Child - Parenting Hub

Advice from the experts

Do you worry about your child and cyberbullying?

As digital continues to grow and influence the day to day lives of children, and with the new school year already underway, do you find yourself worrying about the risks your children may face online, especially when it comes to cyberbullying? And do you feel that you know enough about cyberbullying – the signs, the various forms and what measures you can put in place – to not only protect your children but to be able to help them if they face this very real issue? “Despite the many benefits the digital world offers, an unfortunate challenge many parents face today is that they don’t always realise when children are being impacted by cyberbullying,” says Riaan Badenhorst, General Manager for Kaspersky Lab Africa. “This is in no way a reflection on parenting styles, but rather the result of not understanding the different types of cyberbullying that exist and with that, the proactive steps that can be put into place to help protect children from this very dangerous and growing online threat. There are many forms of cyberbullying, and getting a grip on these can assist parents in not only having a better understanding for themselves but to also educate their children on what to look out for.” Forms of cyberbullying: Exclusion – is the deliberate act of leaving someone out – like when a child is excluded from friends’ parties or activities. It can also occur when a child’s friends are having online conversations and tagging other friends but not them. Outing – involves the deliberate act of embarrassing or publicly humiliating a child or group of children, online, through the posting of private, personal, sensitive or embarrassing information, without the child’s permission to do so. Outing can happen in a variety of ways and parents should consider that even reading out aloud a child’s saved message(s) from their mobile phone can be considered a form of outing. Fraping – involves the act of someone logging into someone else’s social networking accounts and impersonating that person by posting inappropriate content, using their name. Parents are likely to be familiar with this type of bullying, as they may have personally experienced it, often in a joking manner. Unfortunately for children, however, it is more than often not a joke. Fraping can lead to repetitional damage and have serious consequences. ‘Google never forgets’ – and so anything posted online is never fully gone, even after it is deleted. Trolling – is a deliberate act of provoking a response through the use of insults or bad language on online forums and social networking sites. A troll aims to personally attack a child, in the hopes that the child becomes angry enough to act in the same way, to get a reaction – and then possibly looks to use it against the child, to get them into trouble at school or with an adult. Catfishing – is when another person steals a child’s online identity and photos, and creates new or alternative social networking profiles, for misleading purposes. A catfish is someone who wants to hide who they really are and does this through creating a fake persona, using images and information they found (and stole) online. Harassment – is sustained, constant and intentional bullying that involves abusive or threatening messages sent to a child or group of children. The messages are mostly malicious and aimed at attacking a child’s confidence and self-esteem. Continues Badenhorst; “All forms of cyberbullying should be perceived by parents/guardians of children as very dangerous and therefore requires immediate attention, as any type of cyberbullying can have massive implications to a child’s well-being.” How parents/guardians can help: Kaspersky Lab offers a few guidelines that can be followed by parents/guardians, as a means to help children deal with cyberbullying: It is important that parents/guardians are tolerant of the situation and do not ‘overreact’ leaving the child feeling scared and embarrassed. Cyberbullying can take some time to fix and so being open and talking through the issue with your child, showing support, can be beneficial in dealing with the problem. Be open and talk about cyberbullying with your children – using things like TV programmes as teachable moments around bullying and online behaviour. Ask them their views on cyberbullying and talk through these. Parents/guardians should be conversation starters on the topic – don’t wait for your child to raise the matter – look for signs of cyberbullying as the earlier the matter is picked up the faster it can be dealt with. Monitor your children’s online activities. Understand what they do on social networks, which platforms they use and who their friends are online. It’s not about ‘policing’ their behaviour, but monitoring is important. Explain to your children that they should alert you as the parent, or alert a trusted adult, if they are being cyber-bullied – that they will not be judged but can seek the right help to fix the issue. Ensure they understand that cyberbullying is not okay – and that it is better to talk up and report it so that the right help can be initiated. Do not take your child’s mobile device away or disconnect their devices from the Internet – this will only frustrate them – rather talk to them and help them with the challenge and monitor their mobile time and use, depending on their age. Educate children about basic online security rules – what can and should not be shared – and privacy guidelines. Ensure their social media pages are set on private, encourage them to only connect with people they know (friends and family) and talk to them about the types of images they share online. Make use of applications, such as Kaspersky Safe Kids, to help you manage your children’s screen time and use of certain apps. Such a solution allows you to set rules for website access, ensuring that sites with harmful content can be blocked. It also uses a GPS tracker, meaning that you can locate your children’s

March 21, 2019

How To Instantly Organize Childhood Memories

How do you survive an influx of your kids’ stuff pouring into your home from school on a regular basis? Today it’s a drawing of your family, tomorrow it’s a painting, yesterday it was a school photo, 3 weeks ago it was a special valentine’s card and next week it might be a footprint in clay. And I’m sure your memory keeping doesn’t stop with creative objects. During the year you’ll take digital photos of a birthday ring, receive a medal of achievement from a sports day and near year end, purchase a video of a school concert. Memory keeping, I’m sure you’ll agree, doesn’t stop there. You’ll most likely celebrate a birthday with a specific theme, and you’ll enjoy a family holiday. Both events will bring loads of digital photos and videos to show for them. And that’s just for one year. Now multiply that by the number of years your child goes to school and multiply the stash of keepsakes you have for every other child you have. Oh, my! That’s a lot of, well… good stuff! Who else is living with the dilemma of clutter in their living space? So why then, do we collect all these objects that take over our lives? I don’t know about you, but my heart goes all mushy when delight fills my daughters’ eyes, as she delivers her little masterpiece into my hands, after a day at school. Her unique voice rambles away with joyful excitement as she explains her creative work. I love being part of her development, watching her grow and flourish from day to day. I especially enjoy participating in the progressing maturity of her work. And that’s why I tend to keep a careful selection of her beautiful efforts. Each piece telling a story of her childhood journey. Sentimental items, that’ll one day take her back in time, of days long forgotten. Browsing through photos of when she was a baby and toddler, never ceases to amaze her. Again, and again, she loves to travel back in time and witness how she has grown over the years. I feel particularly fuzzy inside, when she suddenly gets excited about a birthday theme she had, or friends that were present in her life. She suddenly remembers stories of her past and confidently tells us about them, and as a family, we share in her joy. Children are a joy! As parents we choose to celebrate their lives. And most of the time, I’m sure you’ll agree with me, all these precious memories and valuable mementos of their childhood, are of course, very sentimental. And that’s the reason why we keep these tokens of their lives. How much we tend to keep, is purely a reflection of who we are as individuals. Some moms will keep more, some will keep less, but the point is, we all keep something, because there is priceless value associated to whatever we choose to keep. The problem doesn’t lie with keeping these treasured pieces. The problem therein lies, on where we keep them and how we display all these very dear tokens of childhood. The truth is, most of us moms and dads, think we have solutions for saving our children’s prized works and achievements. We think we have all our digital memories all saved safely and sorted. But if we ask ourselves honestly, do we really have it together? I’ve experienced it all myself and I’m sure dozens of you feel the same. From boxes, of all shapes and sizes, to envelopes, files, books, scrapbooks, flip files, albums, drawers and shelves. We’ve all tried and tested a mix of them all. Some work, some don’t but the combination of assorted methods tend to create havoc on in our lives. To make things worse, and with the advent of the digital world, well this just bamboozles our filing methods all together. Because simply put, there are way too many videos and photos to look through in a single lifetime. And they too, are just dotted all over the place in various drives, SD cards, memory sticks, computers, phones, CDs and DVDs. Do you feel swamped? Do you need a life jacket yet? If you are anything like I was, or how most people are, you’re using a bunch of standalone keepsake methods that are cluttering up your home and life. In isolation they probably work, but honestly, they negatively alter the way every childhood story should unfold, that is, chronologically, in unified sequence. If you want to feel better, faster, I’ll pinpoint ONE staggering storage solution, that’ll save you money, space, time, chaos in the long term. More importantly, this one revolutionary system is guaranteed to accurately and chronologically keep a variety of ALL your keepsakes, art and memories together, in ONE place, in a neat, tidy, organized and compact way. A way that is not only easy to put together, instant to enjoy and look through, but impressively tracks childhood year by year, whilst keeping all documents safe, from anything that can destroy them. ForeverChilds – My File About Me has made a huge difference in my life, and it’s had an impact on the lives of thousands of our happy customers too. I invite you to embark on a new adventure. It’s truly a delight to watch your child grow and capture the journey. To discover more or shop online www.myfilleaboutme.co.za

March 18, 2019

Creating a curious mind and fostering life-long learning by having a growth mind-set

You can teach a student a lesson for a day, but if you can teach him/her to learn by curiosity, he/she will continue the learning process as long as he/she lives – Clay P. Bedford Children are naturally curious. They are constantly exploring the world around them; constantly asking questions, and constantly wondering how things work. The question, therefore, is not how do we create a curious mind, but how do we nurture a child’s curiosity so that they have a continued passion for learning throughout their lives. Learning is about discovering how life works, and children are not afraid to ask the “How?” and “Why?” questions. A curious mind is a hidden force that drives learning, critical thinking, and reasoning. It’s about having an open and active mind. It puts the brain in a state that makes learning easier, more enjoyable, and longer-lasting. Stimulating a child’s curiosity impacts their learning and development for a lifetime. Curious children explore their environment, devour books and information, ask questions, investigate concepts, manipulates data, searches for meaning, connect with people and nature, and seek new learning experiences. So how do we nurture this curious mind? Model interest in the world, and teach them to be good observers When walking around wonder out loud about the things you see. The trees, the sky, etc. Follow the child’s lead Encourage their natural interests. Children learn so much more through activities that capture their attention and interest. Encourage them to ask questions Answer their questions simply and clearly, in a way, they will understand. Before answering though, first, ask them what their thoughts are. If you do not know the answer let them know that not knowing is also ok, and then model how they can go about finding the answers (eg. Internet, talking to someone, etc) Introduce your child to the library and foster a love for books and reading, whether it be story books or about rockets. Stimulate your child with open-ended questions that can’t be answered with only a “ye”, “no” or “fine”. Create an interesting environment, continuously rotate your supply of toys to keep things “fresh”. Redirect behaviour instead of discouraging it. For example, if they like pouring out water from their cup onto the floor from their highchair, move them to the floor or backyard with a bucket in front of them so they can continue experimenting with a water. This will also teach them problem-solving skills, creative and acceptable ways to do and get what they want. Allow time for open-ended activities Do not tell them what to do with materials like boxes, blocks, water, sand, etc; how to do it; or what it should look like in the end. Curiosity broadens a child’s mind, and a broader mind helps in the holistic development of the child. Curiosity should therefore never be suppressed or else it can have an adverse impact on a child’s early development. As John Holt says: “Children do not need to be made to learn” since they are already born with what Einstein called “the holy curiosity of inquiry”. By Lauren Holton, Teacher at Trinityhouse Northriding

March 11, 2019

Does your child have enough space to play?

Play for a child, prepares them for adulthood with all life’s delights and contests. What better way to learn as a child than to be given the chance to play freely in large areas? One of my best memories as a child was of running around the field at Pre-school with my friends in tow, the real excitement at finding new treasure troves, making up games, and the tangible fear we felt, like when we had to climb a high jungle gym or run away from a scary dinosaur! Being brought onto the playground, where we would get stuck in exploring all the new possibilities there for fun, games and imagination. What a treat! Because I was fortunate enough to have a home with a large garden, I remember how liberated I felt being free to meander around without my parents watching me all the time, and how nature became my learning ground. However, I would imagine that this is not the case for most children because of the way society has changed and with many of us now living in townhouse complexes, some with very limited space. Today’s children get so few opportunities to play freely, because we understandably fear for their safety, be it the road or “stranger danger.” My own interest in play and children’s development stems from my experience of working as a Teacher and Principal for the past 27 years, where I meet the most amazing children and their parents every day and fortunately are willing to help them with any issues, usually related to their development, emotions or behaviour. From my work, research, studies and experience, I have gained a good sense of what children need to develop to their full potentials. Not a lot has been written on the benefits of playgrounds, which is surprising given that our children spend so much time in them. Below are 7 good reasons why children should have space to play, based on different aspects of a child’s development: Social, Brain and Language Development Children of all ages develop their social skills on a playground through the creation of “games”, like catch or make-believe play, where the equipment is turned into something else (e.g. obstacle course, hospital, school, etc), where children give themselves roles and they work out the “rules of the game” in cooperation. Playgrounds provide an opportunity for children to practice their social skills, to come up with solutions to problems, and to learn self-control in working out their conflicts. Play also encourages language development, as children often talk aloud during their play (e.g. “Look at me going down the big slide!”), and the interaction with their peers allows them to express their thoughts and feelings and to develop their understanding and spoken skills. I’ve noticed that children who don’t even speak the same language can get on just fine during play! Physical Development and Good Physical Exercise As children progress, they are drawn to different systems of play which encourage their development, like rough and tumble play. Children naturally seek this form of play, which helps them to work out their physical space in the world, where their body begins and where it ends. This is crucial for the development of their motor skills and spatial awareness. It’s FUN! Large open spaces encourage your children to get out there and move! It’s so much fun and exhilarating for them! Playing is your child’s most natural form of expression, regardless of their age, and when they are engaged in it they forget everything else and really enjoy the moment. By Elizabeth Steenkamp, Principal of Junior Colleges Castillian

March 6, 2019

Raising a Science Lover

We often think that science is reserved for high school children and that not all children will be able to excel in science or even enjoy it. This is not the case at all. In world driven by scientific and technological advancements, it’s essential to introduce our children to science from a young age. Inspiring a child to question and test is a large and fun part of learning about the world. After all, science is not about knowing, but rather a journey of discovering. Unfortunately, a lot of parents feel underqualified to take this journey with their children, especially those without any formal training in scientific fields. The good news is you do not need any special skills or training to raise a science lover! Here are few tips to inspire you: 1. Questions, questions, questions….. One of the fundamental aspects of science is asking questions. Encourage them. How does this work? Why did that happen? What is this? These questions may already sound familiar to you as children are naturally curious. We need to encourage children to ask these questions and give them the tools and resources to find the answers. 2. Explore together Visits to the museum, botanical gardens, observatory, and even the local park can be full of interesting subjects for discussion and study. Make notes, take pictures, make drawings of your findings, and revisit them when you get home. You could even combine scientific exploration with your next holiday! 3. Give boys and girls equal exposure and encouragement We often want to fix things and solve problems for girls without including them in the process. The scientific process knows no gender, and girls and boys are equally suited and interested in learning. Make sure to provide equal opportunity for learning by getting girls involved in activities that may not be traditionally girl-orientated and vice versa. 4. Be patient Allow your child to explore, experiment, and observe at their own pace. It’s also important for them to fail occasionally and try again. Our instincts are often to jump in and help at the first sign of a struggle, but this is counter productive. 5. Get the resources Try to provide as many reference books, activity books, online tutorials, and tools* as possible. Easy access to these resources makes learning easy and effortless. After an outing or a discussion, go to your resources and look up all the things you’ve seen and spoken about. This provides an opportunity for further learning and also extends the time spent on science-related activities. 6. Be prepared for some mess Science can get messy! Make sure your child feels comfortable to experiment and allow her to make a mess in the name of science. As long as it is constructive mess, it’s worth the clean-up. Old clothes, an apron, and a plastic table cloth also help. 7. Listen to your child Give your child space to voice her opinion. Try to understand what they are observing and thinking and allow them to explain to you. You could find that you are looking at the same object but seeing completely different things. *A microscope is an invaluable tool to encourage exploration and deepen learning. You can get an ultra-affordable origami-inspired Foldscope online from www.scibuddy.co.za. Foldscopes are durable, easy-to-use, and portable, with 140× magnification. They are available as individual kits or classroom kits containing 20 or 100 units. Deluxe Individual Kits contain an extensive set of accessories to collect specimens and prepare slides. These kits are packaged in a beautiful metal case making it easy for little explorers to keep their Foldscope close at hand. SciBuddy is the exclusive distributor of Foldscopes in South Africa. The owner, Arista Burke, has a background in microbiology and education. She believes that Foldscopes will be a gamechanger for South African children. To find out more about SciBuddy and Foldscope, visit www.scibuddy.co.za or their Facebook page, www.facebook.com/SciBuddySA.

March 6, 2019

Listen Up! What’s the big deal with childhood hearing loss?

Hearing is one of the most important senses. Through hearing we learn how to communicate with others, we experience the joy of music, the excitement of laughter, the symphony of nature and the bustling sounds of the city. Hearing also protects us, it alerts us to approaching danger and keeps us connected to the outside world. According to the World Health Organization, about 466 million people have disabling hearing loss, 34 million of these are children. Hearing loss is the most prevalent birth defect and every day 17 babies are born in South Africa with some degree of hearing impairment – half of which have no known risk factors for hearing impairment. In the past, majority of children who were born with congenital hearing loss were only identified at about age 2 when they were not reaching their speech and language milestones. Research has demonstrated that children who are diagnosed with hearing loss and have the appropriate intervention by 6 months of age, will have speech and language milestones comparable to that of a normal hearing child by age three years. What are the causes of hearing loss in children? Congenital Hearing Loss This means that the hearing loss is present at birth. Congenital hearing loss is either caused by genetic or non-genetic factors. Some non-genetic factors include: Birth complications, including the presence of herpes, rubella cytomegalovirus, toxoplasmosis or another serious infection, lack of oxygen or the requirement of a blood transfusion for some reason. Premature birth. Babies that have a birth weight of less than 1.3 kilograms or that require certain life-sustaining drugs for respiration due to prematurity are at risk for hearing loss. Complications with the Rh factor in the blood A nervous system or brain disorder. The use of ototoxic medication by the mother during pregnancy. Ototoxic medications are not usually illicit substances – medications like various antiobiotics Maternal diabetes. Drug or alcohol abuse by the mother or smoking during pregnancy. Genetic hearing loss means that either the gene for hearing loss was inherited from the parents or that the child presents with a genetic illness commonly associated with hearing loss. Acquired hearing loss A child with acquired hearing loss is not born with a hearing loss but rather acquires the hearing loss due to one of many factors. Factors include: A perforated eardrum Infections like meningitis, measles, mumps or whooping cough Taking ototoxic medications A serious head injury Exposure to loud noise, causing noise-induced hearing loss Untreated or frequent otitis media (ear infections) What signs and symptoms should I look out for in my child? When a child does not turn his/her head towards a sound, especially a loud sound When a child frequently touches or pulls one or both ears When a child reacts to some but not all sounds When a child turns their head upon seeing you, but not when their name is called from outside their field of vision Does my child have difficulty following instructions Does my child ask for instructions to be repeated When a child has delayed speech and language development. If the answer to any of the following is “no”, then your child may have delayed speech and language development: Is my child using single words such as “dada” and “mama” by the age of 1? Is my child using 2-word sentences by the age of 2? Is my child using 3-word sentences by the age of 3? Is my child using understandable 4-5 word sentences by the age of 4? When should I test my child’s hearing? Most private hospitals and some government hospitals have audiologists who assess the babies hearing soon after they are born. Generally, this is an optional service so it is a great idea to opt in for the screening. The audiologists use an OAE (Oto-acoustic emissions) or an AABR (Automated Auditory Brainstem Response) machine. The test generally takes a few minutes and requires no response from your child. The Audiologist will be able to tell you if your child’s hearing is normal or if further testing is required. Even if you don’t feel like your child has a hearing loss it is important to have your child’s hearing tested once a year much like testing their eyesight! What happens if my child has a hearing loss? If your child is diagnosed with a hearing loss the Audiologist will guide you through the process. Depending on the cause, degree and configuration of the hearing impairment, the audiologist will either refer your child for further medical treatment or recommend hearing aids and perhaps a further evaluation for a cochlear implant. Your child will also require intensive speech and language therapy in order to catch up to his/her developmental milestones. The later a child is fitted with amplification the poorer the prognosis is for the child. Early intervention is of the utmost importance, we live in a an incredible time where even children with a profound hearing loss can have access to sound again and become integrated into society with ease. Be sure to contact a qualified Audiologist, if you would like to have your child’s hearing screened.

February 8, 2019

CREATIVE PLAY HELPS CHILDREN GROW

Have you ever watched children at play? Have you seen and heard the wonderful things they say and do to make whatever they are doing fun for them? It is a joy to behold – and can make for some great humour. Children are natural innovators with powerful imaginations. Creativity offers a wide range of intellectual, emotional and even health benefits. Why is creativity important? Creativity should not be underestimated. Creativity helps teach cognitive skills such as mathematics and scientific thinking. Creative thinking involves imagination, basic use of the scientific method, communication, physical dexterity and exertion, problem posing, problem solving, making interpretations, and using symbols that help with future literacy skills. According to article on Loveplayandlearn.com, they explain through the following points why creativity is important to foster in a child. 1. Creativity promotes emotional development Creative expression provides many opportunities for expressing emotions and working through those emotions to gain relief and understanding of them. To help your child do this you could encourage a child who is angry to draw or paint a picture of how they are feeling. You could play varied types of music that invoke different emotions and then ask your child how the music makes them feel. 2. Creativity promotes social development In young childhood, creativity is often a social act. Singing, dancing, puppetry, and theatre all teach the child to pay attention to others as well as develop an understanding of social rules like give and take, and cooperation. Have a dance party with other children or have them put on a play or puppet show with their friends. 3. Creativity supports physical development Working with art materials such as crayons, scissors, paintbrushes, play dough and paint promote fine motor skills and eye-hand coordination. To promote gross motor skills try dancing, mural painting, theatre, or large construction projects like building with boxes. 4. Creativity supports language and literacy development By engaging in creative play or projects, children can learn new vocabulary as well as learn to associate pictures with words. As mentioned above try playing different kinds of music and creating a conversation with the child about how it makes them feel, this will boost language expression and understanding. Expose your child to plenty of instruments and talk to them about their favourite one and what sound each instrument makes. Ask them open-ended questions about their art work such as “how did you feel when you drew this” or “how does this painting make you feel?” 5. Creativity promotes cognitive development Creative activities help children to develop attention skills and cognitive learning. Their imagination is in full use and encourages them to come up with new ideas and to think outside of the box since creativity involves exploration and problem solving. Through creative activities such as playing with play dough, children can learn pre-math skills such as the concept of less and more. When children match shapes or colours in their creations, they are learning the math skill one to one correspondence. Creative activities can help them learn about grouping and classification, physical properties of objects, and cause and effect. Painting and play dough are all great ways to explore these concepts. Creativity is the freest form of self-expression. There is nothing more satisfying and fulfilling for children that to be able to express themselves openly and without judgment. The ability to be creative, to create something from personal feelings and experiences, can reflect and nurture a child’s wellbeing. Pay attention to creative play, plan for it and encourage it! By Julia Martin – Grade 00 Teacher Trinityhouse Pre-primary Randpark Ridge

February 8, 2019

The Importance Of Creating a Love for Math

We may take for granted that our children will inevitably learn how to add, subtract, multiply and divide, but early math lessons establish the base for the rest of their thinking lives. “Mathematics that kids are doing in Grade R, first, second and third grades lays the foundation for the work they are going to do beyond that. “They are learning beyond just counting and numbers.” That’s why it’s so important to help children love math while they are still young. Parents can build on those first preschool lessons by counting with their children, asking them to look for patterns and recognise shapes, then moving on to recognition on number symbols. The goal should be to make math “real” and meaningful by pointing it out in the world around you. That could include checking and comparing prices at the grocery store, driving down the street counting mailboxes, reading recipes, calculating coupons, or even measuring food or drink at the dinner table. Just as you encourage your early reader to look for familiar letters, ask your child to watch for math, regarding math as highly as you do reading. Every parent knows that it’s a good idea to read to your child every night, but they should also realise the importance of talking about mathematical situations with children every day. With so many facts and figures to memorise and apply to math problems, children learn early that math is something that requires work. That doesn’t mean that it can’t be fun; keep the pleasure in math by playing games with your children. Many games, even the ones adults play, rely on math. With countless websites, computer games and phone apps, parents have endless options, but don’t forget about the nondigital games you loved as a child. The classics that require manipulating cards and game pieces, calculating along the way, may have the same appeal for your kids as they did for you. One game worth considering is Snakes and Ladders , it develops the basic math skills needed to build a strong foundation for number sense and the best part is the kids don’t realise they developing math skills. As you play with your kids, try to tap into your own love for math. When you play Trivial Pursuit, you are using math to determine how many spaces you need to get to the next wedge or predict which category you can answer best. The game doesn’t have to be about math, but should involve it. Make math fun and meaningful and create a love for mathematics at an early age and you will see the rewards later. The Gymathstics Approved Games Tab on the Gymathstics website has amazing logical thinking games that promote math development in young children. Log onto www.gymathstics.co.za for more information

January 25, 2019

Bad Posture may lead to headaches

There are many different medications, surgeries and interventions to treat headaches, but a new study reveals an effective way to treat primary headaches might be at your fingertips – neck stretching. By performing simple neck stretching exercises that stubborn and painful headache might just disappear. The study, published in Workplace Health and Safety, examined the effects of a neck stretching exercise intervention on nurses’ primary headaches. It used a pretest and posttest two-group design with a total of 60 female staff nurses employed by a medical center in Taiwan. Participants in the experimental group (a total of 30 patients) practiced neck stretching exercises while experiencing headaches. The participants in the control group (the other 30 patients) managed their headaches as they would usually do. According to Dr. Elliot Shevel, Medical Director of The Headache Clinic, and South Africa’s internationally recognized Migraine expert and pioneer in the field of Migraine Surgery, a structured questionnaire was used to collect data on headache intensity at baseline, and at 30 minutes and 1 hour after intervention. “Decrease in headache intensity of the experimental group was significantly larger than that of the control group,” says Shevel. “The conclusion was that neck stretching exercises is an effective method for treating primary headaches.” What exercises can you do? By simply doing some physiotherapy exercises at the office or in the comfort of your own home, you can treat your own headaches, says Shevel. The Headache Clinic’s in-house Physiotherapist Urvashi Chiba has put together a short demonstration video with practical advice and exercise demonstration. Please click here. Things to remember when doing neck stretching: Do the neck stretches two to three times per day. Stretches are more effective and comfortable when the muscle is warm. Ideally it can be done in the shower, after a bath or after heating the muscles with a heat pack. Do not pull too hard; a gentle pulling sensation should be felt. The stretch should be gentle and should not cause you pain Take regular breaks from the computer or seated position. Maintain correct seated position in front of your computer or desk. Correct computer posture Maintain correct seated position whilst driving. Correct driving posture Avoid awkward positions, especially for extended periods of time. Common awkward positions Slouching in a chair Sticking your bottom out Standing with a flat back Leaning on one leg Hunched back and ‘text neck’ (from hunching over while texting) Poking your chin by sitting too low in front of your screen Rounded shoulders Cradling your phone between head and shoulder

January 24, 2019

Explore the microscopic world – Fun ideas for bored kids

Parents and caregivers need plenty of ideas to keep kids entertained throughout the holiday. If you have access to a basic microscope such as a Foldscope, these fun exploration activities will not only keep the kids occupied, but they will be learning at the same time! To start, you will need a light microscope, microscope slides (glass or make your own from cardboard/paper), coverslips (or sticky tape) to secure the specimen to the slide, a clean container for sample collection, and purified water. Small forceps also come in handy to collect and manipulate specimens. Water bear (tardigrade) hunt Water bears are fascinating creatures that occur all over the world. These micro-animals are able to survive extreme conditions such as freezing cold or high heat, low and high pressures, dehydration, and starvation. They’ve even been shown to survive in outer space! Finding a water bear in your own garden is a special experience, and is sure to pique the interest of children of all ages. Without water, tardigrades enter a state called “cryptobiosis” where their metabolism slows down and they become completely inactive. They are revived from this state when water becomes available again, allowing them to inhabit mosses and lichens that undergo periodic wetting and drying. Collect pieces of moss and/or lichen from bricks, walls, trees, etc. Using a clean implement such as a scraper or blunt knife, remove the moss or lichen and place into a clean container. Try to remove as much dirt from the sample as possible (water bears are more likely to be within the spaces between the moss than in the soil, and the dirt will make it harder to find your water bear). Place your sample of moss or lichen into a small container and add about 20 ml of purified water. Make sure your moss is completely submerged, but do not use too much water as it will be mean more water to search through. Leave the moss to soak for at least 4 hours to give the water bears time to rehydrate and become active. Using a pipette or a straw, collect some of the water and place a drop onto the microscope slide. Cover with a coverslip or sticky tape and place into your microscope or Foldscope. Now you are ready to look for water bears. You may have to make several slides or even find different moss samples if your initial search is unsuccessful. Don’t give up though! Water bears are incredibly abundant and it’s only a matter of time before your patience pays off. Only about 1000 species of these micro-animals have been described by scientists, so there is a good chance you will discover a new species in your own backyard! Pollen Each species of flower’s pollen has unique characteristics. It may be possible to see some of these characteristics using a basic microscope and children will enjoy trying to find the differences. You can collect pollen without picking the flowers by holding a piece of clear sticky tape to the pollen-covered anther. Place the sticky tape onto the microscope slide and observe! Pond-/seawater Pond- and seawater are teeming with microscopic organisms like amoeba, rotifers, nematodes and diatoms. Simply collect some water in a container, place a drop onto a microscope slide and observe. Try to identify as many organisms as you can. Since these creatures are alive and will be swimming around your slide, it is a good idea to take a video if you want to observe them more carefully. Coupling a Foldscope to your smartphone is a quick and easy way to get great videos of your specimens. Foraminifera – armoured amoeba These single-celled microscopic organisms have existed on earth for 570 million years. They are found in all marine environments, but also occur occasionally in freshwater or even on land. Each organism builds a shell around themselves, and these shells have built up for millions of years within the seabed and regions where the sea once flooded the land. Foraminifera fossils are studied for clues about the earth’s climate millions of years ago. Not only are they useful, foraminifera also come in an endless variety of beautiful shapes and colours. If you are able to get some sea sand, you have a good chance of finding some of these armoured amoebae. Tiny insects Even the tiniest insect looks like a scary monster under a microscope! Ants, mosquitoes, fruit flies, aphids, and moths look impressive when magnified 100 times. Since light microscopes function on the premise of light passing through the specimen, it is important to select only small insects for this activity. Some parts of the insect will be too thick for light to pass through, but it is possible to observe the legs, feet, mouthparts, and wings. If you have a lightbox (or a Foldscope with an LED light module), thicker specimens can easily be observed. We do not recommend killing insects for this activity. Instead, find dead insects in spider webs, on window sills or in the garden. Place your insect on a microscope slide, cover with a coverslip or sticky tape, and be prepared to be amazed! Don’t have a microscope? Don’t worry! You can get an ultra-affordable origami-inspired Foldscope online from www.scibuddy.co.za. Foldscopes are durable, easy-to-use, and portable, with 140x magnification. They are available as individual kits or classroom kits containing 20 or 100 units. Deluxe Individual Kits contain an extensive set of accessories to collect specimens and prepare slides. These kits are packaged in a beautiful metal case making it easy for little explorers to keep their Foldscope close at hand. SciBuddy is the exclusive distributor of Foldscopes in South Africa. The owner, Arista Burke, has a background in microbiology and education. She believes that Foldscopes will be a gamechanger for South African children. To find out more about SciBuddy and Foldscope, visit www.scibuddy.co.za or their Facebook page, www.facebook.com/SciBuddySA.

January 22, 2019

Understanding the effect of alcoholism on children

An Open Letter To My Teacher Dear Teacher, I think it’s time I told you why I have been acting out at school and crying sometimes. I think you know that something is wrong, because you keep asking me, “What’s the matter?” The reason I haven’t told you before is that I can’t talk to you in the hallway with all the other kids staring at me—and until now, I didn’t feel like I could talk to anybody about it. I’m worried about my schoolwork. I keep getting in trouble for not doing my homework, and not listening in class. Sometimes I am so scared that I just get mad at everybody. I don’t mean to yell. I just feel like everyone is picking on me at home and at school. You see, my dad has a drinking problem. It’s called “alcoholism.” It means that he can’t control his drinking. He comes home some nights really drunk and yells at all of us. Then Mom yells back at him for being drunk and spending all the money. Sometimes he hits her, or my sister and me for no reason, just because he is drunk. Sometimes my sister and I are so scared that we hide in our room. I used to hate my mom and dad for all that – Mom for yelling at Dad and making him even madder, and Dad for his drinking. I don’t hate them anymore because I found out why they were like that. One day a lady came and talked to my mom, and I listened, too. She was the one who explained to us what alcoholism is. I learned that my dad was not horrible, just sick. He has a disease called alcoholism. She told us that when there is someone in the house with a drinking problem, the whole family gets hurt by it. She also told my mom about Al-Anon. That is where families and friends of problem drinkers go to understand the disease of alcoholism and how they can stop being so scared and mad all the time. Now Mom goes to Al-Anon. It works, too. Mom doesn’t scream at Dad or us as much anymore. I go to Alateen, that’s for kids affected by someone else’s drinking. Sometimes we have friends that drink too. Now I understand, and it feels good not to be the only one with my kind of problem. I think that teachers should know about alcoholism, because then they would understand kids like me. If you know of any kids who might have a problem with a drinking parent or a drinking friend, you could tell them where they can get help. It really helped me. Your Student ____________________________ For nearly 70 years, Al-Anon Family Groups, globally, has helped the families who live with the disease of alcoholism. The disease of alcoholism in a family member or friend affects children and teenagers in many ways that impact on their behaviour and ultimately, their school work. Frequently, students and educators do not realise that a relationship with an alcoholic could be a factor in poor performance, disruptive behaviour and other problems. Alateen helps young people understand how alcoholism affects the lives of all who are associated with a problem drinker. It especially effective for children in the Teens & Teens age group Alateen in South Africa We have learned that learners are very cautious about attending Alateen meetings at their schools. In some areas Alateen meetings are held in the evenings in a nearby church hall, community centre or somewhere secure. Parents/guardians must give written permission for Alateen attendance. Alateen South Africa has groups across the country. A list of Alateen meetings may be found on our websites: http://www.alanon.org.za/meetings/ http://www.alanongauteng.co.za/ Teen Corner (Alateen) [email protected] — 24 hr Helpline – 0861 25 66 66 Literature & more information is available. Just call us.

January 16, 2019

Preparation tips for parents on back to school headaches

It’s back to school time again. Parents know this time of year all too well. There are school clothes and supplies to be purchased, class and bus schedules to review, and seemingly countless other details to deal with. For children who get headaches, this time of year means anxiety, stress, and chronic head pain. The research conducted by the World Health Organization has shown that 80 % of headaches are caused by muscle tension, which is triggered by stress. “In order to start the school year off right, you need to have a headache strategy” says Dr Elliot Shevel, South Africa’s pioneer in the field of migraine surgery and the medical director of The Headache Clinic. He advises parents to take note of the following: Install a blue light filter on devices If your child uses a computer, tablet or mobile phone for many of their school activities and leisure, installing a blue light filter on each device is recommended to reduce muscle stress of the eyes which contributes to headaches and migraines. Blue light filters also block out the light that contributes to insomnia and poor sleeping. Lack of sleep is also a trigger for headaches and migraines so every member of the family should have blue light filters on their devices too. Choosing the correct backpack/ posture related headache Choosing a backpack with wide, padded shoulder straps and padded back. Pack light and organize the backpack to use all of its compartments. Pack heavier items closest to the center of the back. The backpack should never weigh more than 10 to 20 percent of your child’s body weight. Always use both shoulder straps as slinging a backpack over one shoulder can strain muscles and lead to muscle tension headache. Consider a rolling backpack; this type of backpack may be a good choice for students who must tote a heavy load. Remember that rolling backpacks still must be carried up stairs. Nutritional lunch boxes/ dietary related headache Nutritious home packed lunches start in the supermarket; use the nutritional facts label to help choose healthy foods. Compare nutrient levels for similar foods. Select those lower in fat, sodium and sugar. Dietary headache is a common affliction. These are usually triggered by foods that assist with energy such as chocolate. Instead of giving your child a chocolate as a sweet treat rather include a fruit. Fruits make a sweet and nutritious contribution to lunch. They are generally rich in vitamin A, vitamin C, fiber and water. Take note of which foods trigger headaches for your child by keeping a diary and avoid these foods. A Dietary Trigger Diary is available on this link free of charge to assist you. Remember to remind your child to eat their lunch as skipping meals is a surefire trigger for headaches. Teach them to eat in moderation and enjoy their meals. Ponytails, braids, weaves, tight hats or headbands The scalps of headache sufferers are far more sensitive than people who are not susceptible so be mindful of your child’s hairstyle to ensure that it is not contributing to their headache pain. Pulling hair tight can often cause discomfort but this will be relieved as soon as the pull on the hair is relaxed or released. Remember to pack a fruit juice/ dehydration headache Dehydration is a common trigger, adequate intake of fluid throughout the day to prevent headaches. Select 100% fruit juice, not just any soda drinks. Soda drinks contain mostly caffeine and sugar and are low in nutrients. Caffeine has been known to trigger headaches in children and it is also highly addictive. A better choice is 100% fruit juice or water. First day stress headache Having your child feel anxious and stressed on the first day is a surefire way to trigger a headache. Remind your child that he/she is not the only student who is a bit uneasy about the first day of school. Teachers also know that students are anxious and will make an effort to make sure everyone feels as comfortable as possible. Point out the positive aspect of school, such as it being fun and them getting a chance to make new friends. If you feel it appropriate, drive your child to school and pick them up after on the first day. Taking part in sports/ stretching exercises Parent should encourage their children to take part in physical activities at school as these are not only great fun, but also an important part of playing and learning. It is also vital for healthy growth and development. Persuading those children who don’t enjoy organized sport to take up some other form of everyday physical activity will help them stay healthy. Teach your children the right stretching exercises to stretch the muscles of the head, face, neck and jaw. Stretching should be gentle and soothing, not agonizingly painful. Get your children to stretch their neck and jaw muscles carefully and this will give results. For a free copy of the exercises, contact The Headache Clinic on 011 484 0933. These will help them to stretch the neck and jaw muscles carefully, this will give results. When to consult a medical professional If your child’s headache persists, it is imperative that you undergo a multidisciplinary investigation to diagnose the specific factors behind the recurring headache. There are a number of healthier treatment options to medication available right here in South Africa. It is possible to get to the bottom of the problem and resolve the pain permanently without medication so that your child can enjoy the quality of life they deserve. For more information go to www.theheadacheclinic.net alternatively contact The Headache Clinic hotline on 011 484 0933.

January 11, 2019

Is anxious the new normal?

Majority of Generation Z admit to feeling anxious about something in their daily lives and often don’t seek advice to help them cope with it Kaspersky Lab partners with The Mix to launch #AndOwningIt campaign and help young people embrace their insecurities and realise that they are not barriers to achieving happiness. A new Kaspersky Lab report has shown that Generation Z is the most anxious to date, with the vast majority of young people admitting they are worried about something in their lives, and the majority do not seek professional advice to help them cope with it. In line with its global commitment to turn insecurity into security, Kaspersky Lab has joined forces with digital youth charity The Mix to help young people from around the world embrace their own insecurities and show that they are not barriers to achieve happiness, through a new campaign – #AndOwningIt. With their world dominated by online news and social media, nearly half of Generation Z (young people aged between 13 and 23) said they feel more anxious about their appearance than about their career prospects, money, terrorism and being bullied. The study revealed that these anxious feelings, or worries, can impact young people’s behaviour, including how they approach social media. For example, it is quite common for Generation Z to create a more manufactured, or perfect, perception of how they look. Most young people also spend up to half an hour editing their images or videos ahead of posting them on social media platforms, in order to create a flawless image. One more important finding is that girls are more insecure than boys, as they feel much more anxious about their appearance than their male counterparts. Nearly double the number of female Gen Z-ers, when compared to male Gen Z-ers, also admit to changing their eating habits (such as overeating or refraining from eating) because of appearance related anxieties. Body improvement and fitness content on social media makes young women feel worse than young men, and females have admitted to skipping a social event in the past year due to social anxiety. What’s more important is that Generation Z does not seek help on what to do when they are feeling anxious. The majority of young people do not visit a doctor for advice on how to cope with their anxieties. So, while many young people are struggling, they are not sure about how to deal with their feelings. In order to tackle this, Kaspersky Lab has joined forces with The Mix, a digital youth charity supporting people under the age of 25, to launch a new campaign to help turn Generation Z insecurities into securities. This new campaign – #AndOwningIt – aims to help young people lead happier lives by empowering them to embrace the very things that make them feel insecure and allowing them to realise these insecurities are not barriers to happiness. Why? Because the first step to turning an insecurity into a strength is owning it. The campaign will be supported by custom t-shirts, featuring the most common insecurities young people have, encouraging them to accept their insecurities and start a conversation. All of the profits from selling the t-shirts will go to The Mix. Chris Martin, CEO at The Mix said: “Across the world there are global issues which all Gen Z citizens face but there is still a stigma surrounding how they share their feelings and talking openly about mental health. Feeling anxious or worried can become very isolating for young people – but the truth is that there are many who struggle with how they feel, and things do get better. Our new campaign will help young people show others that they are not held back by any of their insecurities and the often hostile atmosphere of social media does not have to impact them. We are delighted to join forces with Kaspersky Lab and continue our important work of helping Generation Z open up about their mental health and empowering them to flourish. We’re calling for everyone to own the aspect of their lives that others may criticise, or they are worried about, to prove there are no boundaries in becoming confident and successful.” Kaspersky Lab and The Mix are urging Generation Z, along with their friends, to join the conversation across social media with the #AndOwningIt hashtag, as well as purchasing a t-shirt to show their support. Ilijana Vavan, Managing Director, Europe, at Kaspersky Lab said: “For many years, Kaspersky Lab has helped families and businesses fight online insecurity and remain protected from cyberthreats. Now we want to help young people around the globe turn their insecurities into securities and overcome their real-life anxieties, as they try to prosper in a digital age that no other generation has faced before. They fear they won’t be able to be successful and happy due to circumstances that are both in and out of their control. This campaign is to help Generation Z realise they only create these barriers inside themselves and it’s in their own hands to get past these insecurities and own them.” As part of its study, Kaspersky Lab surveyed 1,003 13 to 23-year-olds in the UK to discover more about their insecurities and what they feel anxious about. To find out more and read the report findings, head to the Kaspersky Lab website. For specific help in continuing to tackle anxiety or other mental health challenges, reach out to The Mix – the information and support they offer is universal and can be accessed internationally.

January 9, 2019

8 Best apps for parents to monitor their children

Monitoring the activities of the children has become a huge challenge for the parents in the modern days. Mobile phones and children can be a dangerous duo. You are always fearful about their mobile activities. Kids nowadays tend to use their elders’ mobile phones or their own mobile phones at a little age. This poses a great threat to their parents as they fail to monitor their kids’ mobile use. However, there are a variety of apps that enable you to monitor your kids and limit their mobile activities. Following are a few most significant apps for controlling your kids: mSpy mSpy is the most widely used parental control app for the smartphones. It enables the parents to monitor the calls, location, Whatsapp, Snap chat, and text messages of the children. This app has plenty of useful features. It specifically allows you to limit the social media usage by the kids. You can control your kids’ Facebook, Messenger, Instagram, and even photos and videos. The use of mSpy is pretty easier. You just need to purchase the mSpy or subscribe. Then you need to install the app,and your tracking process is initiated. The parents have most satisfied with this app. They offer 24/7 multi-language customer support. In addition, mSpy is one of the cheapest child phone tracker applications. Footprints Using the Footprints app, you can always acknowledge the location of your child. It allows you to use the GPS in real time for knowing where your child is. This app assists you in keeping track of your kid or automatically locate him. It keeps you aware of where your goes with his phone. In case he is traveling alone, you can confirm whether he is meeting up with friends or has arrived at a particular location. The information regarding his location is only shared with the authorized person. No other person can access his location. The data can also be saved for later review. Dinner Time There are a few apps that limit the mobile use of your child. Dinner Time is one of the apps that restrict the use of the mobile device during bedtime, study time, and dinnertime. This app enables you to unlock and lock your child’s mobile device instantly. You can do this by your own mobile device. Therefore, you can enjoy a better time with your family and make your kid focus on sleep and school work. However, it is a necessity of this app that the device of the child must be android. The device of parents can be Android, iPhone or any other. This app does not work if the child’s mobile device is not android. Overall, it is a wonderful app which offers three modes including Bed Time, Take a Break and Dinner Time. All these modes limit the use of the mobile device by your child. Family Time Family Time is an app that does almost everything. It allows you to customize the control options for behavior and content that you need to prevent. The app offers you tools for setting bedtime and homework. You can restrict the time that your children spend on their smartphones. It also offers a geo fencing option. This alerts you when the phone enters a prohibited area. It also enables you to control or block any applications, keep an eye on their contact lists, and monitor their calls and text messages. This child phone tracker app may trouble parents at the start. Hence, you need some time for learning how to use this app. It isn’t one of the simplest to use applications. Q studio Q studio is an excellent, efficient, and use the friendly app for the parents who don’t have enough time. It provides a dashboard which expresses all the recent mobile activities on any device. It even determines the time spent on different services such as Twitter and Instagram. It allows you to set restrictions on time, track the calls and texts, filter out the racy sites, and set restrictions on the different apps and games. It is one of the top control software for limiting the children’s mobile activities and usage. ESET Parental Control ESET is another leading parental control app specifically for Android devices. ESET has several useful features that permit for more delicate control than many other child security applications. It allows website and app locks. A key feature is that you can select age-based features that can be switched as the children grow up. It gives you an opportunity to allow more number of websites in the future while keeping them protected. There is an additional feature of parent message which delivers a message that kids need to respond to prior to continuing using their smartphone. ESET also allows the kids to request additional time, but parents can set the limits on the device use. Pumpic Pumpic is an app that can be used on both iOS and Android devices. Its clean interface assists the parents to deal with the lengthy list of the tools that usually come up with the app. It allows you to tracks messages and calls and limit and blocks them as required. You can also monitor the websites visited by your child along with his activities on social media. There is also an option for tracking the location of the device and the history of the locations where the device has been. In addition, you can wipe and lock down the mobile device. Our Pact Specifically designed for iOS devices, this app is a cheap option for mobile control of your kid. It is a streamlined app that provides fundamental parental control services. It does not make you get complicated. Instead, it is an easy to use app. It offers one of the most affordable plans for utilizing the parental control services. Using this app, you can block the internet access of your child. You can also develop different time schedules and pose limits on the access of specific apps and websites. It

January 9, 2019

‘Oh Shit!’

The day I had been dreading has finally arrived: the day my potty mouth has made me fail as a mother. ‘Oh, shit!’, my almost two-year-old exclaims with glee as I am busy wiping up the water I just spilled all over the table, while sitting at one of our favourite child-friendly restaurants in Johannesburg He is, of course, copying what I had just said a minute ago when I knocked my glass over, and although I try and ignore the words, not wanting to make a big deal out of the situation, Bean is now excitedly running around the garden repeating my profanity – over and over and over again. A few days later, I am trying to phone our gardener, Robert, but the signal keeps cutting out. I, out of frustration, shout into the phone, ‘Robert, ROBERT, ROBBEERT’, misguidedly thinking that this will miraculously change the signal quality of our call. Bean, being the parrot that he is, starts shrieking in a voice which eerily sounds like my own, ‘Robert, ROBERT, ROBBEERT’. I stop, shocked, and in my best voice repeat, ‘Hello Robert’ in the hope that when he sees Robert again, he does not repeat my shrieking outburst (not that this has helped – poor Robert gets shrieked at, at least once every time he is here). Do I really sound that bad? And look so scary when I am upset? Because Bean, not only successfully copies my words and my voice, no, he manages expression as well! And the worst of it all is that I cannot even be angry at him – he is simply doing what a toddler does, using me as an example. And so, I laugh, a reaction which Bean loves and a reaction which makes him want to repeat whatever it was that I thought was so funny. It’s a trap, and a very humbling one at that. If you think that someone needs a humbling experience, put them in the same room as a parrot-toddler. There is nothing quite like your pride and joy holding up that figurative mirror, happily showing you all the flaws which you have so successfully been able to ignore all these years, in all their glory. Whether it’s your potty mouth or your frustrated ‘AAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH’ when something does not want to work as it’s supposed to, trust me, your ‘parrot-toddler’ will repeat it. And he will repeat it at the most inconvenient time, while you are proudly telling someone of your most recent parenting win, for example. Luckily, Bean manages to copy the good as well, the parts of me that I am quite happy to share and see repeated, the parts which make me proud. So, from now on (yes, I have mentioned this before, quite a few times in fact, but repetition does at some point lead to learning) I will focus on the good and try and be better, calmer, more patient. We have started using the words, ‘Oh, sherbet’ now and that seems to be doing the trick but, I have to admit, every now and again, when my guard is down and I am tired and frustrated, that true Alexa potty mouth still makes an appearance. Flaws do not get ironed out overnight it seems. And as for Robert, well, he just laughs. Luckily, he is quite taken by our little Bean it seems.

January 8, 2019

Inspire kids to BE MORE with Transformers Bumblebee!

The first time you saw a yellow Volkswagen Beetle turn into an all-powerful robot, you felt something, a feeling that never left, a feeling that drives you to explore your own limits, to run a little faster, to push a little harder or dig a little deeper and to never EVER settle for what’s right in front of you. A feeling that stirred the notion that things aren’t always what they seem, and anything can be more than meets the eye! BUMBLEBEE, is a bodaciously brave Autobot who makes every moment epic with cool mix tapes, killer dance moves, and parkour power tricks. The pop-culture-loving bot easily befriends humans with a fearless spark and bright personality. With his friends by his side, he fearlessly blasts into adventures to unleash the power within. Launching in cinemas from the 21st December 2018, Bumblebee is not only the title of the latest release in the Transformers movie franchise he’s also the star of the show. The fun lovable character is the hero fans look to when they need the motivation and courage to be more than others expect. Bee encompasses some great lessons to encourage kids to embrace kindness, fearlessness and confidence and be the best that they can be! Taking inspiration from Bumblebee, Educational Psychologist, Melanie Hartgill, offers some advice for parents, teachers and caregivers – looking to encourage the children in their life to BEE MORE. Remember to praise your children for their efforts and continuously reinforce positive behaviour. Show your children that the effort they put in is more important than whether they win or lose. Remind children that if they are going to do something, they should always do it to the best of their ability. If you are always working towards a goal or a dream, you will immediately be in a better place than where you started. Never stop being curious and continue to try out new and unfamiliar opportunities. With so many things to do and learn from – you never know what you are capable of until you try. It’s important to maintain balance – with time to learn, time to play, time to relax, time to socialise and time to be active being equally important. No one succeeds at everything all the time, failure is an important part of the learning and growing process – focus on this rather than getting caught up in the disappointment. Aiming for perfection is not realistic, rather work to the best of your ability and seek help in the areas you are struggling with. Everyone needs help sometimes, don’t be afraid to ask. Most importantly – always believe in yourself and your ability to achieve. Immerse yourself in the world of BUMBLEBEE with the latest Hasbro product range available from leading retailers including: Checkers, Toys R Us, Toy Kingdom, Toy Zone, Hamleys, Toy Adventures and Takealot.com. Join the buzz with the Studio Series H-01 Movie 6 Bumblebee Showcase Helmet that captures the cool swagger of the loyal Autobot scout. Imagine charging into battle with Power Charge Bumblebee. Action figure converts from robot mode to classic Volkswagen Beetle mode in 17 steps, so kids can amp up the power in 2 modes. The Bumblebee DJ Stryker figure brings a whole new beat to the game by interacting with fans and allowing them to create their own original tunes and so much more to choose from. Fans also have an opportunity to drive away in their very own Bumblebee replica VW Beetle with all the bodacious trimmings. All you need to do is purchase any product from the Hasbro Transformers range, between 22 October to 31 December, from select Checkers stores nationwide and you can stand in line to win this awesome prize (T&C apply). To see what you could win visit @TransformersSouthAfrica on Facebook for more details. #JoinTheBuzz on Facebook @TransformersSouthAfrica

December 13, 2018

5 Reasons why owning a Foldscope will make your child smarter!

It fosters independent learning Several studies have documented the benefits of independent learning and its impact on academic and career success. A Foldscope allows a child to immerse herself in science according to her interests. Using a Foldscope illustrates that learning without intervention from teachers or parents can be an exciting adventure. It stimulates curiosity A child that is bored is seldom motivated to learn. Unfortunately, children in schools are often bored by unimaginative curriculums. A Foldscope gives a child access to the fascinating world of microbiology, a topic they are not generally exposed to. It teaches them that there is more to the world than meets the eye and makes it exciting to investigate and learn. It develops problem-solving skills Using a microscope requires certain skills. A Foldscope provides the opportunity to practice several of these skills, including how to prepare and mount specimens for viewing, patience to find and focus on the specimen, and, most importantly, troubleshooting if things don’t go according to plan. Being able to identify and solve problems is critical to success in school and in the workplace. It employs the senses It is well-known that learning is enhanced by involving the senses during the learning process. Reading about microbiology from a book is an inauthentic and one-dimensional experience. By finding samples, preparing slides, and examining specimens using a Foldscope, the child is using their hands, eyes, nose, and ears for a more immersive learning experience. It cultivates a love for science The ability to think critically and analyse the plethora of information available today is essential to success. Making informed decisions about health, diet, medical treatment, scientific research, etc., requires scientific skills and knowledge, and children who are genuinely interested in science are usually scientifically literate. Children are naturally curious about the world and giving them a tool such as a Foldscope could change their perception of science and make them see it as interesting and even fun. Foldscope is an ultra-affordable origami-inspired microscope that is assembled by the user. It is designed to be durable, easy-to-use, and portable, with 140x magnification. They are available as individual kits or classroom kits containing 20 or 100 units. Deluxe Individual Kits contain an extensive set of accessories to collect specimens and prepare slides. These kits are packaged in a beautiful metal case making it easy for little explorers to keep their Foldscope close at hand. SciBuddy is the exclusive distributor of Foldscopes in South Africa. The owner, Arista Burke, has a background in microbiology and education. She believes that Foldscopes will be a gamechanger for South African children. To find out more about SciBuddy and Foldscope, visit www.scibuddy.co.za or their Facebook page, www.facebook.com/SciBuddySA.

November 7, 2018

Help! My child is unwilling to study for their exams

The long-anticipated year-end exams are upon us and so are the challenges and pressures that, so often, go hand-in-hand with the experience. Cindy Glass, Director and Co-founder of Step Up Education Centres explains “ It is crunch-time now and Grade 4 to 12 learners are busy working on the preparation necessary to achieve the best results possible. But, alas, not ALL learners feel motivated or willing to put in the effort that is needed at this time. Some learners may, in fact, show little or any interest in studying for their exams, leaving parents and teachers feeling worried about what can be done about it.” Is your child unwilling or unmotivated to study for the exams? Cindy gives the following top tips to help you and your child through this stressful time: Remember that most negative behaviours are rooted in fear. Have a conversation with your child to try and establish what they may be afraid of. Fear can make them feel completely overwhelmed and it may just seem easier to look the other way when it comes to exam preparation or, worse, give up altogether! Help them put their fears into perspective – help them to understand that all they CAN do is their best. Break the seemingly overwhelming task into bite-sized manageable pieces. Help or encourage your child to concentrate on working through past exam papers. Structure study times so that a goal is set to achieve a certain amount of work in the given time. This will give your child a wonderful sense of achievement when each task is completed. Remind your child that, in life, there are some ‘yucky’ things that need to be done to get where you want to go. It means that, despite perhaps not enjoying the necessity of study, it needs to be done. Explain to your child that the first 10minutes of any challenging activity is the worst. Once you get past that 10 minute mark, you seem to ‘roll’ more easily. Just get to it and see how it works! Help your child understand that exams are their responsibility. You are there to encourage and support them, but ultimately, the responsibility of whether to honour themselves by putting in the effort that is needed, is up to them. Make sure that your home environment is conducive to effective studying. Keep the noise levels down, speak positively, encourage and praise any progress. Try and have something to look forward to once the exams have been completed. A movie evening, a day at the beach, or the promise of enjoying a favoured meal. This needs to be a reward for the hard work that was put into the exam process. Cindy concludes by saying “Exams can feel overwhelming and fear can cause some children to’ shut down’ at this time. All children want to achieve-whether they admit it or not! Don’t give up, the rewards will be worth it!”

November 2, 2018

Play-Doh and Toys r Us partner to share the joy with kids

As the festive season approaches, share in the gift of giving and become a Play-Doh Buddy-Can Buddy! From 15 October to 18 November, Play-Doh and Toys R Us have partnered to bring more Play-Doh fun to the kids at The Nelson Mandela Children’s Hospital. While you plan to fill your little one’s Christmas stocking with Play-Doh cans, you can also play your part in spreading the joy. To participate simply purchase any two Play-Doh products (to the combined value of R100) from select Toys R Us stores and Hasbro will donate a FREE CAN to The Nelson Mandela Children’s Hospital. Collect your donation coupon at the till and add a special touch by adding a personal message to a child at The Nelson Mandela Children’s Hospital, which they will receive with their Play-Doh donation. Play-Doh continues to captivate the imaginations of children around the globe, providing them with the best in colourful, creatable, makeable adventures while providing the ideal opportunity to practice and nurture kids critical thinking and problem solving, communication, collaboration and creativity skills. Soon, every child will be able to Shape their Imagination with Play-Doh! For some fun Play-Doh inspiration watch the Play-Doh Show on Youtube and imagine adventures with the fun, lovable and colourful Play-Doh characters as they use their imaginations to find solutions to everyday and not-so-everyday situations. Visit Play-Doh South Africa and follow @PlayDohSouthAfrica on Facebook. Participating Toys R Us stores include: Gauteng: Fourways, Mall of Africa, Mall of the South, Stoneridge, Woodmead, Vaal Mall, Clearwater, Cresta, Atterbury, Eastgate. Durban: Gateway, Pavilion, Galleria, Ballito Junction Cape Town: Canal Walk, Tyger Valley, Somerset West, Cavendish Square, Table Bay Mall, PE: Baywest Mall

November 1, 2018

Give Your Special Needs Child the Best Future Possible

When you’re told that your child will be born with a mental or physical disability, the news can be crushing and leave you with many doubts. Will you be able to provide for them? Will their childhood be as full of joy as the other kids? Will you have the stamina to carry on when the going gets tough? The answers are yes, yes, and yes. Though you’re facing the greatest challenge of your life, you can see it through with plenty of love and the right preparation. Here are some things to do before your baby arrives in this world. Research Their Disability How you get ready mentally, physically, and financially depends on the nature of your child’s disability and what obstacles they will face growing up. A good place to start your inquiries is Parent to Parent USA. Not only will you find a treasure trove of information on conditions ranging from blindness to mobility impairment to Down syndrome, this organization will put you in contact with other parents who have already faced the same challenges. Look Into Financial Aid Read up on the Individuals With Disabilities Education Act, or IDEA, which is a federal law that guarantees your child access to early intervention, special education, and related services from birth until adulthood. These include therapy sessions either at home or in the community to aid in the development of motor, cognitive, and communication skills needed to thrive during their infant and toddler years. Grants are available through agencies in each state. Find Support From Nonprofits There are also a number of charity organizations that are ready to step in and offer assistance when federal aid is insufficient. Many of these are devoted to children suffering from specific conditions such as autism, while others, like the Legacy of Hope, offer access to exciting activities outside of education such as art classes, music lessons, and even horseback riding, helping to ensure a well rounded and enjoyable childhood. Begin Navigating Health Insurance Thanks to recent health care reforms, insurers cannot deny coverage to children under the age of 19 based on pre-existing conditions including disabilities, according to the experts at Allied Wealth Partners, adding that you have 30 days after the birth of your child to add them to your health plan. Speak with your insurer to find out which physicians and providers are in-network to reduce out-of-pocket expenses. Depending on your income, you may also qualify for Medicaid or Supplemental Security Income. Set Up an Emergency Fund There will be items that you have to pay for yourself. Luckily, more and more states are offering residents as well as non-residents the opportunity to open a tax-advantaged ABLE account for any disabled person under the age of 26, with contributions limited to $14,000 per beneficiary per year, according to finance magazine Kiplinger. This money can be withdrawn tax-free and used to cover medical treatment and other expenses. Prepare Your Home You’ll need to make some modifications to ensure that your child is safe and can move around comfortably. If they’ll be confined to a wheelchair, then begin your research into options for improved accessibility, such as wheelchair ramps, which cost $1,604 on average. Other renovations include grab rails in the bathroom as well as a roll-in shower to make washing up easier at the end of the day. Contact local professionals to get an estimate in your area. Take Care of Yourself Giving your child the support and attention they deserve is impossible if you are tired and strung out. Begin a regimen of self-care now to ensure you’re in the best possible condition when the parenting begins. That, above all, means a balanced diet, plenty of exercise, and a good night’s rest, as well as techniques for relieving stress such as meditation or yoga. There’s a lot of work to be done, but rest assured that there are ways to overcome the obstacles that you and your child face. It just takes love and courage, and you’ve got both in spades.

October 31, 2018

“FORTNITE”- Friend or Foe?

By Sonia Jansen, Deputy Principal of Academics at Crawford Preparatory North Coast Recently, I’ve had the privilege of running a Nintendo Club for a group of over 40 children from Grade 5 to Grade 7. The Nintendo Schools League offers children the opportunity to game competitively in a safe environment under supervision. Only one game is played in the club – Splatoon 2 – a game with an age rating of 10+. Competitive banter and excited cheers were the hallmark of our afternoon gaming sessions. In this time, I became pretty au fait with the terminology and social interaction between young gamers and learned that many of young players spend time playing a particular game called Fortnite. Fortnite, an online, multiplayer shooter game played by an estimated 50 million people daily, is free and easily accessible to anyone with internet access and a range of devices. Basically, players find themselves on an island and have to fight for resources, weapons and ultimately, survival. While online, players chat to each other. Each game can last in the region of 20 minutes. Common Sense Media (https://www.commonsensemedia.org/game-reviews/fortnite), a website providing independent reviews, rates Fortnite at 13+. Realising that some of the players are as young as 8, I was prompted to investigate further. So for the information of parents out there who aren’t too sure what the game is about, here are some of my observations: Cautions: There is some violence (however, not as much, or as brutal and realistic, as many other games out there). Play is online and team members can essentially be anyone. Communication is open between the team members, which may expose young children to unsupervised contact with gamers they do not know. Children are found to be playing until early hours of the morning, which has an impact on learning, academic performance and social interaction when they’re tired and cranky the next day. Positives: A team game, Fortnite requires a measure of collaboration and communication. The need for strategy may encourage executive functioning skills such as critical thinking and organisation. In fact, the game as a whole, requires quite a lot of skill. So – the choice is yours …Ultimately, the decision to let your child play Fortnite, or not, is a personal one. My recommendation is that if you are going to allow your child to play any computer games, consider the following: pay attention to the recommended age rating ensure that their play time is monitored and that devices are left in a “time-out” box in the living room, rather than their bedroom. play with your child – teach them how to game safely under your guidance and supervision. monitor their response to the game and the level of violence of that particular game, and let your decision be guided by your own knowledge of your child. limit their game time – many hours of unchecked playing can lead to physical and social issues. consider the opinions and advice of other parents by reading as much as you can about the games your children choose to play. For more information, and to read parent reviews on Fortnite, you can go to: https://www.commonsensemedia.org/game-reviews/fortnite

October 29, 2018

Children are not Adults

By Alison Willems, teacher at Trinityhouse Pre-Primary Randpark Ridge Children are not little adults. They learn things primarily through their experiences and modeling their parents and others around them, rather than verbal explanations. Being kind to your child is more effective in teaching kindness than an explanation of why it is good to be kind. Allowing a child to learn a concept by exploring it and experimenting with it through play and trial and error is far more effective than telling them how something does or should work. There is a very valid reason behind why this is so. It all has to do with how God has created our bodies to grow and develop. When referring to a child’s holistic development, our children develop in a specific order for a very specific reason. First comes physical development, so that they can learn to manage their bodies according to their space and environment around them. They learn about their own strengths and what their bodies can do. This physical learning is important because neurological pathways are being developed. If this does not happen, connections for later learning are hindered. Next to develop is communication, this is to ensure that their survival and basic needs are met. They do this through basic language, eg: crying and one syllable words such as “mama” and “dada”. This should progress to more coherent sentence structure later on. The development of language is the start of their cognitive development. They are therefore not yet able to cognitively understand the adult world which utilizes such things as sarcasm, figurative language, innuendoes, etc. Their understanding of the world is literal and concrete. By the age of two they are taking more cognisance of things like tone and body language. Next come the social and emotional aspect of the child, this is the most complex part of development and therefore never stops developing, even into adulthood as it encompasses all relationships and our ability to manage ourselves within those relationships. That is why children who have missed developmental building blocks struggle in this area. Children rely on their senses to give them feedback thereby evaluating their world around them. Hence, babies put things in their mouths and children want to, need to and have to touch things around them. Our little people therefore need at least two of their senses involved in anything you want to teach them for it to be stored in their memories for recall later. For example, if a child has an item of their mom’s clothing, the smell of her will calm them when upset. This is why kinesthetic learning (using the body and its senses) is so important as they are moving, touching, hearing, seeing and sometimes tasting while learning. As a child effectively learns, the neurons in their brain are making connections. Neuron’s that are correctly ‘wired’ together effectively ‘fire’ together later in their lives. I would like to close with a well know quote from Benjamin Franklin: ‘Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn.’

October 25, 2018

How to raise a multilingual child

The benefits of raising a multilingual child are plenteous. From improved cognitive performance to increased marketability in the future workforce, the multilingual child has the advantage over his/her peers and in life. We need to explore this matter quite seriously as educators and parents. Parents can begin the process of teaching their child languages from infancy! Research done by Dr. April Benasich, Little Pim Advisor and Director of the Infancy Studies Laboratory at the Center for Molecular & Behavioural Neuroscience, Rutgers University has revealed babies learn languages in a different manner than a person who already knows a language. Those individuals learn a new language primarily through memorisation, studying what letters make what sounds, and so on. On the contrary, a baby’s brain unconsciously follows sound patterns, changes in pitch, stress, or tone, and identifies slight changes. According to various studies, teaching your child new languages between the ages of birth and five years old is the best time to accomplish this goal. Make learning languages fun and creative, implementing multilingual videos, flashcards, storybooks, songs, and games (the latter as is appropriate for the age). Use the immersion technique. Since young children are able to differentiate between phonemes, which are the “sound elements or building blocks of language,” it makes sense that immersing them into an environment where they are continually hearing the language, teaches them effectively. Create a routine that you and the whole family can consistently stick with. Language learning videos, storybooks, and singing can be weaved into a routine for your child, making the whole concept of learning languages familiar and fun. Help your older (speaking) child to find opportunities to use his or her newly developed skills in the acquired language. This will build confidence, as well as give practice. Learning a second or third language is so much easier for a child, and in today’s world it is fast becoming a necessity to know more than one language. Many parents are taking the step to introduce their child to the wonderful world of language(s). By Hilton Scott, Principal of Trinityhouse Preparatory Randpark Ridge

October 25, 2018

Green and Red Lights on the Road of Raising Siblings

Few things in life are equally as delightful as they are demanding. Having – and raising – siblings is one such a hybrid happening. Here are a couple of “traffic lights” (or common daily themes) on this complicated journey of taking care of more than one creature – as well as the politics between them. Should you stop or proceed? At the traffic light of ownership In a home with multiple minors, everything from parents’ attention, space on the couch, toys and food must be shared – often not without a battle. Green Light: Teach sharing Nothing imposes sharing on a poor little child like the arrival of a sibling! This is a good thing. Encourage your brood from a young age to be generous and to think of others’ needs. Let them experience the joy of altruism by highlighting things like, “Doesn’t it make you feel good to see how happy you made your brother?” or, “See how nice it is to play together!” Red Light: Prohibiting individual ownership However, there is a case to be made for personal possession. A child whose toys are always snatched, food always stolen or opportunities always ruined by a sibling will not walk away with a healthy sense for sharing. It may instead produce anxiety and self-defensiveness that could trigger the contrary of sharing: self-absorption and stinginess. Ensure that no child is being bullied in the name of “sharing”. Consider having a “special possession box” for each child, containing a couple of items that he is not required to share unwillingly. At the traffic light of nurturing Loving and disciplining your children (which, by the way, are two sides of the same coin) become less straight-forward when you are surrounded by multiple personalities, developmental stages and demands. Red light: Unfair treatment Each child warrants an equal amount of loving care from you – regardless whether they “deserve” it or not. Favouritism and being inconsequential with rules or consequences among siblings could do great harm. Green light: Differential treatment Being fair, however, does not mean that you should deal with every child in exactly the same way. Each one of your little ones is unique and may have different love needs and different temperaments. It will, therefore, require a special strategy to raise each one of them. Make sure you know how to reach each one individually. At the traffic light of conflict Among plenty of other new titles, you gain the one of “referee” when you become a parent of more than one. Managing quarrels is an inevitable part of the job. Green light: Assist in conflict management Older or stronger children can easily undermine more vulnerable ones. To protect the latter and guide the former to use their power in uplifting ways, you will often need to get involved. Teach them positive ways to handle conflicting interests (e.g. to take turns) and negative emotions, such as anger (e.g. counting to ten). Also, your own example in dealing with conflict (especially with your spouse!) will speak very loudly on your behalf. Red light: Constant interference On the other hand, always intervening in your children’s battles may thwart their development. Allow them room, in the safe and supervised space of your home, to practice the skills you have taught them. “Debriefing” an incident is sometimes more beneficial than stepping in amid the heat. At the traffic light of rivalry Siblings are natural competitors, and the supportive childhood home could be a beautiful training ground for the big bad contest that is adult life. Red light: Comparison Never compare one child’s performance, behaviour or appearance with another’s. Be careful what you discuss “behind their backs” – little ears can hear remarkably well! Encourage and develop each child’s unique talents and strengths. Green light: Allow winning and losing Being better or worse than others are an inevitable part of life and there is little use in protecting a child against this truth. Celebrate each child’s successes – even if they are more accomplished than a sibling. Make them feel like they are part of one another’s victories by cheering one another on in the home. Moreover, if someone loses – help her overcome her negative emotions rather than always awarding a “fake win”. An essential foundation of good sportsmanship is knowing your value as a person apart from your performance – something which almost nobody can impart to you like your parents can. Although it is hard work to be a mother to many, the value that those one-of-a-kind sibling relationships add to your own and your children’s lives make the journey totally worth the effort!

October 23, 2018

Food’s influence on childhood behaviour and learning

Worldwide, allergies are on the rise, and in South Africa a staggering 40% of sufferers are children, according to the Allergy Foundation of South Africa – affecting quality of life and learning potential. The problem, and solution, to common allergy symptoms, says world-renowned nutrition expert Patrick Holford, is diet. “One in three children with behavioural problems have allergic reactions to foods. Other than overt physical reactions, individual food allergies can affect thought processing and cause irritability, agitation, aggressive behaviour, nervousness, anxiety, ADHD, autism, hyperactivity and learning disabilities,” says Holford. A trial study conducted by Dr Joseph Egger, head of the Pediatric University Hospital in Munich, Germany, and his team in 1985, which studied hyperactive children to find out whether diet could contribute to behavioural disorders, found that 79% of the children participating reacted adversely to artificial food colourings and preservatives, but also found that different foods produced the same symptoms in different individuals. “In the 1980s, researchers found plenty of evidence that allergies affect any system in the body and are behind a diverse range of symptoms, yet this research has largely been ignored since,” says Holford. Patrick Holford is a pioneer in new approaches to health and nutrition, specialising in the field of mental health. Having suffered throughout his childhood and adolescence with migraines, sinus infections and ear infections, Holford sought a solution and discovered that his troubles were due to milk and yeast allergies. “The truth is that the majority of people are likely to suffer for years not knowing that they have an allergy – but also not knowing how to treat it,” says Holford. Not to be confused with an intolerance or sensitivity, an allergy is an exaggerated physical reaction to a substance where the immune system is involved. As our personal defence system, the immune system releases chemicals when it comes across a substance it doesn’t like. The chemicals released by the immune system in response to an allergy result in symptoms such as mood-, attention-, memory- and intellectual impairments, as well as behavioural problems, overt physical ailments and delayed reactions that make pinpointing the allergy difficult. Other symptoms of a food allergy include nausea, cramps, flatulence, fatigue, throat trouble, sweating, skin rashes, acne and boils, migraines, apathy and confusion, depression, and paranoia. “The good news is that you can grow out of most food allergies and reduce your child’s allergic potential,” says Holford. According to Holford, the best way to prevent and reduce allergic potential in your child is to stick to the following dietary guidelines: Completely remove wheat and dairy products from their diet for a month or so and see if their symptoms improve. Have an IgG ELISA food allergy test done and see a nutritional therapist. Improve your child’s digestion by including plenty of fresh fruit, vegetables and seeds in their diet. Ensure you keep antibiotics and painkillers to a minimum, as they damage the digestive tract. Include fish in their diet to ensure that they are getting sufficient Omega 3 oil, Zinc and Vitamin A. Avoid foods containing chemical food additives. The most common ones to look out for are aspartame, tartrazine and MSG. Eat whole, natural foods as much as possible. Choose organic food (free from pesticide residues). For further information on food allergies, nutrition and childhood behavioural problems, visit www.holforddirect.co.za.

October 19, 2018

Surfing with Smiles

We sat down with the Sugar Bay surfing PC (Pro Counselor), Smiles, on his surfing journey and who he thinks would win in a fight between Steven Seagal and Jean Claude van Damme. Real name Grant Anderson, was born in Johannesburg, Gauteng and went to North Cliff primary school before the Anderson tribe moved to sunny Durban in 2009. The surfing bug bit him at just 10 years old and he has never looked back. As a past camper at the Bay, he loved the positive influence the counselors had on him. “I felt like I could be myself, I was exposed to the one thing I love most in the world and I was surrounded by the most amazing people.” Wanting to shine that light on someone else, in 2016, he joined our C.I.T (Counselors in Training) course where he had goals to become the surfing PC and the counselor he had always wanted to be. What’s your favourite part about teaching children how to surf? “Just being able to share my passion with someone, who either have been surfing or wants to learn how to surf. It allows me to be a part of their journey and to see them grow is such a privilege.” What childhood memory do you have of surfing? “Standing on a board I still have today and catching a wave on my own for the very first time.” What type of kid do you think your teachers would say you were at school? “Definitely a leader, I was also a good example and a role model to the younger pupils.” What’s the one thing people don’t know about you? (Shrugs) ” hahahahaha. I honestly don’t know.” Between Steven Seagal and Jean-Claude van Damme, who do you think would win the fight? “Steven Seagal any day!”

October 18, 2018

Curating your career starts in school

Teenagers are accustomed to curating their personal image on social media. They select what to share, who to tag and how to display their interests and activities in a snapshot, or a few hash tags. The next step for Generation Z, those born after 1995, is to start curating their career. Whether preparing to apply for a competitive university programme or starting an entrepreneurial venture, there is great value in starting to think about how to express one’s professional interests from an early age. “Your extra-curricular activities during high school help you stand out from the crowd when applying for universities, especially top-ranked international ones,” says Duncan Parsons, Regional Manager for Crimson Education, a mentoring company that helps build high-schoolers’ candidacy to apply for universities in the States and United Kingdom. “Admissions boards are looking for well-rounded candidates with interesting personal stories – not just top marks.” A report by brand management specialists, QWERTY found that nearly 70% of South Africans’ weekly activities are spent on social media channels. Growing up with the internet, Gen Zs have become accustomed to plugging hours into Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat. They’re great at capturing their personal image online; which brands they associate with and which moments they share. Applying some of this time and skill to thinking about their careers can be hugely beneficial for when they finish school. “Demonstrating a variety of skills and interests is a crucial part of an applicant’s success. Universities are increasingly interested in personal stories and motivations,” says Parsons. Crimson Education’s research indicates that about 30% of an application to an American university is based on activities outside of academic curricula; “Colleges look for and fund students who demonstrate that they’ll use the university’s resources to the fullest – they want to see initiative and the potential to become a leader in your field.” Teachers, parents and school counsellors also play an important role in encouraging students to explore exciting career and study opportunities; “With the right guidance and support, students can start a small business or launch a social initiative before they even matriculate. Doing so will help them refine their interests and ultimately select the best fit programme at university, regardless of whether they study locally or abroad,” says Parsons. A great university education, at an institution with leading research groups, lecturers and students from around the world can be a powerful starting point for future change makers. According to Parsons, landing that opportunity is challenging, but not impossible, for driven South African students who apply their finely tuned social media curating skills to their careers. Crimson Education launched in South Africa earlier this year, making the company operational in 17 cities around the world. Parsons and his team regularly host information evenings for parents and learners interested in studying overseas and have recently introduced a career exploration service. For more information, visit www.crimsoneducation.org or email [email protected].

October 15, 2018

Maths Matter: Why it’s worth sticking it out when the going gets tough

In senior high school, the Mathematics syllabus becomes more challenging than ever, and many learners may be tempted to ditch the subject in favour of something less taxing, particularly if they intend to pursue a career that ostensibly doesn’t require Maths. But an expert advises learners and parents to think very carefully before doing so, as a solid grounding in the subject can make a lifelong difference not only to one’s career prospects, but also to those areas of life which seemingly have nothing to do with numbers. “At school we are told regularly that if we do not keep Mathematics as a subject we will not gain access to a Commerce or Science degree of our choice. What we often do not hear is that apart from providing access to limited enrolment degrees, sticking with Maths provides important life skills and a competitive advantage you won’t find anywhere else,” says Aaron Koopman, Head of Programme: Faculty of Commerce at The Independent Institute of Education, SA’s largest private higher education provider. Koopman says that even those learners opting for Maths Literacy should continue to take the mathematical steps and processes seriously, as a solid grounding in Maths truly sets one up for life. “Maths teaches you so much – from the memory and recall skills you gained from learning your times tables, to the focus and concentration that mental arithmetic calculations strengthen, through to the most important skills of all related logic, reason and problem-solving,” he says. “Sure, you may never have to solve a quadratic equation again if you pursue a career in communication, but you will be required to understand a problem and the correct sequence of steps required to solve it, and there is no better place to get that discipline and expertise than from Maths.” Koopman says Maths also enables you to understand sequencing and planning – starting at the right point and working methodically to get the right answer. And when it does not work out the way it should, it is one’s mathematical and analytical skills that help you to work through each step and figure out why things did not turn out the way they should have. “Furthermore, Mathematics is believed to encourage creativity. Not only does it teach clear and sensible thought, but it exposes learners to challenging concepts and unresolved problems. Through this experience, learners can apply themselves in resolving these problems, often in a creative manner.” It is also now well understood that nature follows many mathematical rules – and proportion, balance and pattern are all mathematical concepts, notes Koopman. “That balance between creative freedom and leveraging the repetitive sequence of patterns that results in things humans see as beautiful is at the heart of much art that has continued to appeal over the centuries. “Maths also helps you develop persistence as you apply and discard solutions while trying to make sense of a problem. Maths is the bridge between the world we live in – think of the ‘story sums’ we started in our early grades – and the creative and brilliant solutions that lie behind the world’s best inventions.” And very importantly, companies are increasingly looking for graduates with powerful thinking and troubleshooting capacity – just the competencies that are developed and nurtured through mathematics. “A young person who is mathematically proficient and has honed these skills will find that the world of work is a flexible and engaging space where how you learn is recognised as so much more valuable than what you learned. From understanding numbers and statistics – the ‘hard skills’ that Maths gives you – to applying systematic and logical reasoning or solving a human resource problem, a mind that has been exercised by Maths will reach strong conclusions quickly and have the skills to test itself,” Koopman says. “The systematic nature of Mathematics develops clear and coherent thought of students. This results in the ability to understand how and why things work in a certain way. In a business environment that is characterised by constant change, the analysis of one’s environment becomes fundamentally important and through Mathematics, analytical skills and critical thinking is promoted. Mathematics equips learners with the ability to be proactive, detect problems and to develop suitable solutions earlier, which provides a competitive advantage regardless of one’s field.” As we move into the fourth industrial revolution, in which technological innovation is at the forefront, graduates who did not necessarily study Maths but retained an engagement and respect for it will be well positioned to propel their organisations and respective divisions in the right direction, says Koopman. Additionally, anyone leading a team or department regardless of industry will need to be financially literate and able to manage sometimes substantial budgets. “Therefore we encourage learners to persevere and if necessary get additional help to master Maths, even if they feel they may not ‘need’ Maths in future. Regardless of what you are planning to do career-wise, a solid grounding in Maths will empower you for the rest of your life,” Koopman says.

October 12, 2018

Empower your children to deal with a crisis

Parents have been urged to empower their children to know how to respond to any crisis or act of criminality, in the wake of at least three kidnappings reported in and around Cape Town in recent days. Schools have reportedly also issued related warnings to parents. “As parents and guardians, it is our responsibility to not only educate our children about safety but to also give them the necessary tools to deal with a crisis. While we certainly don’t want our children to live in fear, we do need to have frank conversations about what to do when things go wrong,” explains Mr Jade Hanning, Cape Town South district manager at Fidelity ADT. There are simple actions, he says, which can often keep a child safe. Hanning also reminds parents to constantly reinforce general safety tips for children: They must always walk to or from school with a friend or friends. Stick to streets they know and never take short cuts 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. They 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 you and your child agreed on, they should not get into the car but immediately ask for help. If a stranger approaches them, 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 out that the person is not their mom or dad. 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. Quite simply, the same rules that apply to adults need to be instilled in children, says Hanning. He also urged parents and caregivers to immediately raise the alarm if their children are missing, so that authorities can be deployed to assist.

October 11, 2018

Why breakfast really is the best way to start your day

The importance of breakfast has long been a part of the prevailing wisdom, and the habit of eating breakfast has always been a marker of a healthy lifestyle. Yet, if there’s a meal that is going to be skipped, it’s probably breakfast; and this is a pity because research clearly shows that there are many vital health benefits associated with eating breakfast regularly. Studies show that 1 in 5 South African children skip breakfast. For the first time, a broad coalition of health partners including leading non-profit organisations, health professional associations as well the National and Provincial Departments of Health, have aligned National Nutrition Week (9 – 15 October 2018) with National Obesity Week (15 – 19 October 2018) to promote a shared and very important message that eating breakfast is the best way to start your day. After our longest fast, a healthy breakfast kick-starts the metabolism, lights up mental functioning and boosts physical energy on a day-to-day basis. However, the health benefits of breakfast are not just experienced over the short-term. Studies show that eating a healthy breakfast regularly over the long term helps to reduce risks of heart disease and stroke, high blood pressure and Type 2 diabetes. This correlates with studies that show that children, adolescents and adults who eat healthy breakfasts regularly have better, sustainable weight outcomes and are at a lower risk of becoming overweight and obesity. “It is ironic that one of the common reasons for skipping breakfast is the desire to lose weight when it has the opposite effects,” says Rebone Ntsie, Director: Nutrition at the National Department of Health. “The lack of breakfast leads to a far greater risk of compensating with unhealthy snacks to get through to lunchtime and with bigger lunch portions.” Ntsie points outs that, according to the 2016 South Africa Demographic and Health Survey, 68% of women and 31% of men in South Africa are overweight or obese. Life-threatening, severe obesity affects around 20% of women and 3% of men. Approximately 13.3% of children under 5 years of age are overweight or obese; and according to the 2012 South African Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (SANHANES), 14.2% children aged 6 to 14 years are overweight or obese. CEO of the Heart and Stroke Foundation South Africa, Professor Pamela Naidoo says: “At least 80% of early deaths caused by heart disease and stroke can be avoided by following a healthy diet, which includes eating a healthy breakfast, in combination with regular physical activity and avoiding the use of tobacco. It is important to understand how the food choices we make contribute to overweight and obesity.” Many South Africans consume large amounts of sugary drinks and eat a lot of convenience foods that are typically high in sugar and fats. There’s also a common preference for highly refined starchy foods over those that are minimally processed and healthier. Taking in too much food energy from nutrient-poor foods leads to weight gain. However, making poor food choices is not the only issue. Professor Naidoo points out that our modern lifestyles easily lead to ‘portion distortion’. “Large portion size is also a major contributor to weight gain whether people eat out or at home,” she says. “With a gradual increase in the amount of food being purchased and served ready cooked, many people can no longer recognise the size of a healthy portion.” Lack of knowledge and poor food choices lead to unhealthy diets, which are a risk factor for non-communicable diseases. Dr Christine Taljaard-Krugell, ADSA (Association for Dietetics in South Africa) President, points out the importance of engaging with a registered dietitian to help make healthy breakfasts a habit for the whole family. “Other reasons so many South Africans skip breakfast include food not being available, it not being a family routine, time pressure in the mornings, not feeling hungry or not liking typical breakfast foods. From food budgeting to menu planning and meal preparation, there are solutions to all these issues. Information and help are available.” What should a healthy breakfast consist of? Breakfast should consist of at least one food group (excluding beverages). However, to stay fuller for longer and improve the variety of nutrients you take in at breakfast, it helps to include foods from three or more food groups. A rule of thumb is to choose a minimally processed starchy food combined with a food from at least one of the following groups: vegetables or fruit dry beans, lentils, split peas, soya fish, chicken, lean meat or eggs milk, maas or yoghurt plant oils, soft margarine, peanut butter In addition, it is important to drink clean safe water instead of a sugary drink. The ‘breakfast is the best way to start the day’ campaign offers some key messages to inspire making a healthy breakfast a long-lasting habit and family routine: Be ‘breakfast ready’ and beat the morning rush – Breakfast doesn’t have to be a big production – with some planning and preparation, it can be quick and easy. Before you go to bed at night, set up your kitchen for breakfast. Soak the oats and slice the fruit so you don’t have to do it in the morning. Cook extra maize meal porridge for the next day’s breakfast when making supper, or boil some eggs the night before. Make it healthy and enjoyable – “It’s easier to make breakfast a daily habit if you enjoy it,” says Carol Browne of the Nutrition Society of South Africa (NSSA). “While our cultures may define what breakfast foods are, there are really no hard and fast rules. It doesn’t matter whether you eat the same things as others for breakfast – it just matters that you have a healthy start to the day. This means having a minimally processed starchy food, as part of the meal, and combining it with food from at least one other food group.” For example, maize meal porridge with maas and an apple; brown bread with pilchards and sliced tomato; Last

October 11, 2018

Cookie	Duration	Description
cookielawinfo-checkbox-advertisement	1 year	The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Advertisement".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics	11 months	This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional	11 months	The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary	11 months	This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others	11 months	This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance	11 months	This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy	11 months	The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.

Cookie	Duration	Description
_ga	2 years	This cookie is installed by Google Analytics. The cookie is used to calculate visitor, session, campaign data and keep track of site usage for the site's analytics report. The cookies store information anonymously and assign a randomly generated number to identify unique visitors.
_gid	1 day	This cookie is installed by Google Analytics. The cookie is used to store information of how visitors use a website and helps in creating an analytics report of how the website is doing. The data collected including the number visitors, the source where they have come from, and the pages visted in an anonymous form.

Cookie	Duration	Description
_gat_gtag_UA_18530557_4	1 minute	No description
pron_ip	session	No description
pvc_visits[0]	1 day	This cookie is created by post-views-counter. This cookie is used to count the number of visits to a post. It also helps in preventing repeat views of a post by a visitor.
tk_ai	session	Gathers information for WordPress by themselves, first party analytics tool about how WP services are used. A collection of internal metrics for user activity, used to improve user experience.