreign nationals living in South Africa. In addition, neighbouring African countries have been invited to join Nal’ibali’s WRAD celebration. This is a landmark step for the campaign as it starts to build a pan-African resolve to get children and families reading, and share its reading resources beyond South Africa’s borders. Get the story and pledge to read aloud  Members of the public can join Nal’ibali’s 2022 WRAD celebration by making their pledge to read the official story with their children on Wednesday, 2 February via the campaign’s website, www.nalibali.org, or by WhatsApping ‘WRAD’ to 060 044 2254. The official story is available for free download from these platforms and pledgers can choose to keep reading with Nal’ibali throughout the year by opting into its family-reading programme.  Pledgers are also encouraged to share pictures of their read-aloud sessions online, tagging Nal’ibali (@NalibaliSA) or using the hashtag #NalibaliWRAD2022.

January 28, 2022
Syllabis Learning

Advice to the parent who is undecided on Homeschooling

Are you one of those parents who have been toying with the idea of homeschooling your child? You want to do it…but you don’t want to do it! You find yourself wishing you were a fly on the wall in your colleague or friends’ house to see what homeschooling is really like and how it is done. You must be wondering things like whether it is true that homeschooling takes so few hours a day, do the kids enjoy it more than traditional school? Are they miserable? Do they love the freedom? Do they miss seeing other kids? Are they geniuses? Are they behind in schoolwork compared to other kids their age?  There is no need to wonder, we are able to enlighten you with some valuable knowledge. Answers to All Your Home-schooling Questions: I am a parent and I do not know how Homeschooling works.                                                                                   Conventional home-schooling is essentially doing school-at-home, using similar methods to those used in public or private schools, where a parent, in-home tutor or online tutor take on the role of the teacher. However, in today’s day and age, very few families can afford the luxury of employing personal or online tutors and in most cases both parents are employed to make ends meet. Most SA Home-school curriculum providers, offer a conventional home-schooling curriculum, which even if done ‘online’  is actually already outdated, and of little consequence to today’s learner. Syllabis Learning has taken the Lead in modernising learning and our new Independent Learning curriculum is by far the best solution for the modern-day learner, which requires virtually no input from parents, teachers, or tutors. Independent learning is a modern form of learning. It has been proven to be effective, convenient, and fast, thanks to the rise of the internet. Nowadays, you can learn how to do almost anything through a simple Google search, by watching a YouTube tutorial, or by simply reading instruction manuals. Self-learning is the new form of learning that is equipping people with skills that are relevant to their daily activities. Testimonial of a working Mom- “I will tell you that I was very skeptical of how this was going to work out. I have been so pleasantly surprised to find out how simple the Syllabis Independent Learning curriculum really works with extraordinarily little input from me. My daughter adamantly says she never wants to go back to a public school again!”. How expensive is homeschooling  going to be? You will most probably be surprised at the affordability of such a comprehensive platform! The yearly cost of the Syllabis Independent Learning Curriculum, at the date of this publication, starts from R 3590 for Grade R to R20990 for Grade 12. Discounts are offered for multiple learners from one family. Payment plans are  available on request. Prices quoted are subject to change without notice. How many formal home-school hours should home-schoolers do per day?                                                   Research has shown that on average, home-schoolers study about two to three hours a day. Take away trips to and from school, moving from class to class, taking pre-determined breaks and the delays that slower learners in the class create and what you have is the freedom to work at your own pace and schedule. The Grade 1-3 curriculum can take as little as 2 hours of work per day, Grade 4-9 from 3-5 hours per day and an estimated 7 hours for Grades 10-12. We already battle over homework! How am I going to get them to do all their schoolwork at home? This is the game-changer…when kids get home from school they are exhausted. School is a is a full-time job for a child, 7-8 hours spent concentrating and working, all they want to do when they get home is chill out. Traditional schools demand at least 2-3 hours of homework to be done every single day. With home-schooling there is no homework.  Are my kids going to be weird? This is one of the biggest fears of most parents who are considering home-schooling. The socialisation issue. This is the biggest myth of all about homeschooling. Going to a conventional school does not mean that you are going to be super suave and develop awesome social skills. Going to a conventional school does not make you cool and home-school does not make you weird. There is data to back this up. This amazing paper out of Stetson University examines and compares many studies of social skills of home-schooled children. Here are some striking findings. “Children attending conventional schools showed more than eight times more behavioral problems than home-schooled children. Shyers described the traditionally schooled children as “aggressive, loud, and competitive” (1992b, p. 6). In contrast, the home-schooled children acted infriendly, positive ways. He noted that they introduced themselves, initiated conversation, co-operated with others, invited uninvolved children to join them in play, took turns, let others know it was alright if they lost a game, and even “exchanged addresses and phone numbers for future contact”. The homeschoolers had better social skills? This must be one isolated study, right? Nope. There were many other studies in the paper that showed the home-schooler to be equal to or more advanced than their peers in this area.  How is my child going to make friends? Home-schoolers have more time to spend with friends and get involved in social activities such as sports, scouts, and church etc. Your child will have time to find things they are interested in and sign up and get involved in external activities, in turn they will make friends and meet new people. With Syllabis Learning you child will have the

January 26, 2022
ChildSafe

Back to school Safety

As many normal activities have continued to require careful consideration as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, parents are now challenged with “Back To School” and what that means for their children and their families.  “We know there is a lot to manage during this time, and it can feel like there is very little in your control. But whether your child will be attending school at home, in-person or a combination of the two, we want to help make sure they stay injury-free. Remember it is important to make injury prevention part of your Back To School plan. That is something you can control”, says Thilda Nel (Executive Director, ChildSafe). With a new school term about to start, now is the perfect time to take a few minutes to remind your children how they can stay safe when going to school, whether they walk, bike, take the bus/train or ride in a carpool or use scholar transport. No matter how your children get to school, make sure they are safe and prepared to make the trip.  ChildSafe reminds all parents and caregivers to ALWAYS teach their children to: Look left, right and left again before crossing the road.  Walk on sideways or paths and crossroads using traffic signals and pedestrian crossings, where possible. Make eye contact with drivers before crossing the road. Avoid using cell phones and headphones when walking near and around cars and to be aware of their surroundings. Wear a properly fitted helmet when biking to school.  Wait for the bus/train to come to a complete stop before entering or disembarking. Drivers should ALWAYS: Ensure that children under the age of 12 are properly buckled-up in the back seat.  Adhere to speed limits and drive slowly in residential areas and school zones. Look out for pedestrians while driving. For more information on injury prevention, call ChildSafe at 021 685 5208 or please visit www.childsafe.org.za

January 21, 2022
Parenting Hub

How to Get Your Kids Excited About Going Back to School

Try to think back to when you were a kid. The prospect of going back to school probably wasn’t the most exciting thought for younger you. Even if you did look forward to heading back to school, it probably had more to do with catching up with your friends than spending most of your day in a classroom. And there’s a good chance your kid feels the same way. If the thought of HB pencils and homework puts your kids to sleep quicker than a bedtime story, there are a few ideas to get them excited about back-to-school season. Get Some Blinged-out Stationery  Kids love cartoons, and that love can be leveraged to get them interested in things that would otherwise bore them. That’s where stationery comes in. Instead of stocking up on the typical stationery brands, get your hands on school supplies that feature their favourite animated characters. Is your kid a PAW Patrol fan? Then you’re in luck! You can get collectable PAW Patrol stationery with every Wimpy Kids’ Combo Meal. Head to a Wimpy near you to start your kid’s collection. Plan Something Memorable for Their First Day Make sure the first day of school starts with lots of fanfare. Prepare their favourite breakfast treat or treat them to lunch after their first day of school. It could be the start of a wonderful tradition—and a great way to take the sting out of a new year. Get Creative with Their Lunch A brown-bagged sandwich is okay, but why go with just okay when you can have extraordinary. For the first day of school, treat your kids to a lunch they won’t forget. You don’t even have to prepare it yourself. Order something light and lekker like a toasted sandwich from Wimpy to enjoy at break time. Give Them a Goodie Bag  Ever heard of Schultüte? It’s an age-old German tradition that’s gotten a lot of kids through the first day of school. Schultüte means ‘school cone’, but it has very little to do with ice cream. The large and embellished cone is a gift given to children on the first day of school, and it’s filled with stationery and special treats. If that sounds like something your kid will enjoy, grab some colourful poster board, shape it into a cone, fill it with sweet treats and their new Wimpy PAW Patrol stationery.  Put Yourself in Their Shoes If your kid isn’t keen on going back to school, allowing them to voice their frustration can go a long way. Before convincing them of the importance of school, just let them get their thoughts off their chest without any interruption. They’ll eventually come around to the idea of school, but for now, just let them vent.  It’s common for kids to describe school as boring. If they’re not thrilled by the idea of returning to school, there’s plenty you can do to get them onboard about back-to-school season.

January 18, 2022
Syllabis Learning

Syllabis Education iAfrikana – Our annual Short Story and Poetry Contest

Writers love competitions. There’s the creative stimulus of an interesting prompt, the promise of kudos and validation, and of course publication and prizes. The Syllabis iAfrikana contest is a new writing competition, writing short stories and poetry with a focus on the African bushveld. It launches in January 2022 and runs to final submissions with a closing date of 31 May 2022. Syllabis presents its first Poetry /Prose Competition. The aim is to give young people the opportunity to express themselves in a public forum, take part in a poetry slam and a creative writing workshop. Creative writing is any form of writing that breaks the boundaries set by traditional writing techniques such as journalistic or academic writing. Writing, in its earliest form was seen as a form of communication, and to this day that is still one of its main purposes, but over the years people have found such joy in exploring the more creative aspects of writing. People realized that writing does not have to remain a formal means of communication but it could be used to express feelings, emotions, and most importantly creativity! If you are looking to take your writing to the next level, then entering our writing competition will help you to achieve this. The goal of the competition is to help promote the writing aspirations of all school-going students. The panel of judges comprises 3 members, all qualified English / Afrikaans educators with a passion for literature. Who is eligible: All Syllabis Learning Registered Students that are currently registered with our institution. Students from any registered school in South Africa including all students that study from home. Some competitions ask for a story on any topic, up to a set word count. But if your parameters are too broad, comparing stories is very hard: How do you judge a 200-word flash against a 5000-word novella? We will set a 3 000-word limit for short stories and a 36-line limit on poetry Theme – South African Bushveld What do I stand to win? At initial selection, we select 5 semi-finalists from the received submissions. The 5 semi-finalists travel via shuttle (Safarilink) to a beautiful game lodge situated in the gaming region of Hoedspruit and stay at the wonderful Toro Yaka game lodge. If minors, they are accompanied by 1 parent if requested. If over the age of 14, the dedicated teacher will be responsible for their wellbeing. Terms and conditions will be provided beforehand. Semi-finalists and any guardians stay on-site, all expenses paid for 2 nights, attend 2 game drives, recite the meaning of their short story during the evening “Boma” storytelling session, and get judged by 3 specialist English / Afrikaans literature educators. Winners will be announced in August 2022. Prizes:  If the winner is a Syllabis learner, their entire education up to grade 9 is funded by Syllabis learning, grade 10 – 12 students get a R20 000 rebate against their studies with Syllabis Education. If the winner is a non-Syllabis Education student, they win: Prizes to the value of R20 000. How can I Register? For Syllabis Education students, log in to your learning portal and upload your submissions. Submissions are limited to 3. For all other students, please complete the entry form found on this link https://syllabiseducation.com/syllabis-iafrikana/ or simply send your completed work to [email protected] after mentioning the competition on Social Media.  

January 13, 2022
Boston Online High School

Boston Online Home Education

The pandemic-led digital transformation enabled online learning to provide a seamless school year, keeping learners on track despite the onslaught of the Covid waves. Furthermore, the digital age also created new avenues of possibilities for parents and learners choosing home education as an alternative to the old-style school curricula.  As a pioneer in private education specialising in online and distance learning over the past 30 years, the Boston group is a key player in this environment, extending their educational expertise to support parents and learners embarking on a home education journey with reliable services via Boston Online Home Education, visit https://www.bostonline.co.za  As a registered Cambridge International Associate we create credible online pathways for parents of home educated learners toward the attainment of school-leaving alternatives that are internationally recognised for entry into leading local and global universities. “Our mission is to provide access to global opportunities for home education parents and learners. For this reason we have chosen to support the renowned Cambridge curriculum with strategically designed learning materials and technology.  This uniquely prepares learners for the future, honing higher order skills of comprehension, understanding and application,” says Katz about the Boston group which has become one of only five international associates listed on the Cambridge International website, https://www.cambridgeinternational.org/why-choose-us/find-a-cambridge-school/  Future ready skills:  Critical thinking According to the World Economic Forum critical thinking and problem-solving top the list of skills employers believe will grow in prominence in the next five years.  This is a key competency required in the Fourth Industrial Revolution and a transferable skill that can be used across subjects and careers. “In a world where knowledge has become a vital currency, it is essential that learners are able to think critically about content,” says Eli Katz, executive at Boston Online Home Education (BOHE). A central focus of the Cambridge curriculum is to avoid rote learning and emphasize higher order skills and its application. “Our aim is to support parents and learners so that they gain valuable life skills and competencies including analysis and evaluation of information that can be applied in different contexts, enabling them to problem solve and make meaning of complex issues.  We are excited to support parents and learners who choose the Cambridge curriculum” says Katz. Boston Online Home Education Support includes various Cambridge paths.  The Cambridge International Certificate of Education (ICE) for learners turning 14 in the first year of registration and who have achieved a Grade 7 or 8; the Advanced International Certificate of Education (AICE) stream is for learners turning 16 in the first registration year and who have achieved either a Grade 9 or 10 or the ICE.  Learners also have the option to register for Cambridge examinations in respect of individual Cambridge IGCSE and AS subjects to supplement their existing studies especially for those learners who wish to enter more demanding faculties such as medicine or engineering post school.   Cambridge awards are recognised by universities in South Africa and  globally, including Ivy League institutions. As a registered Cambridge International Associate our staff have access to the Cambridge Support Hub so that we can provide relevant, comprehensive and up to date support to ensure alignment with the Cambridge curriculum and realise your child’s preparedness for these examinations Quality Course Content  As a registered Cambridge International Associate we provide credible support mechanisms and services required to support your child’s home education success in the Cambridge curriculum.  Amongst the challenges faced by parents is ensuring that their children have access to quality content and assessments whilst being able to monitor their progress. The Boston platform provides parents with a specific login feature to co-participate in their learning journey.  Boston has developed a comprehensive offering mapped to Cambridge guidelines. In addition to live lessons and educator support which provide personal attention to each learner, the Boston methodology includes  extensive recorded video lessons, summaries, e-books and assessments with triggers being sent to parents so that they are able to monitor progress and track performance.   This also allows learners to revise material at their own time and their own pace until they fully grasp the content instead of feeling pressurized in a classroom setting.  The live lessons then allow for classroom interaction and facilitates educator-leaner engagement and discussion.  Our personalized learning approach is further enhanced by individual counselling sessions. Advanced technology infrastructure The use of the Boston’s artificial intelligence (AI) model assists with detailed reporting, data analytics and diagnostics for parent to determine strengths and weaknesses throughput the learning experience. Learner progress is further monitored through access to a range of formal and informal assessments, facilitating detailed feedback to parents and learners, enabling relevant academic intervention throughout the learning process. “ It is essential that we harness technology but intertwine with human intervention to create a learning experience focused on the individual”” says Katz. Social Interaction  Boston encourages social interaction through multiple opportunities to engage online with other home educated learners. In this way, learners can enjoy a local and global social network.  A variety of activities such as digital music production, journalism club, app development, public speaking and even online chess tournaments are made available. Parents who require further information and assistance, can  speak to a Boston counsellor or  visit our website: www.bostonline.co.za or send an email to: [email protected]

January 7, 2022
FYI Play it Safe

Your child may be digitally colour-blind, and that’s normal

Most of us are aware of the fact that all people do not see colour in the same way.  Some individuals suffer from colour blindness, where the brain does not have the ability to see certain colours. If you ask people to tell you the number they see in the image below, the majority will respond by saying that it is clearly the number 15. However, people with red green colour blindness will tell you with absolute certainty that it is the number 17.  No matter how many times you tell them to look again, for them 17 is an absolute truth. In a similar manner, children can be seen as being “digitally colour-blind”.  They simply do not have the ability to detect danger in the digital world.  Some of this “digital colour-blindness” can be attributed to brain development.  The frontal cortex, the area of the brain that assists with reasoning and helps us to think before we act, only develops later in life.  This, combined with the fact that children may not yet have sufficient experience to identify and respond effectively to danger, puts every child at risk in the digital age. Even if you try to teach your children and they a) try their best to please you by listening to you and follow your advice (read younger child), or b) try their best to prove you wrong (read teenager), they most likely will not be able to see the digital red warning light even if it is right in front of them. To make things worse, many parents are not digitally educated enough to know about these dangers and to look out for them on behalf of their children.  Digital predators are aware of this… Which leaves us, as parents, with the question: “What can we do about this?” As a start, parents need to be aware of the risks that the digital world poses to their children.  They need to be aware of the applications their children have access to and how it is being used.  At the same time, it is critical that we educate our children about these risks, but knowing that education alone will not be enough to protect our children while they are still in the process of developing the skills to detect “digital red.”   It is during this critical time that not only you, but also your child needs FYI play it safe. FYI play it safe monitors your child’s online interactions and activities and will let you know when there are any red flags that you have to be aware of. It monitors for signs of cyberbullying, depression, self-harm, suicidal ideation, when they talk to potential online predators, or when they engage in adult content.  The simple fact is this, the digital world will be an essential part of our children’s lives in future.  If we choose to allow them to be online, we should guard them and make the journey safer for them. With FYI play it safe, you have that extra layer of safety.  Sign-up for your FREE 7-day trial now by going to www.fyiplayitsafe.com and downloading the app to your child’s phone. It takes less than 10 minutes to set up, with easy steps.  Authors: Hester Burger, Rachelle Best

January 6, 2022
Stimulus Maksima!

5 Ways in which Improved Literacy Skills Improve Lives

Let me paint you a statistical picture. First, 900 million people around the world cannot read or write. A whopping 171 million fewer people would live in poverty if all children acquired basic reading skills – that would mean a 12% reduction in global poverty. However, this might not be close enough to home. Okay, here we go.  1. Reading statistics report that only 14% of the South African population are active book readers, and a mere 5% of parents read to their children (Macmillan SA). 2. The Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS) 2016 report – the international comparative reading assessment conducted by the University of Pretoria (UP) researchers at the Centre for Evaluation and Assessment (CEA) locally – has shown there has been no significant progress in national primary school reading literacy in South Africa, since the last report in 2011. South Africa placed last out of the 50 countries participating in the study at fourth grade level, with the Russian Federation and Singapore being the top achievers. 3.  Almost 80% of South African Grade 4 learners fall below the lowest internationally recognised level of reading literacy. According to Prof Sarah Howie, National Research Coordinator (NRC) for PIRLS 2016 South Africa, this suggests that most learners cannot read well enough to succeed in subjects across the curriculum in Grade 4 and higher grades.  4.  Furthermore, less than half of the learners who wrote the tests in English and Afrikaans could read. This means, statistically speaking if you have two children, one of them is probably struggling. If your child is in a class of 30 children, more than 15 children cannot read proficiently.   4.  Furthermore, less than half of the learners who wrote the tests in English and Afrikaans could read. This means, statistically speaking if you have two children, one of them is probably struggling. If your child is in a class of 30 children, more than 15 children cannot read proficiently.  5.  Last, according to a 2016 report released by StatsSA, close to 21% of South Africans are illiterate (unable to read or write) – that is around 12 million people. That is a LOT of people. Keep in mind, this only pertains to reading and writing, which is the minimum requirement for being considered literate. This does not indicate that the other 79% of the population possesses an education that can earn them anything above minimum wage. It’s clear that the ‘illiteracy’ levels can be much higher than mentioned.  Unfortunately, in South Africa, any person older than 15 years with minimum a grade 7 or a higher education qualification is considered to be literate. The above StatsSA statistics are also self-reported, which means that it may be way off mark. It is something we need to be very concerned about in South Africa. True literacy is not merely the ability to decipher symbols, write one’s name, and read and write short sentences. To add value to a person’s life, literacy skills also need to include the ability to understand, interpret and find meaning in words and language. And this is where we are falling short. For every stage of life, a specific level of reading or reading adequacy is required. The more complicated or difficult the task at hand, the higher level of literacy skill is required. Often this is not taken into account when talking about literacy in general. Given all of this, the fact that you can read the words in this article and find meaning in them puts you in the minority rather than the majority. That you have these literacy skills is, sadly, a privilege rather than the basic right it should be. Literacy undoubtedly gives people the edge when it comes to succeeding in life and being able to find and pursue opportunities. So, it follows then, that by improving literacy skills we can improve the lives of South Africans for the better:  1. Reduction in poverty As mentioned in the first paragraph, the effect on poverty would be enormous. People with higher literacy have more opportunities to pursue higher education and develop their skills and knowledge to seek better employment and earn higher salaries. 2. Community upliftment Communities that have higher literacy rates place more importance on education and self-improvement, and create an atmosphere where self-worth is important, and success is a possible goal and not merely a pipe dream. 3. Better health Being literate helps people understand health concerns and better educate themselves when it comes to healthcare. People who are literate and have access to education are more likely to understand the health risks associated with HIV, and several other diseases. This can quite literally save lives. Higher literacy rates also lower the risk of infant mortality due to misinformation or lack of information. 4. Empowering women In many traditional communities, women are still marginalised as second-rate citizens. Literacy skills give all people, and especially women, the opportunity to educate themselves and break free from destructive social dynamics to become economically independent. 5. Economic growth The economy is directly linked to the spending power of the people. Because literacy improves the skills of the workforce and reduces poverty, the economy is then able to grow and thrive.  This creates a cycle where literacy continues to improve and have a positive effect on economic growth. This fact is quantified by research performed by the University of Stellenbosch on the cost of illiteracy in South Africa. By getting in touch with us, you can help your children, your school, or your community. We provide solutions – for households and entire communities. By partnering with Stimulus Maksima!, either to sponsor our literacy skills program for a needy school, using our educational programs at home, or to introduce it to your adult employees as part of their ongoing training, you invest in a project that delivers real, measurable and sustainable results. Our computer-aided learning systems focus on developing core mathematics and reading skills. These are essential tools for facing the challenges of learning in higher grades,

December 22, 2021
Solarpop

The land of make believe

Einstein famously said: “Imagination is more important than knowledge. For knowledge is limited to all we know and understand, while imagination embraces the entire world, and all there ever will be to know and understand.”. Imagination might seem like something that is unique to children but as adults’ imagination is an integral part of our daily lives. As adults we might not use our imagination to pretend a spoon is a microphone and live ourselves into a game pretending to be a rock star (although I’m sure most adults still do). We do however use our imagination to problem solve, visualise, conceive new ideas or innovations and to help us understand others’ perspectives. Like most skills, imagination is developed as children. Adults might put this skill to use in a way that seem less fun than how a child would use this skill, but that makes it no less an important skill to nurture at an early age.  Early on toddlers start developing their imaginations through pretend play. This is vital to help them develop social, emotional and cognitive skills. There is also a strong connection between language development and pretend play. As children explore the world around them through pretend play vocabulary expand as they start to mimic new activities and interact with new items around them. As they grow older, they also start to actively involve other children into the play where the shared interaction further develops vocabulary out of a need to communicate. There is also an emotional development aspect as children now start to develop the ability to see others’ perspective. As a child develops the way in which they pretend-play changes drastically in the following ways: 12-18 months – Children will perform single pretend play actions such as pretending to eat. As social development is limited this will be done by themselves without involving others in the action. 18-24 months – Children will start utilising realistic toys or objects to preform pretend play actions while starting to involve other.  24-30 months – Children will start combining multiple pretend actions together, just like they would typically start combining words together to form basic sentences 3-5 years – It is at this stage where children will no longer only mimic actions and tasks they experience in their day-to-day life, such as pretending to cook because they saw an adult perform the action.  Children will now start utilising their imagination and pretend play around concepts which is not real or doesn’t exist in a real-life scenario for them to mimic, like pretending to be a pirate or super hero. Pretend play is a vital part of early development, allowing little ones to develop their imagination, explore the world around them and at an early age start discovering what they enjoy doing. You might discover a future little chef or help instil a sense of love for tasks adults find mundane such as cleaning. The important part is to enable children to explore and express their imagination to its fullest. Find the widest variety of pretend play toys this festive season from takealot.com 

December 21, 2021
Syllabis Learning

Enhanced Learning in Distance School and the Syllabis Education’s iWizard

For those parents out there who’s children are already distance learning, or those of you that are considering distance learning as an answer for your child’s educational needs, we are sharing some insight about the amazing value-added products and platforms that we offer. We can’t deny that homeschooling requires a certain level of independence and initiative from the students to tackle their academic responsibilities. We have found that some students struggle to engage with their academics and often become distracted from their academics or simply want to learn more still.  Other learners might have certain learning areas where they have problems understanding core concepts, while others are willing to go the extra mile and gain an extensive understanding of a topic or core learning area.  Solving these issues was an incentive to create a new technology enhancement, and this is where the Syllabis iWizard was born. Is it abnormal for my child to get distracted easily? Not at all! In general, most students find some academic areas boring and see it as something they are being forced to do, and with so many distractions being made readily available all around them (laptops, phones, TV’s, video games, etc…) who can blame them for being easily distracted.  Do students want to learn more? Many students enjoy all the subjects offered in their grade, but most students start to develop a learning preference for certain subjects, such as accounting or business studies for aspiring entrepreneurs, or science and mathematics for the sciences. Others love art or sports.  Those students who want to go the extra mile and excel in a learning area, often have difficulty finding applicable resources. That’s another reason we developer the iWizard, for each augmentation lesson available, there is an extended lesson, which greatly enhances the understanding of the topic to the student. They become Masters. How does Syllabis plan on solving the above-mentioned problem? For 2022, Syllabis Launched its iWizard in December 2021. Our iWizard takes the vast resources made available to us by the internet and packages them into fun, interactive, lesson-sized educational lessons.  The iWizard is universally applicable to all students. Students who are struggling on a certain topic, students who have found interest in a certain topic, students who want to further their comprehension on certain topics, and even students who want to further their knowledge on topics that are not part of their curriculum (such as the Syllabis iWellness program) will fall in love with the Syllabis iWizard and its many features. How has Syllabis developed the iWizard? We wanted to develop this educational tool to achieve a few outcomes: To develop an innovative educational tool. To allow the creation of quality educational content as an added feature as part of our core offering. To take full advantage of the internet and its endless number of educational resources. The internet is the most powerful educational resource ever known to man, but this resource is extremely unstructured and unfiltered. The Syllabis iWizard is the solution to the above problem as it allows us to create meaningful, interactive educational resources, saving you the trouble of scrolling through endless web pages just to find the same information. Where can you access the Syllabis iWizard? The Syllabis iWizard will be offered as a free educational resource to all Syllabis students who are studying under the Buffalo or Lion package. The iWizard will help these students test their academic progress with the help of built-in quizzes and further their comprehension on topics they might be struggling with or topics that they may simply be interested in and would like to further their knowledge on. How does the Syllabis iWizard help our students? Step by step lesson plans that helps guide the students through the lessons. Built-in quizzes that test your child(ren)’s comprehension of the relevant lesson. Lessons structured per grade and per subject. Educational videos embedded into the lessons. Instructions that guide the student along every step of the lesson. Makes sure your child(ren) stays on track with his/her academics. The lessons are interactive and make sure that your child(ren) stays engaged in his/her academics. Lessons that go beyond traditional education and incorporate life skills. Our iWellness lessons are a perfect example of this. iWIZARD The instructional model is based on thorough research into students’ needs when using the internet as a learning tool, especially from home. The Pre-Quiz provides a measurement stick against which you’re learning during the online lesson can be analysed. Lessons and Quizzes can be done over and over. Students move page by page through several quality, interactive web resources within our learning browser. Students measure their learning progress by partaking in a post quiz. Results are sent electronically to parents and the Syllabis learning team. Most lessons are accompanied by extended learning content as well as excellent project ideas for learners. When do I use Syllabis iWizard? When I have a problem with a topic and need reinforcement. As extra lessons in general for reinforcement. For revision before tests and exams. As part of my tutoring. For non-students of Syllabis, enquire today about adding the iWizard to your set of learning tools.  Once again, Syllabis Education has led the way in educational innovation, and we can’t wait to continue this journey with our students in 2022!

December 20, 2021
Global Village College

THE JOY OF SCHOOLING FROM HOME

As we reflect on this academic period, we are delighted with the amazing successes of children who are learning from home. While there has been significant frustration with school systems around the world, where schools were opened and closed, curricula were reduced, tests and examinations were adapted, school was online and offline, and mask wearing, social distancing and sanitising was enforced, children who are learning from home have continued their education as normal.  And they have flourished. They have excelled academically.  Some have accelerated significantly on their academic pathway.  Their creativity, critical thinking, collaboration, and communication skills have developed, and their research and technological skills have been enhanced.  They have become more confident and motivated. It gives me joy to see children playing, socialising, finding new interests and trying new sports.  There is no anxiety, as they are not being pressurised to perform in a system which does not value each child’s unique character, interests, and abilities. I delight in seeing children playing with their pets and spending quality time with their families. I hear the calm in parents’ voices as their children take responsibility for their learning and they see their improved development. THINKING ABOUT SCHOOLING FROM HOME? At this time, you might be reflecting on your child’s schooling, and, like many other parents, you might be considering the best way forward for your child.   I would like to encourage you to consider embarking on the exciting journey of schooling from home.  It might look daunting, but with guidance and support, it is a lot easier than you think. There are many options available to support parents and children to learn from home.  Take the time to carefully consider your child’s interests, passions, talents, and ambitions, and, also consider your family situation, so that you can find the best solution for your child.  It is important to thoroughly research the many methodologies and curricula before you decide on an educational solution.  In my experience and with the research I have done in education and development, I have found Cambridge International qualifications to be an excellent option for students to obtain a matric and to have the choice of further study.   CAMBRIDGE INTERNATIONAL QUALIFICATIONS Cambridge Assessment International Education (CAIE) is part of the University of Cambridge and provides international education qualifications for children worldwide.  Reasons to obtain a Cambridge International qualification Internationally recognised  Cambridge International qualifications are accepted by South African and international universities and by employers across the world and are recognised to prepare and equip students with the skills they need to succeed at university and beyond. Develops attributes for future success Learners develop a deep understanding of their subject and learn to apply their knowledge. They develop the ability to solve problems creatively, to think for themselves and to do their own research and to communicate what they have learned. Students are encouraged to be confident, responsible, reflective, innovative, and engaged. Challenging and inspiring Students are challenged to develop their potential and are encouraged to utilise their strengths and to pursue their interests. They learn in depth and develop higher order thinking skills. The approach encourages students to draw on local context and culture so that their learning is relevant. Prepares students for life Students develop an informed curiosity and a lasting passion for learning. They develop thinking and learning skills which prepare them for the challenges of tomorrow’s world and to shape a better future world.  Matric and university exemption with Cambridge International qualifications The Cambridge AS Level qualification is a matric qualification that is internationally recognized as one of the best in the world.  The incredible resources and methodical delivery of the curricula ensure that your child is getting the best education available.   For matriculants, Cambridge offers an international qualification that is a less stressful option than the South African National Senior Certificate. Instead of writing all exams in one sitting, Cambridge offers IGCSE and AS Level exams (Grade 11 and 12) over different sittings.  Your child could write some subjects in November, others the following June and still have a third opportunity to write subjects the following November.  Fewer subjects are required and there is a range of subject choices and qualification combinations. In addition, once your child has written and passed a subject, the certificate is issued by Cambridge Assessment International Education (UK) and your child will not need to write the subject again, unless they choose to.  This means they can concentrate on their remaining subjects.  There is no age limit to write subjects with Cambridge International.  Why our children and parents love the Cambridge way “It is organised.”   “We know what to expect.  When we start, we know what is in the syllabus, which textbooks to use and what the exams look like.  It is easy to find past papers and answers, so we can do as many past papers as we need, to practice for exams.” “We can set our own pace, work when we like, and do as much work as we need to.  We don’t have to sit in a class all day and wait for everyone to catch up.  We don’t need to listen to a teacher reading from the textbook.” “It is a lot less stressful.”  “It is a much better way to learn than school.” “Exam marking is unbiased.” GLOBAL VILLAGE COLLEGE The delivery of the Cambridge curriculum by Global Village College is a complete educational solution for students and parents to school from home.  Global Village College provides it all at your fingertips 24 hours a day.   We introduce your child to the Cambridge curriculum so that the transition from other curricula is seamless. We offer Academic Pathway consultations to help your child choose subjects for IGCSE and AS Levels and to plan their pathway to write exams. We provide course material and subject specialist tutoring. We have a variety of options and can recommend the one that best suits your child and your involvement as a parent.

December 17, 2021
ChildSafe

PLAY IT SAFE THESE HOLIDAYS

It’s the long school holiday season again, a time when we enjoy long days with family and friends and listen to squeals of delight as our children run around and enjoy the warm weather. It is also a time which brings a harvest of injuries to our children. “Bored children are more likely to investigate new ‘risky’ objects and areas. Children like to explore ‘new territory’, therefore this holiday season we encourage all parents and caregivers to actively supervise their children and be extra be vigilant”, Thilda Nel, Executive Director, ChildSafe.  To help ensure your children have fun and stay safe this holiday, here are a few tips from ChildSafe to remember. Be a mindful driver Always keep within the speed limit Keep an eye out for pedestrians, especially now with children home and playing outside Check that there are no children playing around your car before you drive off Remember that children are safer in the back seat Check Your Child’s Car Seat Before Holiday Travel  Seventy-three percent of car seats are not used or installed correctly, so before you hit the road, check your car seat. Also ensure that all passengers are buckled up, even for short trips. Use Booster Seats  Safety in the car goes beyond your little ones. Kids who have outgrown a forward-facing harness seat are not ready for a seat belt or front seat yet. They are safest in a booster seat that enables the adult seat belt to fit properly. Even when children have graduated from booster seats, they should remain in the back seat (firmly buckled up) until they reach the age of 12. At the Beach and Swimming Pools Never leave children unsupervised near or around water. Actively keep an eye on your child near water, even if they can swim or wear safety gear Stay close to your child near water, in case they will need help Restrict children’s access to pools; use a fence with a locking gate On the beach always have children swim where there is a lifeguard Even good swimmers can be swept out to sea by currents. Check warning signs near water before entering the water Consumption of alcohol Parents and caregivers to be responsible when consuming alcohol because numerous injuries to children occur when caregivers are under the influence of alcohol.  Alcohol consumption impairs self-control and adequate supervision of children cannot take place.  Being a smart party host or guest should include being sensible about alcoholic drinks. Most traffic fatalities are alcohol-related, therefore, please use designated drivers, people who do not drink, to drive other guests home after a party. Preventing burns  Kids love to reach, so to prevent burns from hot holiday food or liquid spills, simply use the back burner of your stove and turn pot handles away from the edge. Do not hold small children while drinking hot beverages. Always start with cold water first when running a bath and remember to test the temperature with your elbow and never leave a child unattended to in the bathroom. Put our braai fires with cold water and not sand. Blow Out Candles and Store Matches Out of Reach  Keep holiday candles at least 30cm away from anything that can burn, and don’t forget to blow them out when you leave the room or before you go to sleep. Make a habit of placing matches and lighters in a safe place, out of children’s reach. Avoid novelty lighters or lighters that look like toys. Keep Harmful Plants Out of Reach  Plants can spruce up your holiday decorating but keep those that may be poisonous out of reach of children or pets. This includes berries, plants and mushrooms.  In a poison emergency, call the Poisons Information Helpline – 0861 555 777. Find the Perfect Toy for the Right Age Consider your child’s age when purchasing a toy or game this holiday season. It’s worth a second to read the instructions and warning labels to make sure the gift is just right.  Before you’ve settled on the perfect toy, check to make sure there aren’t any small parts or other potential choking hazards. Keep Button Batteries Away from Young Kids  Keep a special eye on small pieces, including button batteries that may be included in electronic toys. While these kinds of games are great for older kids, they can pose a potential danger for younger, curious siblings. Don’t Forget a Helmet for New Bikes or Other Toys  If your child’s heart is set on a bike, skateboard or scooter this holiday season, be sure to include a helmet to keep them safe while they’re having fun. Decorate Your Tree With Your children in Mind  Children are curious and will want to play with the ornaments on the tree, so you might as well prepare.  Move the ornaments that are breakable or have metal hooks towards the top of the tree. That makes room at the bottom for the ones that are safer for young children. Check the Lights  Lights are one of the best parts of holiday decorating. Look at the ones on your tree and in and around your home for exposed or frayed wires, loose connections or broken sockets. Keep yourself and your children entertained, keep them safe, and have a happy, enjoyable summer holiday! In case of an emergency call 10177 or 112.

December 15, 2021
Solarpop

Family Games – Bringing families together

December is family time, we travel, we gather (safely) and spend time together. Togetherness extends beyond visiting, cooking and sharing a meal however. Often these get togethers over the festive period means families are gathering but not experiencing togetherness. Often the generational gap is what’s keeping families from experiencing togetherness. Youngsters find themselves under the adults’ feet, teenagers are only interested in their phones, and the adults try their best to ensure the visit goes according to plan. A family together, yet still apart.  Just like a meal brings a family together around a table, so to can the right board game assist families in bridging the generational gap and offer common ground during which the entire family can truly bond. We aren’t however asking you to pull out the 20-year-old monstrosity with missing pieces from the top shelf of the cupboard that mostly stores junk. A brand-new generation of games exist that is suitable and exciting for the entire family! Allow us to take you an a journey of games that will bring your entire family together this festive season! Are you speedy? Nimble with fingers? Drone Home is like the old school hungry hippos, but with a real flying drone! Race to launch your aliens down the ramps and land inside the drone! Watch out — there’s a delay once you make it in, so others can knock you out! If you stay in just long enough your alien escapes when the drone lifts off, you’re one step closer to winning! Get rid of all your aliens first to win! In Pencil Nose, can YOU draw a rose with YOUR nose? Think you’ve got a nose for drawing? In this hilarious party game, players use their sniffers to sketch objects and then hope their teammates can correctly guess what they’re drawing before time runs out! Simply pick a card and then, using the special Pencil Nose glasses, try to draw the object onto the screen – using only your nose! It should be easy to name 3 South African foods starting with “B” – but can you do it under the pressure of 5 seconds twisting down, and with the other players staring at you, waiting for you to get flustered? In 5 Second Rule South Africa time is not on your side, so just say what comes to mind and risk ridiculous answers slipping out as time twirls down on the unique twisted timer. It’s all in good fun with this fast-paced game where you have to “Just Spit It Out!” Pass the Bomb! The explosive word game that will blow your mind! Players nerves are tested to the limit by the threat of the ticking bomb. A card is drawn bearing two or more letters, while the variable length fuse (10 secs to 1 min) is set, and the ticking bomb is passed to the first player. In turn players must shout out a word that contains the letters on the card and pass on the bomb before it goes off!  Qwirkle is the ultimate combination of set collection and pattern matching suitable for the entire family. There’s no reading required, just shape and colour recognition. This easy to learn, very simply highly strategic game is perfect to hone the tactical manoeuvres, forward-thinking and planning. Play by building lines of matching tiles based on either colour or shape and score points for doing so. Mix, match, and win! Drones, pictures, words or tiles, these games with simple gameplay and rules are still challenging enough to keep older player thoroughly entertained and engaged. The festive season is meant to bring families together and a game like one of the above is a fantastic way to build real family bonds and a sense of connection and togetherness. May a board game bring happiness home this festive season. Find these games and more at Takealot.com, Toy Kingdom, Hamleys and C.N.A.

December 14, 2021
Parenting Hub

Child kidnapping prevention tips for all ages

News headlines across the country were dominated recently by the kidnapping of four young boys from Polokwane. They were thankfully returned with their family a few days ago, but available crime statistics seem to indicate there is a growing trend of kidnappings across our country and many of these never make the front pages.  The figure for reported kidnappings in 2010/2011 was 2,839 and the upward trajectory of this particular crime by 133% by 2019/2020 places South Africa at risk of being placed on a “consolidated watch list” of countries viewed as kidnapping hotspots. According to Missing Children South Africa, a child goes missing every five hours in our country. “Parents need to empower their children, teenagers, and varsity-going young adults with all the information necessary to prevent kidnappings,” says Charnel Hattingh, Head of Communications and Marketing at Fidelity ADT.  She says there are several tips for parents and family members to consider, and it starts with these safety tips to teach your kids: Children must always walk to or from school with a friend or friends. Stick to streets they know and never take shortcuts through quiet areas or empty parking lots and never walk with cell phones and iPads in full view. If they get picked up at school, they should never leave the premises but always wait inside the school grounds for their lift to arrive. Younger children particularly must never get into a stranger’s car– even if the stranger claims that someone they love is hurt and that they have been sent to pick them up. Remind them that you would never send someone they don’t know to fetch them. Consider using a password system. If the person coming to collect you from school cannot repeat the password that you and your child agreed on, they should not get into the car but immediately ask for help. If a stranger approaches your child, they should not talk to them no matter how friendly they may seem. If someone tries to grab them, they need to fight, kick and shout. If your child does encounter any suspicious activity, encourage them to get a good look and memorise their physical details and clothing, as well as the vehicle they are in. Listen for any names or other details that might help identify them later. Make sure your children memorise their full names, address, and phone number. Using a play phone, teach them when and how to dial 10111. If they are older they should have some emergency numbers programmed into their phone or consider having a safety App on their phone. Hattingh says there are also tips for older children, such as those of varsity age: Older children should be reminded to keep their valuables out of sight at all times and not to use headphones because this will dampen their ability to sense their surroundings. The more you cut your senses off the easier it is for someone to take you by surprise. Stay alert! Alter their route: If they are walking home or to public transport, they need to alter their route. Even if it takes longer, always use a route that is well lit and populated with houses and other walkers instead of taking shortcuts through less-friendly areas. If you feel threatened, you can at least knock on someone’s door for help if you’re walking through a familiar neighbourhood. If you are using a taxi service, ensure that it is a bona fide service provider. Be extra cautious to go and meet anyone who befriends you on social media. Always meet in a public space with two or three friends as backup. Be cautious to be lured by people offering you a job or modelling contract. Remember safety in numbers. “When it comes to kidnapping, the more knowledge both the parent and child have, the better their chances of identifying kidnappers and preventing the unthinkable from happening. As parents, we don’t want our children to live in fear. Still, we live in a world where bad things happen,” says Hattingh.

December 10, 2021
Parenting Hub

SCHOOL CHILDREN AND THEIR CHANGING NUTRITIONAL NEEDS

As our kids enter their school-going years their growth is steady, but slower and somewhat less dramatic when compared to the rapid baby-toddler-to-little-person transformation.  It’s an interesting time nutritionally as school-going children tend to be more open to trying different foods and are developing their foodie likes and dislikes.  They are more able and adept at learning about different foods and their nutritional impact, so you can really start communicating with them about the importance of food and healthy eating.  Many of our lifelong dietary habits are rooted in this young life-stage. According to Zelda Ackerman, a registered dietitian and spokesperson for ADSA (The Association for Dietetics in South Africa) the primary school-going age is an ideal time for parents to help set our children up for a lifetime of healthy eating.  She says, “What happens around food in both the home and school is really important not just to ensure optimal nutrition for growing bodies, but to educate our children about how important daily food choices are to our overall health and our abilities to perform well in life.  For instance, balanced nutrition is vital for developing strong bones, teeth and muscles, as well as supporting our immune system to prevent disease.  However, it impacts too on our abilities to focus and learn in the classroom, and to achieve in sports and other physical activities.” Physical growth demands energy, and children’s energy needs are high.  According to another ADSA spokesperson, Vanessa Clarke, also a Registered Dietitian, “These energy needs increase as children get older and are influenced greatly by a child’s level of exercise. As children move through the various school levels, their energy demands will increase which means they need more carbohydrates, protein and fat to support necessary bodily functions and their growth. Children may also require increasing amounts of certain vitamins and minerals as they get older. Some children going through adolescence who are physically active each day may require more energy in the form of calories than even an adult female or male.  It’s also important to remember that children continue to grow and develop well beyond their tweens and during their teenage years into young adulthood.” During your child’s school-going years, it’s essential to get a good start to the day in the form of a sufficient balanced breakfast, even if it is a breakfast on the go.  A balanced breakfast means that the meal includes high-fibre carbohydrates (wholewheat toast, oats, granola), protein (eggs, cheese, yoghurt) and fat (avocado, nut butters, olive oil), as well as vitamins and minerals (fruit and/or veg).  This sets them off to school with a powered up brain and energy to spend.  It’s typical for school-going children to need to eat four to five times a day – their snacks are really important, so don’t skip or skimp on their lunchboxes. What is an optimal school lunchbox? Depending on their school age and their after-school activities, your child’s lunchbox may be their snack or their midday meal.  For older children participating in late afternoon after school activities, their lunchbox may need to contain their morning snack, lunch and afternoon snack.  You need to adjust the quantities based on the day’s schedule and your child’s level of physical activity. In order to ensure the lunchbox is optimal nutritionally, always strive for a balanced snack or a balanced meal containing all the essential nutrients.  Focus on home-prepared wholefoods rather highly processed snack foods. Vanessa offers this suggestion: Include high-fibre carbohydrates such as wholewheat bread, wholewheat wrap or high fibre crackers such as Provitas. Choosing a high fibre option ensures they stay fuller for longer, and have a more sustained level of energy  Add a fruit like an apple, naartjie, banana or nectarine Pop in a portion of vegetables such as sweet pepper strips, cucumber wedges or carrot sticks  Include a protein portion by making a chicken mayo sandwich with the high-fibre bread, or add chicken drumsticks, meatballs, biltong or cheese  Make sure they have their freshly filled up water bottle to meet their fluid needs. You can add a sprig of mint, a lemon slice or a few blueberries if they prefer flavoured water.  Avoid any sugar-sweetened beverages that contribute towards obesity and tooth decay  If your child will be having a longer school day, add extra portions of fruit and veg and raw nuts, and consider including a yoghurt or smoothie. Older children participating in sports may also need an extra wholewheat sandwich and additional lean protein portions to help preserve lean muscle mass. Dealing with the challenges of food at school School tuck shops can be a source of food for your children, but parents need to be aware of what kinds of foods and drinks are on offer.  There are many convenience and snack foods that, although marketed to children, are nutrient-poor and contribute to rising childhood obesity.  School tuck shops that do not have well-informed, dietitian-led healthy eating policies often offer these types of foods because they are popular with children and drive profits.  Zelda says, “Parents need to stand together and approach school governing bodies to raise their concerns about unhealthy food being offered at school. Of course, children like sweets, chocolates, crisps and sugary drinks – and if they are on offer, that’s what they will choose.  School tuck shops need to be committed to only offering healthy food, snack and drink options. A registered dietitian can help parents with a list of healthy tuck shop food and drink options.” Under-resourced South African schools also face school food challenges with many parents concerned about the nutritional quality of the school’s nutrition programme.  Zelda says, “Sometimes, there are problems around the inadequate supply of food to address child hunger, but a persistent issue is the lack of fresh vegetables and fruit.  Here, parents can help to motivate or get involved in the establishment of school food gardens to supplement school meals. Many nutritious vegetables such as spinach, beetroot, tomatoes, beans and butternuts are easily grown by beginner gardeners.  Schools

December 9, 2021
Boston Online High School

Boston Online Home Education to extend its academic support and services

Boston Online Home Education, a registered Cambridge International Associate, is your home education partner.  We create credible online pathways for parents/guardians of home educated learners toward the attainment of school-leaving alternatives that are internationally recognised for entry into leading local and global universities.  As a pioneer in private higher education specialising in online and distance learning over the past 30 years, the Boston group realises the challenges faced by parents who select to home school their children. As a result Boston is extending its educational expertise to support parents and learners via Boston Online Home Education.     Our mission is to create new opportunities for home education parents and learners to choose an aspirational online learning experience by offering support to the Cambridge International single subject, i.e. International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) and Advanced Supplementary (AS) Levels, or group awards, i.e. International Certificate of Education (ICE) and Advanced International Certificate of Education (AICE). The Cambridge International Certificate of Education (ICE) is for learners turning 14 in the first year of registration and who have achieved either a Grade 8.  And the Advanced International Certificate of Education (AICE) stream is for learners turning 16 in the first registration year and who have achieved either a Grade 9 or 10 or the ICE.  Learners also have the option to register for Cambridge examinations in respect of individual Cambridge subjects to supplement their existing studies especially for those learners who wish to enter into high stakes faculties such as medicine or engineering after school. Parents of a learner without a grade 9 are required to register their child as a home-school learner with the Provincial Department of Education in the province in which they reside.  “Being a registered Cambridge Associate brings huge advantages to parents and their children. The educators at Boston continually work with the academic and assessment guidelines, which are only made available by Cambridge to registered Cambridge associates and Cambridge schools. This means we have access to the Cambridge curriculum statements which ensure that the support is directed towards the guidelines specified by Cambridge. These guidelines also direct the “how” of the assessment methodology for each topic, thereby ensuring that learners will be well prepared for their exams. It is therefore critical for parents to ensure that they are getting support from a credible source such as a registered Cambridge Associate” says Katz. Amongst the challenges faced by parents is ensuring that their children have access to quality content and assessments whilst being able to monitor this progress.  As a result Boston have developed a comprehensive offering of recorded lessons, summaries, e-books and assessments with triggers being sent to the parent so that the parent is able to monitor the progress of the child throughout the learning journey and track performance. The parent has a specific log in feature to participate in the learning journey.  Forums and discussion groups between peers and educators are also integral support mechanisms with access to experience educators to solve problems is fundamental.  Through strategically designed learning material, learners have the benefit of honing higher order skills of comprehension, understanding and application.   Expert tutors are on standby to ensure personal attention to guide and assist each learner.  Learners also have the advantage to study at their own pace, whilst the use of online technology assists with diagnostics pinpointing what a learner knows and where there are gaps as opposed to getting lost in the classroom because a learner might feel uncomfortable to ask question.  Learners also have access to teachers who provide personal guidance and support.  Learner progress is also monitored through a range of formal and informal assessments, facilitating detailed feedback to parents and learners, enabling relevant academic intervention throughout the learning process.  ”We are not a private or independent school, as we do not enrol learners in any grades or have physical school grounds. We also do not set any curricula, exit exams or issue awards – this is done solely by Cambridge International, and you need to register for this separately. We can however assist you by facilitating this separate registration process”. “We do not replace your legal responsibilities and duties as a parent or guardian of the home education learner.  Our focus is about providing support to parents and learners in the home school journey”. Boston encourages social interaction through multiple opportunities to work and interact online in groups with other learners.    In this way, learners are able to enjoy a local and global social infrastructure.   Boston enhances this further through the many extra curricula activities such as digital music production, journalism club, public speaking and even an online chess tournament. “We aim to assist parents so that their children develop skills and future readiness through a holistic support program of academic excellence, offering learners the opportunity to enjoy an alternative to high school while preparing them for a successful and fulling future”. 

December 8, 2021
Solarpop

Travel Games – Entertainment on the go

School holidays have started, what do you do? You’ve planned a picnic in a park, or you’re headed to the coast? You go for a game drive or camp in the back yard, you’re going to have an adventure! You should also make sure you pack a few almost pocket-sized travel games that will keep your family entertained! Yes, the whole family, from ages 4 to 108!  No matter the adventure, there will always be an opportunity for boredom the creep in. Let us show you a few games so fun and compact that you can take them on any adventure and make every second fun!  Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza, yes, a mouthful, but the name is how you play the game! Reveal a card and say the next word in the title. If what you say match the card you play, you rush to put your hand down first on top of the card stack. The last person to put their hand on the card stack takes all the cards! If the word you say don’t match the card you play, then continue to play. The first player to lose all their cards, wins!  Yogi is a game that will have you and your family twisting and turning (and laughing, of course!) Each turn you draw a card with a simple instruction, such as putting the card on top of your head or your finger on your nose. You need to be skilful, you need to be creative, and you need balance to become the Yogi master as each turn you continue to add more cards to your balancing act! Don’t let the fishy exterior of Happy Salmon fool you!This easy-to-learn card game is packed with high-fivin’, fin-flappin’ foolishness. With mini celebrations built into the gameplay. This game is great for young and old as there’s no need to read complex cards and all players play at the same time. Players call out the action shown on their cards as fast as they can.  When two players have a match, they celebrate by performing the action: the classic “High 5”, the unifying “Pound It”, the frantic “Switcheroo”, and the delightful “Happy Salmon”. Each time a player celebrates a match, they quickly discard that card. The first person to get rid of all their cards wins. Explore your wild side with Jungle Speed! Each player tries to grab the Totem first when the symbol on their card matches somebody else’s. Jungle Speed is an explosive game of dexterity and pattern matching.  Jungle Speed is easy to transport in its own travel bag, for quick on-the-go games!  Can you Spot It? No matter the card there is always a matching symbol. But it’s not as easy as it sounds as the position and size of the symbols varies from card to card! There are 5 ways of playing, no matter the game, you always need to be the fastest to spot the matching symbol between two cards, name it out loud and then take the card, place it or discard it depending on the rules of the mini game you’re currently playing. Kids and adults go bananas for Bananagrams, the anagram game that drives you bananas. You’ll have a bunch of fun as you make crossword grids in a race to the finish first. And with everything you need to play included in the banana pouch, its go-anywhere fun for everyone. This banana pouch holds pieces enough for 8 players! If you like letter and word games, you and the entire family will love Bananagrams. Anyone who says maths isn’t fun has never played Mobi! This is speed equations to get your mind working! Each player builds their own continuous crossword equation. When a player has one blue tile left to place, that player says “FLIP” and ALL PLAYERS pick THREE more tiles from the centre. Keep this up until the blue tiles run out.  The first player to connect all their blue tile’s shouts “MÖBI” and is the winner! The game plays the same way as Bananagrams and comes in a compact blue whale pouch for added convenience! These compact games are addictive fun that you can take anywhere! Simple enough for young players, yet engaging enough for older players to enjoy, parents will find themselves still playing long after the youngsters has been tucked into bed. Make sure every second of your holiday is action packed with these awesome ‘take anywhere’ games! Find these games and more at Takealot.com, Toy Kingdom and Hamleys.

December 7, 2021
Parenting Hub

What NOT to ask Santa for this Christmas: The most abandoned toys in South Africa

Every parent knows the frustration of buying their child a toy that they’ve been nagging about for ages, only for them to abandon it within a few days. Thankfully, according to Gumtree Marketing Manager Estelle Nagel, the local online marketplace can easily spot which toys didn’t live up to the hype by analysing the listings on its site. “Parents start listing abandoned toys around 28 December. So, by the end of the first week in January, a spike in our listings tells us which toys kids weren’t as excited about over the holiday season,” says Nagel. Gumtree’s analysis of toy listings shows that these are the most commonly abandoned children’s items between 2018 and 2021: ·         Hatchimals These adorable animals remain a surprise until they noisily hatch from their eggs. But, unfortunately, that’s usually where the excitement begins and ends. Although Hatchimals cost anything from R800 to R1000 per toy, hatched Hatchimals are often resold for between R250 and R500. ·         Build-A-Bear Similar to Hatchimals, Build-A-Bear is a fun experience that allows children to make their very own soft toys and custom teddy bears. These toys range in price from R250 to R1000 depending on the accessories and toy type.  “To cut costs, take your little one to assemble their stuffed bear and buy your accessories second-hand on Gumtree. You can pick up wardrobes full of shoes, sunglasses, and clothes for bears for a tenth of the price.”  ·         Hoverboards Hoverboards were all the craze in 2018, but frustrated parents started listing their hoverboards by 25 December in 2020. “Last year, we had dozens of hoverboards listed by Boxing Day for half price,” says Nagel. “The cause is unknown, but reports of injuries and accidents might be behind the steep abandonment rates.” ·         LEGO LEGO is incredibly popular, but pieces invariably go missing once assembled, and the novelty wears off. “The good news is that you can often buy second-hand LEGO in bulk as incomplete sets – leaving your little ones free to use their imagination to assemble their very own LEGO world.” ·         Battery-powered cars Car enthusiast parents will often shell out thousands for mini Ferraris and BMWs for their kids, but they usually end up for sale soon after. “The batteries in these toys need to be replaced quite often, which usually leads to kids losing interest in these cars or simply outgrowing them.”  Nagel says kids outgrow toys quickly. So, before committing to a big-ticket item, parents should shop second-hand. “You can teach kids healthy money habits by having your child sell their old toys to buy new ones. Also, make a point of donating or repairing old toys rather than throwing them out.”

December 6, 2021
Solarpop

Summer Fun – The joys of playing outdoors

Kids today are focused on electronics, some still have zoom classes, have homework on devices and some enjoy being in front of the television. Spending time off screen, being ‘unplugged’ adds definite value to children and adults alike. Encouraging children to spend more time outdoors and away from technology aids their physical well-being, and helps them improve their emotional and intellectual health, too.   Beat the Heat! In summer there is nothing better than a day by the pool. The entire family gets to relax, unwind and cool down from the summer heat.  Children seem to be in their element around water with laughter and fun filling the air! Now add an additional layer of fun with some funky pool inflatables! No swimming pool? No problem! You can still beat the heat with a wide variety of sprinkler toys! All you need is a small patch of grass and a garden hose, and you are ready for some serious fun! No access to a pool or no outdoor garden space? No excuse! – Bring a sense of outdoor fun come indoors with a bubble maker. Watch the little-one’s imagination takes flight as they run, jump and pop bubble all day long. Kickstart Some Fun! As children grow, they gain an ever-expanding sense of independence. The ability to operate their own vehicle and in their pretend play ‘travel’ wherever their imaginations can take them will help your child grow in confidence and nurture their independence. Plus, when you do it in style in your dinosaur ride on car or on your funky LED light up scooter then you can be confident of hours of fun filled travels! Ride in Style! Driving down the highway in a sports car or driving around their very own farm doesn’t have to be just pretend. Spark your childs’ imagination with a mini version of their favourite vehicle! Just sit back and enjoy the look of pure joy on their face as your child zips down the driveway in their own little Audi or ‘farm the yard’ as they cross the lawn in their very own tractor. Hours of outdoor fun is guaranteed!   We suggest trying what works for you and your family, no one is the same and everyone enjoys something different, though each item has its’ own merits. Spending time laughing, in the sun, in the pool, running or zooming around is the perfect way to help children grow, thrive and become happier people.   Find these great outdoor toys at Takealot.com 

December 3, 2021
Syllabis Learning

Leading Local, Going Global… Why Syllabis Education is the best solution for your child

Home-schooling is a progressive movement around the world, in which learners are educated at home instead of in traditional public or private schools where methods have hardly changed in over a century. To give you an idea; in only 2020 was the ‘Chalkboard’ replaced by a ‘Smartboard’ in a few privileged schools only 2021– the ‘Classroom Teacher’ is replaced by an ‘Online Teacher’ using the same old methods which are of little consequence to today’s learners.  In 2022 Syllabis Learning is now leading the way to change this. Researchers worldwide, forecast that home-schooling will balloon over the next decade as families discover that there are vastly better alternatives to public or private schooling such as homeschooling and more importantly as far as we are concerned, independent learning. The core idea of home-schooling/ independent learning is the idea that children need to learn at the speed, and in the style, most appropriate for them.  Families have voiced many reasons for moving away from traditional schooling which has now all been super-ceded by the COVID worldwide pandemic. This unfortunately may be with us for quite some time.  At Syllabis Education We have some amazing developments that we would love to share with you, our valued parents, learners, and potential learners. We have just launched our new WEBSITE  and we will be making our unique and super-enhanced products and breakthrough tools available to our home school families, worldwide as of 2022. How our new global distance school works: We offer a 3-tiered product approach to distance school, with each offering customizable to your unique needs. You are free to upgrade or downgrade at your discretion, which means you are not locked into any one package.  Introducing the Syllabis Education Big 3: The Elephant Strong and peaceful with a great memory, a good concentrator, and a force to be reckoned with – This package includes our basic offering, with great value-added products and features. Fantastic for those starting on this journey.  The Buffalo  Strong and Feisty, always looking for an edge, the great rememberer, whether alone or in a herd, this package includes our enhanced offering, and many great value-added services, products, and features. By far the best value for money in comparison to our competitors. Enhanced offering includes Orientation week, extended progress reporting, call-in help with curriculum planning, study skills course, access to iClass online lessons (2 hours per week), and formal academic feedback to parents. The Lion     On the Hunt, Protective, Happy in groups or alone, the King of the Jungle. This package includes all the bells and whistles (and a few loud ROARS). By far Clearly the best value for money in comparison to our competitors. Enhanced offering includes orientation week, extended progress reporting, call-in help with curriculum planning, study skills course, iWellness, access to iClass (4 hours per week), and formal academic feedback to parents. Our unique curriculum enhancements: PRE-REGISTRATION ASSESSMENTS AND ANALYSIS Free Educational Needs Analysis  Online Assessments Online Examination Concession Assessments Educational Analysis Financial Needs Analysis SPECTACULAR CURRICULUM COMPONENTS AND BREAKTHROUGH TOOLS School-on-a-Tablet – (just press the on-button and get started) or download to your own device Syllabis Learner Portal – Learner’s access to our world of learning and prosperity Syllabis E-Workbooks – Tailored to the needs of the student learning at home Syllabis Printed Workbooks Grade R – 3 – Delivered to your home or nearest Postnet (South Africa only) Syllabis Online Study Guides – Provides the learner with month-to-month guidance on how to approach each subject Orientation Pack – Online orientation pack for our Elephant package Orientation Week – Students that enroll with Syllabis Buffalo or Lion packages can participate in various levels of orientation Progress Reporting – Keeps the Parent and Syllabis up to date with the learner’s progress which is optional Extended Progress Reporting – Links the learners up with a tutor who will guide them through a problem area at affordable rates (South Africa only) Online Help – Professional help with Curriculum Planning Call-in Help – Professional help with Curriculum Planning Syllabis iCLASS – Online Group Class with Educators – for our Buffalo and Lion package only Syllabis iWizard – Extra resource for when a learner need additional help Syllabis iWellness – Additional Children’s Wellness and Life Skills Programme Syllabis iMaster English – Online English Literature Support for Grade 10 – 12 (South Africa only) Syllabis iDrive – Driving Lessons offered in the Johannesburg area only until further notice (South Africa only) Formal Academic Feedback to Parents – Online Graphing Calculators –  Syllabis Learning 8 Pillars – Comprehensive add-on curriculum for Grade R – 12 Tutoring – In-home or online tutor placements at affordable rates, at the click of a button  For more information on our amazing and progressive offering or to register for 2022 contact us today. 

December 3, 2021
Boomerang

Boomerang December Highlights DStv (CH302)

Dino Ranch  A Step Back in Time Monday, 13/12/2021 Monday to Friday @ 16:20 CAT  Have you ever imagined a world where humans and dinosaurs live side by side? What would that look like? Meet the Cassidy family, Bo and Jane Cassidy, their adopted children, Jon, Min, Miguel, and a whole lot of dinosaurs at Dino Ranch. This self-sustained ranch also serves as a dinosaur sanctuary where big (and small) exciting things are bound to happen – like when Jon gets spooked by a campfire story about a legendary dinosaur, he doesn’t want to admit to Miguel and Min that he is afraid, then eventually comes clean and learns that his family is there for him whether he’s scared or not. If you believe in the impossible, then you don’t want to miss the brand-new Dino Ranch series launching on Boomerang this December! Grizzy and the Lemmings Monday, 6/12/2021 Monday to Friday @ 07:25 CAT Welcome to Africa Welcome to Africa Grizzy, the bear, just wants to relax – but those rascally Lemmings have other plans in Grizzy & the Lemmings! Join Grizzy and the most manic tiny animals you’ll ever meet – the Lemmings, as they travel all across the globe to the Mother Continent, Africa. From discovering a magical djembe inside the trunk of a baobab tree to using an elephant’s trunk like a powerful vacuum cleaner, the Lemmings have no interest in letting the big bear get his way. You’ll laugh out loud at the wild antics of these animals as they engage in an endless battle of wits, naps, and the hurling of all sorts of objects. Keep up with all the fun with Grizzy & the Lemmings – on Boomerang! Movie Star Special Monday, 6/12/2021 Monday to Friday @ 07:25 CAT Happy Holidays Happy holidays!… Jingle bells, Jingle bells, jingle all the way, what do I watch on Boomerang for this year’s summer holiday? The most wonderful time of the year has arrived, and the best family Christmas movies are coming to Boomerang this festive season! So, grab your popcorn and cool drinks, and sit in for a festive holiday movie marathon with your best-loved Boomerang Movie Stars! From everyone’s favourite frenemies, Tom and Jerry’s merry mayhem at the North Pole in the new movie, Tom and Jerry: Santa’s Little Helpers, and the tap-dancing penguins in Happy Feet 1 & 2, to The Ant Bully, Space Jam and Lego Scooby-Doo! Blowout Beach Bash, you won’t want to miss out!

December 1, 2021
ChildSafe

Water Safety

Drowning is the 2nd leading cause of death in children between 5 and 14 years – 30% of all drownings. Children under the age of 5 are most at risk. Drowning is known as “the silent killer” because when drowning occurs, it happens so quickly and one may have less than a minute to react. There can be very little splashing, waving or screaming. A child can drown in as little as 4cm of water and it takes about 90 – 120 seconds submerged for a child to lose consciousness. Irreversible brain damage occurs after 4 to 6 minutes not breathing. ChildSafe reminds parents and caregivers of the following:

November 30, 2021
Solarpop

Snap Ships – Reinforcements have arrived

Welcome to the future… where humanity is under constant attack from a brutal alien threat. The Komplex spreads through the galaxy, growing stronger with each species they defeat and assimilate. To fight them, humanity relies on an elite team, the Forge, who pilots their own armada of spacecraft known as Snap Ships. Now YOU can Build to Battle! Snap Ships is a versatile building system for creating multiple crafts with action play, and all sets and pieces are interchangeable, so kids can build however they want.  Versatile building system — Create multiple crafts to build to battle. All sets and pieces are interchangeable, so kids can build however they want. Real shooting weapon play — Fire away for active play against the enemy. Full-colour instructions — Includes easy-to-follow instructions for two different builds to get you started! Use your imagination to build even more!  No batteries required — Snap Ships is full of action play, and it’s completely fuelled by kids and imaginations!  Reinforcements have arrived! During November 2021 both the Forge and the Komplex will be adding impressive new vehicles to their fleet starting with a fleet of unmanned drones that combine to form a formidable Mech. Bolster your fleet with these exciting new sets and let your imagination take flight with amazing new Snap Ships builds. Are you ready to Build to Battle! Snap Ships is available from Toy Kingdom, Hamleys, C.N.A. Takealot.com, EveryShop and other fine retail stores. 

November 29, 2021
Parenting Hub

Introducing Mega Construx™ Barbie just in time for Christmas

You can be anything when you help 3 Barbie™ micro-dolls at the Animal Grooming Station. Discover the nurturing world of animal care and play as you build the grooming, feeding and examination stations equipped with roleplay accessories like a brush, water bowl, stethoscopes and more. Working at the Animal Grooming Station is fun when you play with adorable animals like a panda, turtle, koala, sloth and baby sloth. Designed for beginners, this building set is easy to build and offers storytelling play with every step of building. Ideal for Wonder Builders, ages 4 and up Building set include 3 Barbie™ micro-dolls, 5 animals including a panda, turtle, koala, sloth and baby sloth, 97 building bricks with special pieces and accessories, and 3 heart-shaped baseplates Play as you build the grooming, feeding and examining stations that include roleplay accessories like stethoscopes, bathing sink, examining table and more Bricks combine with all Barbie™ and Mega Construx™ building sets, and are compatible with other name brands ​Ideal for ages 4 and up, this building toy provides build-and-play and storytelling experiences to develop creativity and problem-solving skills​ Mega Construx™ Barbie®Adventure DreamCamper™ Let your imagination take the lead when you hit the open road in the Adventure DreamCamper™. Cruise into an outdoor adventure and play as you build the pink camper filled with all sorts of accessories and surprises. Explore the wilderness and find the perfect spot to set up for a picnic with accessories like a table, chairs, croissants and more. When it’s time to turn in for the night, create a home away from home by removing the top of the camper, transforming it into a campsite with 2 beds where the 2 Barbie™ micro-dolls can fall asleep under the stars. Designed for beginners, this building set is easy to build and offers storytelling play with every step of building. Ideal for Wonder Builders, ages 5 and up Building set includes 2 Barbie™ micro-dolls, 3 animals, 123 building bricks with special pieces and accessories, and 1 heart-shaped baseplate to build on Buildable camper that transforms into a campsite with 2 beds 6 fashion accessories for customization Bricks combine with all Barbie™ and Mega Construx™ building sets, and are compatible with other name brands Ideal for ages 4 and up, this building toy provides build-and-play and storytelling experiences to develop creativity and problem-solving skills​ Available from Leading Retail outlets!

November 26, 2021
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