Parents are often very good about getting their children off to a healthy start at the beginning of the year with medical check-ups and healthier schools lunches but it’s equally important to maintain a healthy lifestyle throughout the year. So, here are some tips on what you should be doing to maintain your child’s health.
For more than 25 years, children all over the world have been discovering the world of Pokémon. It is almost a sure thing that parents have been introduced to the world of Pokémon through their children watching the animated series, bringing home trading cards from school or playing one of the many video games. As the Pokémon franchise is turning 25 years old this year, the chances are good that parents have great memories of Pokémon from their own youth. With 2021 being the 25th Anniversary of the Pokémon brand, it is no wonder that Pokémon is being celebrated worldwide across various platforms. The brand has such an amazing following that celebrities such as Katy Perry and Post Malone even lent a hand in celebrating Pokémon! Besides a long running animated series that has been a staple on South African television channels and more recently streaming channels such as Netflix, the Pokémon Trading Card Game (TCG) especially enjoys a strong local following. It’s no surprise as the Pokémon Trading Card Game is beloved by young and old alike. With the generational gap it breaches, it has become a pastime parents enjoy with children. In the Pokémon Trading Card Game, players build decks around their favourite Pokémon and then play against each other to prove who is the best Pokémon Trainer. There are many ways for players to start their Pokémon Trading Card Game journey, but typically younger players will start with the Pokémon Battle Academy, which is a step-by-step guide guiding children and parents alike through the rules. Players can also start out with theme decks – preconstructed decks designed to cover the basics of the game. Once players understand the rules they can augment their card collections with booster packs that provide more cards, letting players develop more diverse decks and unique strategies. With thousands of cards to choose from, the game is never the same twice. It is during November and December when Pokémon’s anniversary celebration will truly reach its peak with the local release of a Trading Card expansion named aptly named Celebrations! The Celebrations expansion offers plenty to be excited about, allowing players the opportunity to stroll down memory lane with classic Pokémon TCG cards. Celebrations will allow players to add a variety of Legendary, Mythical, and other beloved Pokémon to their collections, including Mew, Ho-Oh, Zamazenta, Flying Pikachu, and Surfing Pikachu. The Pokémon TCG: Celebrations expansion includes: 4 Pokémon V and 2 Pokémon VMAX 25 classic Pokémon TCG cards More than 45 cards The Celebration set will contain some sough after items such as the Elite Trainer Kit, the Pikachu Premium Figure Collectors Box and the Pikachu V-Union box set which will delight young and old. Pokémon Celebrations will truly make an amazing gift under Christmas trees this year and create lasting memories your children will remember when they are celebrating the 50th anniversary with their children.
New research commissioned by the LEGO® Group reveals that girls today feel increasingly confident to engage in all types of play and creative activities, but they remain held back by society’s ingrained gender stereotypes as they grow older. The study was carried out by the Geena Davis Institute in recognition of the UN’s International Day of the Girl and to mark the launch of a new LEGO® campaign, ‘Ready for Girls’, which celebrates girls who rebuild the world through creative problem solving. The research, which surveyed nearly 7,000 parents and children aged 6-14 years old in China, Czech Republic, Japan, Poland, Russia, UK, and USA highlights the need for society to rebuild perceptions, actions, and words to support the creative empowerment of all children. It also supports many of the findings in the LEGO Play Well Study 2020, which included the feedback of South African children and their parents. Ready for Girls The research findings show that girls are ready for the world, but society isn’t quite ready to support their growth through play. Girls feel less restrained by and are less supportive of typical gender biases than boys when it comes to creative play, with 71% of South African parents believing that it’s more acceptable for girls to be ‘boyish’ than it is for boys to be ‘girlish’. According to the Geena Davis Institute study, 82% of girls believe it’s OK for girls to play football and boys to practice ballet, compared to only 71% of boys. However, despite the progress made in girls brushing off prejudice at an early age, general attitudes surrounding play and creative careers remain unequal and restrictive, according to this research: For most creative professions, parents who answered the survey imagine a man, regardless of whether they have a son, daughter, or both. They are almost six times as likely to think of scientists and athletes as men than women (85% vs. 15%) and over eight times as likely to think of engineers as men than women (89% vs. 11%). The children surveyed in this research share these same impressions except girls are much more likely than boys to consider a wider range of professions to be for both women and men. Our insights further indicate that girls are typically encouraged into activities that are more cognitive, artistic, and related to performance compared to boys who are more likely to be pushed into physical and STEM-like activities (digital, science, building, tools). Parents from this study are almost five times as likely to encourage girls over boys to engage in dance (81% vs. 19%) and dress-up (83% vs. 17%) activities, and over three times as likely to do the same for cooking/baking (80% vs. 20%). Adversely, they are almost four times as likely to encourage boys over girls to engage in program games (80% vs. 20%) and sports (76% vs. 24%) and over twice as likely to do the same when it comes to coding toys (71% vs. 29%). The Play Well Study 2020 highlighted that 75% of South African children only play with toys designed for their own gender, while more than half of South African children said that people make fun of them when they play with games or toys marketed for children of the opposite gender. When it comes to parents’ perceptions of gender, 84% of South African parents agree that gender differences are driven more by societal expectations than by biology, but only a little more than half allow their children to, wear, or play with things that are geared towards the opposite gender. Rebuilding the World This was launched on The International Day of The Girl (11th October), the LEGO Group is calling on parents and children to champion inclusive play. To help, they have developed a fun 10-step guide and invite parents to share photos of their child’s LEGO creations against a pre-defined AR backdrop featuring the words ‘Get the World Ready for Me’. “As a Mom of three children, I have long admired the LEGO Group and I’m heartened by its global commitment to this study to inform how we can dramatically inspire creativity in girls through play and storytelling,” said Geena Davis, Founder of the Geena Davies Institute on Gender in Media. “We also know that showing girls unique and stereotyped activities can lead to an expanded viewpoint of possibilities and opportunities.” The role of LEGO play The LEGO Group believes in the value of learning through play and that the development of 21st century skills from LEGO play are equally relevant to all children. While many parents perceive the LEGO brand as a good example of an inclusive toy brand, LEGO play is still considered more relevant to boys than girls, with 59% of parents saying they encourage their sons to build with LEGO bricks compared to 48% who say they encourage it with their daughters. This view became more pronounced when parents were asked to complete an implicit bias assessment and 76% said they would encourage LEGO play to a son while just 24% would recommend it to a daughter. “The benefits of creative play such as building confidence, creativity and communication skills are felt by all children and yet we still experience age-old stereotypes that label activities as only being suitable for one specific gender. At the LEGO Group we know we have a role to play in putting this right, and this campaign is one of several initiatives we are putting in place to raise awareness of the issue and ensure we make LEGO play as inclusive as possible. All children should be able to reach their true creative potential,” says Julia Goldin, Chief Product and Marketing Officer, the LEGO Group. The ‘Ready for Girls’ campaign aims to help girls rebuild the story and welcome more girls to LEGO building, ensuring they aren’t losing out on the benefits of LEGO play due to societal expectations. The company will ensure any child, regardless of gender identify, feels they can build anything they like, playing in a way that
Winter is here and with it comes colder weather, making getting outside to play and exercise more of a challenge. But it’s still important. Bonitas Medical Fund suggests you try and keep your child active throughout the year and provides some suggestions to get them moving, exercising and having fun.
Chicco, world leaders in baby travel, introduce the brand new toddler seat, the all-round, comprehensive Oasys 2-3 Evo FixPlus – perfect for the forward-facing part of your child’s car travels. Relax and #parentmore knowing your little one is as protected as can get with the rigorous safety standards that come with every Chicco car seat. Oasys 2-3 Evo FixPlus grows with your child and features a new level of safety – the new Safe Pad. The perfect booster seat for toddlers, this group 2/3 car seat is suitable for children weighing between 15 kg and 36 kg (From 3 – 12 years). Installing the Chicco child safety is easy and done in only a few steps by using your vehicle’s own 3-point belt which makes it perfectly suitable for being installed in almost every vehicle type. In order to gain even more safety and security for your child, you can attach the rigid FixPlus connectors to the Isofix-points in your vehicle. No matter when or how fast your little one grows, the Oasys 2-3 Fixplus Evo car seat always adapts perfectly to your child’s body size. Both height and width can be adjusted independently of each other by using a convenient rotary wheel. At the touch of a button, you can adjust the backrest and seat surface in four different levels until a comfortable position for your little one is created. The integrated cup holder keeps their bottle or sippy cup within arms reach for road trips. If your little one spills on the car seat, no problem! Easily remove the cover and throw it in the wash to restore its slick and pristine look. You can pick up Oasys 2-3 Evo FixPlus from Takealot, Loot, The Kid Zone, Babanino and other participating retailers now.
Koa Academy embraces a high-contact philosophy where children belong to an 8-person Pod guided by a dedicated teacher. While timetables are individual and terms are flexible for each family, the Pod gathers together each school day providing opportunities to develop collaboration, critical thinking, emotional intelligence and communication skills. The Academy is a provider of the South African IEB curriculum and lesson content is sourced from top educational resources worldwide. Age-appropriate feedback and assessment is embedded in the learning experience so that children can adapt in dynamic ways on the pathway to mastery. “There are options opening up for parents that have just never existed when it comes to educating their children,” says Koa Academy Principal, Mark Anderson. “It’s becoming easier to truly align your family values with a school community because you are no longer limited to the institution available in your physical neighbourhood. At Koa Academy we prioritise engagement in small group settings so that real relationships are built and maintained more easily than in larger classes where it is often challenging to connect meaningfully with peers and your teacher. Parents are directly connected to their child’s teacher, in tune with their child’s school activities and more empowered when it comes to their child’s learning, social and emotional development and their progression through school grades.” The pandemic disruption has made us all question priorities, values and how we can better shape our lives to be in alignment with what really matters to us. “There’s a new openness to doing life differently, to do life better,” says Mark. “For families, educating our children well for a productive and fulfilling future is a critical concern. On the one hand, the new choices emerging in education are inevitable as we all know that transformation in education is long overdue. However, the pandemic has accelerated this and that is a positive consequence. From education providers and teachers to parents and children, there’s a welcoming when it comes to having more choices, and better choices.” To find out more about Koa Academy, click here.
By now you know that creating a predictable bedtime routine helps set your child up for a better nights rest. A previous blog about Bedtime and Naptime rituals for Toddlers mentioned how reading a book together at bedtime promotes cognitive development as well as bonding between you and your little one. But there is more. Interactive, shared book reading can also support a wide range of early language skills. We as parents tend to think we have to read to our child, but it actually has greater benefits if you read with your child. Children learn the most language during enjoyable back-and-forth interactions with you, their beloved parent. When you read with your child regularly, your child may learn language faster, enter school with a larger vocabulary, and become a more successful reader eventually. How do you read with your child? Follow your child’s lead As mentioned in this blog your bedtime routine must be fun. This is not the time to argue with child. Let your child choose the book she wants to read, even if you have read it umpteen times before. You could even allow your child to hold the book and decide when to turn the page. She is more engaged when she plays an active role in the book reading and an engaged child is a learning child! Make it a conversation You can simply read the story, or you can talk about the characters, or illustrations or plot. Watch your child to see what she points to and make a comment about that. Having a conversation about the book helps your child understand the story better and it exposes her to more complex language. Besides, there is nothing more calming than a quiet conversation with mom or dad before bedtime. Don’t ask questions all the time Remember, the aim is to have an enjoyable back-and-forth conversation. You do not want to test your child’s knowledge here. Pause often and wait for your child to participate, rather than bombarding her with questions. If you do want to ask a question, make sure it is an open-ended question such as, ‘How do you think Mouse felt when he found out the Gruffalo really existed?’ It is never too early to start reading with your child and reading with your child is never a waste. Happy reading! www.talkingtokiddo.com By Lize van der Merwe – Speech Language Therapist with special interest in early language development
Koa Academy to host free parent webinar The global pandemic has emphasized how important our digital world is to modern life as we pivoted out of necessity to remote working, at-home schooling and online shopping. Many millions of us got our first experiences of certain digital platforms and applications that have now become part of day-to-day life. Trends such as online education have been greatly accelerated as many families experienced the benefits of remote learning and noted how successfully their children and teens adapted to learning through well-conceived digital platforms. This has opened up the opportunities to think about schooling and tertiary studies differently and to take advantage of the greater flexibility and vast choice of high-quality educational programmes that can be accessed online. As a result, many thousands of South African families have not returned to brick and mortar schools and colleges. New and better online schools have emerged, and many tertiary institutions have invested in enhancing and expanding their online campuses. If there’s one question that concerns parents more than any other about online education, it’s about the online safety of their children. While we are adept at identifying threats in the physical world and helping our children reduce those risks, online dangers can be more opaque to parents, and they may worry that more time online might lead to increased vulnerability. However, CEO and Principal of Koa Academy, Mark Anderson points out that a high-engagement online education platform is specifically designed with safe online spaces which enhance your child’s digital citizenship equipping them to navigate the internet confidently, responsibly and wisely. This development of digital citizenship is increasingly regarded as a key 21st Century skill for the 4iR world. Parents who want to deepen their understanding of how to keep their kids safe online can join the free one-hour Koa Academy webinar on Tuesday, 2 November from 18h00. The panel is hosted by Mark Anderson and also features Rachelle Best, founder of FYI play it safe, a non-intrusive, consensual monitoring app that helps parents by adding a layer of security to their child’s online interactions. They are joined by ICT law specialist, attorney Arinda Truter, an associate at law firm, Dingley Marshall Lewin Inc. In addition to the presentations there will be a Q&A session enabling parents to present their burning questions to the experts. Across the board, the presenters agree that parent-child communication based on trust is at heart of keeping children safe online. Just as the issue of safety and awareness of threats in the physical world is an ongoing conversation in families, this needs to happen too in regard to our children’s online interactions. Best says, “Parents need so see online safety as a holistic concept. Setting up screentime and the relevant age and content restrictions on applications are not enough. Parents need to understand threats and risks in a world where new apps are made available every day, and tech is ever-changing. So, there’s a need for parents to be aware and knowledgeable so that they make good decisions when it comes to keeping their children safe online. At FYI play it safe, we also believe that keeping your children safer online starts with the relationship with your child. We empower parents with the right level of information to know when their children may need their help. This creates an opportunity to open up conversations with the right information and at exactly the right time.” Attorney, Arinda Truter emphasises that children attending online schools do not face different risks than any other child making use of the internet and engaging with others over social media. She says, “It’s important for all parents to be aware of the risks presented by online gaming, apps and social media. It is just part of the modern parenting experience to have knowledge of issues such as cyberbullying, hate speech and sexting, to be aware of privacy concerns and digital footprint, and to understand the law when it comes to the chain of online publishing.” Anderson also points out that positive experiences offered by online schooling give your child the opportunity to build their skills as a literate, responsible digital citizen. He says, “Koa has thoughtfully designed the online school experience to not only maximise safety but leverage the advantages of being online. The high engagement of our small Pods with a maximum of eight learners and their teacher gives the kids the perfect environment for healthy relationship-building and online social connection. There is high accountability where people can be themselves and quickly get to know others well. The teacher is also very much in touch with each individual in the Pod. Parents are encouraged to get to know their child’s teacher and school leadership. We like to keep the channels of communication wide open so that everyone is in the loop. Live Dashboards show academic progress which keeps the kids accountable to their daily work rhythms and targets, ensuring that they are keeping busy during their school time. Our SACE- registered teachers undergo regular training and have significant experience in the online space, which is an asset both to the kids and their parents. Koa has a strong focus on teaching digital literacy which is fed into all of our academic courses, Pod Connect sessions and even online socials. We intentionally teach online socio-emotional skills as well as practical tools for handling potentially unwanted online experiences or content.” Parents who want to learn more about online safety for families, and how to support their children as they gain vital digital literacy and citizenship skills can join the free Koa Academy webinar: Date: Tuesday 2 November Time: 18:00-19:00 Platform: Zoom Host: Koa Academy Panelists from Koa Academy, FYI Play It Safe, Dingley Marshall Lewin Inc To book your spot for this webinar, register here.
Magformers is a magnetic construction toy which allows children of all ages to express themselves through build and play, Magformers is more than just a construction toy. Once the Mag Buddies join the fun your child’s collection becomes an endlessly versatile playset. Meet the Mag Buddies! Magformers MAG BUDDIES are compact sets that come with Magformers magnetic pieces and a figure, making them perfect to collect. With a total of 4 characters, children and adults can choose their favourite set. This special Magformers product is fun for everyone of all ages. When connected all four sets make a series of mega-mansions for the friends to live in and play happily. Visit Max’s playground. Max the playful character just loves to build and play – and he loves hanging out at his ever-changing playground. Sometimes he puts a swing upstairs, other times he puts the slide in his room. Max’s Playground, making design changes is super easy – he just smashes it down and starts again – because with Magformers magnetic construction it never takes long to build a new playground layout. Maggy’s wonderful house. Maggy loves to decorate and build a beautiful new house every day – and she can, using a mix of magnetic shapes and accessories including a door, window, balcony, furniture, a bed, a bath, TV. She picks and chooses how she wants to live. Sometimes her bedroom is upstairs, other times she builds it at ground level. And making design changes is super easy…just smash it down and start again, because with Magformers magnetic construction it never takes long to build a new home. Minibot is the world’s hardest-working chef. Every day he builds his very own kitchen to whatever design takes his fancy – then cooks up a delicious meal for his friends in his little oven. Each day this busy bot designs a brand-new kitchen layout using Magformers magnetic construction squares and triangles plus chairs, a table, fridge, oven with sliding drawer, windows, and other fun accessories. With Minibot’s Kitchen Set making changes is always as easy as pie – you just smash it down and start again – because with Magformers magnetic construction it never takes long to build a new design. Milo is the luckiest puppy in the world. This pampered pooch lives the high life in his very own mansion. Every day this happy hound decides how he wants to design his home using stairs, windows, a swing door, an outside kennel, a special tree piece, and other fun accessories. And with Milo’s Mansion Set making design changes is super easy – you just smash it down and start again – because with Magformers magnetic construction it never takes long to build a new layout.
Since its introduction into the market, Magformers has won the hearts of parents and children alike. More than just an educational magnetic construction toy, Magformers has grown into a brand parents trust, children love and that grows as your child does. Just as Magformers start the play journey as 2D flat magnetic shapes and transform into amazing 3D structures, so too Magformers has become a journey of growth and change you can explore with your child as they grow and develop. The award-winning design of the Magformers magnetic construction toy helps to explore and develop children’s creativity. At the core of the product, is the concept of 3D Brain Training – which helps children to develop comprehensive three-dimensional thinking through play. The Magformers family of products has something for children as young as 18 months and evolves and grows with your child to their tween years. The wonderful thing about Magformers is that even adults can’t put them down, with the “click” as the magnets meet being just too alluring to resist. Join us as we explore the Magformers family and find the perfect starting point for your child’s amazing Magformers journey. Sensorimotor Stage – 18+ months From birth to age 3, 80% of a child’s brain development is formed. This development is accomplished through sensory stimulation activities. This positions the Stock-O range perfectly to aid in early development Magformers Stick-O’s is the chunky magnetic construction toy for little hands. Designed to be super fun, safe and durable, kids can have endless enjoyable hours making all sorts of cute and imaginative creations. It’s also a great introduction to the wonderful world of magnets. The Magformers Stick-O collection uses hidden encased magnets to ensure children’s safety and are “tiny hand approved.” The size and shape of the pieces are made to fit perfectly inside toddlers’ hands or in the hands of children with functional challenges. This feature helps develop fine motor skills while playing. Exploration Stage – Age 3-5 During this phase children passionately exlore their environment. This stimulates their curiosity and develops their symbolic thinking. It is at this stage where children engage in imaginative and pretend play. My First Magformers is the perfect guide to assist children in exploring the world around them. Learn 6 different colours, 2 geometric shapes and all 6 Magformers building techniques. Create towers, houses, and the Magformers Magic Ball. Magformers My First Sets are safety tested from ages 18 months+ allowing your child the best start to learning as soon as possible. The My First Line uses a solid colour scheme, compared to a translucent one, as young children’s eyes are still developing and recognise solid colours easily. The learning content that is included with the My First products is specifically designed to help young children learn their geometric shapes and colours as well as developing essential life skills such as 2D to 3D modelling, problem solving and more. The transition from the My First range to the Magformers Basic Plus range is seamless as all the sets are fully compatible and interchangeable. Independent Behavioural Stage – Age 5-7 It is during this stage that children’s actions are triggered by their self-reliance. This is when children truly come into their own and express and develop their own unique ways. The Magformers Basic Plus and Themed Sets are the perfect outlet for children to explore and express themselves creatively during this stage. Unlock the ultimate playtime with Magformers. Selected sets include play cards to lay ideas flat and then roll, pull-up, transform, fold combine and wall to create exciting 3D ideas. The basic principle is that your creativity and, of course, the amount of fun you have while playing is unlimited. The frequent admiring looks of those who get to see your creations are also limitless. Concrete Thinking Stage – Age 7-12 During this phase, children are busy developing their observational and analytical skills. Children will be able to think critically about their experiences and reproduce those through play. So, what better time than this to click, connect, create, and explore endless construction possibilities with Magformers House Set. Your little one can build anything they can imagine when they use the Magformers Magnetic Rainbow shapes and the character and accessories to create and decorate houses. Each geometric shape contains magnets that never reject, so you’ll always hear the Magformers click. When playtime is over, use the magnetic power to simply stack and store. Compatible with all Magformers, add the Maggy, Milo, Minibot and Max sets, or any of the Town Sets for extended building fun! At every stage of your child’s development, Magformers will be a trusted partner helping your little ones develop and grow, and don’t be surprised if you find yourself joining in on the addictive Magformers fun.
Raising your child to love reading is one of the most wonderful gifts you can give them and as Emma Cox said, “Reading is the most powerful gift we can give a child: it puts stardust in their imaginations”. While improving a child’s imagination is one of the benefits of reading to children from as early as the day they are born, there are also other significant benefits to children listening to stories that will help them throughout their school careers and beyond. While more than half of parents do not read to their children before the age of 3 according to research from Nielsen which found that 45% of 0–2-year-olds are read to daily or nearly every day increasing to 58% of 3- to 4-year olds. By the time children reach 5- to 7- years this figure drops to 44%, this is the most important time to be reading to children. According to research on children’s brain development, by 2-years-old a child’s brain is as active as an adult’s and by age 3 it is more than twice as active as an adult’s brain[1]. Further, as cognitive processes develop rapidly in the first few years of life and by age 3 approximately 85% of the brain is developed[2]. As such it is never too early to start reading to children and promote early development. Speech development and vocabulary Exposing young children to stories is the first step to helping develop their speech. By listening to adults speak and read, children are exposed to a wide variety of sounds and words that help them to develop their speech. As children listen to stories, their brains make cognitive connections to how language is used and exposes them to words that are often not used in spoken language. This is supported by a study on early language exposure[3] which states that there is a definite relationship between language development and early exposure to adult language which positively impacts children’s language ability through primary school. The study emphasises the importance of interacting with children between the ages of 18-to 24-months which is the period of a language explosion. It states that reading aloud gives children enriched vocabulary and prompts enriched interactions. Cognitive ability Cognitive ability refers to the way in which we perceive our world and experiences and is the ability to think and understand. Stories expose children to different topics, issues, experiences, and information through the characters in the story. This background information gives greater context to the world around them and is used to help them make sense of what they see, hear and read. This knowledge helps children develop problem-solving and decision-making skills as stories aid children with information processing, reasoning, language development, attention span, and memory. Listening and comprehension skills When children listen to stories they develop their comprehension and listening skills. Not only are these skills important to help children to learn to read, these are important skills that they will use when learning at school. According to Scholastic, listening is a skill that children must learn before they can learn to read themselves. Further, when children are listening to a story, they learn to sit still, develop longer attention spans and develop memory-retention skills which are all important skills that will benefit them at school in the later years. Audiobooks embellish storytelling Often a parent’s busy schedule prevents them from finding time to read to their children daily and as a result, their children miss out on the opportunity to gain the benefits of this much-loved past-time that will shape the future of their development and their school careers. However, today there are many options available for parents to engage their children in storytelling on their own. For example, audiobooks provide entertainment value to children while engaging them in stories and providing many of the benefits of reading to children. According to Scholastic[4], many audiobooks include interesting sound effects, music, and multiple narrators, that embellish their storytelling with silly voices and dramatics which are especially motivating and fun for young children. These stories reinforce the pleasure of reading rather than the skill while helping children to understand narrative structure, language use and how to convey meaning. To provide a safe listening environment for young children the Yoto Player is a screen-free device that gives children control of their listening experience and access to a range of well-known and loved stories from various authors as Yoto has secured partnerships and content deals with trusted household names such as LEGO and Disney as well as licenses with Penguin Random House, Abbey Road Studios, Sony Music, HarperCollins, Hachette, Pan Macmillan and more to bring children stories from Julia Donaldson, Enid Blyton and more. The Yoto Player is available from selected Toys R Us and iStore stores or online from istore.co.za and takealot.com. By Jonathan Drake, Head of Accessories at The Core Group
Roche and the Kolisi Foundation today launched a children’s book, Keto and Zuri Learn about COVID-19, that will help parents and caregivers across Africa explain COVID-19 to children by sharing scientific facts in age-appropriate language. The book is available to download for free on both the Kolisi Foundation and Roche’s websites, and a limited run of free printed copies will be distributed throughout Africa in seven languages. “We recognize the confusion and concern that children may be facing as a result of the pandemic and the changed behaviors of those around them. Similarly, we know the difficulties many parents and caregivers share in explaining scientific facts and public health policies to their children,” said Bart Vanhauwere, Area Head Africa, Roche. “This book aims to present the realities of COVID-19 in an easily digestible, approachable manner to help children and adults alike understand the changes caused by the pandemic and continue taking action to stay healthy.” “We often notice that the families we meet need information in addition to more practical support. This is why the Kolisi Foundation is proud to partner on the creation of this book. It helps children understand COVID-19 and emphasizes the importance of health and safety behaviours, to protect themselves and their family members and friends. The full-colour illustration is visually appealing and the book is published in multiple languages,” said Valerie Anderson, Kolisi Foundation Operations and Programmes Manager. In South Africa, Transnet, a 25-year partner of Roche, will be handing out a limited printed supply of the books through the Phelophepa trains. These two trains, of which Roche is the main external sponsor, are free, mobile healthcare clinics that are now dedicated to COVID-19 screening, testing and awareness for people living in rural communities. The One by One Target Covid Campaign is also a partner of Keto and Zuri Learn about COVID-19. The Campaign is proudly supporting the distribution of the new children’s book in Uganda, Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo. To help spread further awareness, they announced the creation of the book to their AfricaCovidChampions, who they brought together in an effort to spread reliable information about COVID-19. AfricaCovidChampions is a new initiative that includes some of the most prominent African celebrities, media personalities, journalists, and influencers from the sports, entertainment, business, cultural and faith communities. Among many others, these prominent figures include Heritier Wanabe (Musician), Simon Mwewa Lane (TV Show Host), Joseph Kusaga (Media Owner), Jeff Koinange (Journalist/Talk Show Host) and Gift Ali (Ugandan Football player / Sports Personality). These influencers have committed to serve as powerful public health advocates and will help the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reach people with the essential information needed to fight the COVID-19 pandemic. Digital copies of the children’s book can be downloaded here. It is available in multiple languages, including English, Afrikaans, Zulu, Xhosa Setswana, Portuguese, French:https://www.roche.com/sustainability/philanthropy/covid-19-childrens-book.htm About Roche Roche is a global pioneer in pharmaceuticals and diagnostics focused on advancing science to improve people’s lives. The combined strengths of pharmaceuticals and diagnostics under one roof have made Roche the leader in personalised healthcare – a strategy that aims to fit the right treatment to each patient in the best way possible. Roche is the world’s largest biotech company, with truly differentiated medicines in oncology, immunology, infectious diseases, ophthalmology and diseases of the central nervous system. Roche is also the world leader in in vitro diagnostics and tissue-based cancer diagnostics, and a frontrunner in diabetes management. Founded in 1896, Roche continues to search for better ways to prevent, diagnose and treat diseases and make a sustainable contribution to society. The company also aims to improve patient access to medical innovations by working with all relevant stakeholders. More than thirty medicines developed by Roche are included in the World Health Organization Model Lists of Essential Medicines, among them life-saving antibiotics, antimalarials and cancer medicines. Moreover, for the twelfth consecutive year, Roche has been recognised as one of the most sustainable companies in the Pharmaceuticals Industry by the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices (DJSI). The Roche Group, headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, is active in over 100 countries and in 2020 employed more than 100,000 people worldwide. In 2020, Roche invested CHF 12.2 billion in R&D and posted sales of CHF 58.3 billion. Genentech, in the United States, is a wholly owned member of the Roche Group. Roche is the majority shareholder in Chugai Pharmaceutical, Japan. For more information, please visitwww.roche.com. About the Kolisi Foundation Founded by Siya and Rachel Kolisi, the Kolisi Foundation has the vision to change the narratives of inequality in South Africa. Seeking to support people living in under-resourced communities in South Africa by providing relief resources, facilitating capacity-building and horizontal learning exchanges, and mobilizing and advocating for systemic change. Driven by their motto to ‘remember the one, one by one’, the Kolisi Foundation is invested in researching, piloting and developing projects centred around three programmatic areas: Food Security, Gender-Based Violence, and Education and Sports Development. For more information, please visit www.kolisifoundation.org.
There are many toys on the market that offers amazing educational value for children. With such a wide variety available it is often a hard decision for parents to decide into which toy lines to invest for their children. Magformers however aims to make this decision simple for parents. With fun and intuitive products, Magformers offers a lifelong learning, journey growing with your child from birth through to their teens. Magformers as a brand and play system has proven itself since its introduction to the world by winning an array of industry awards with new honours being added to the trophy case year after year. To further add to Magformers credibility as an educational toy, the product line was also awarded STEM Approved™ by STEM.org, one of the worlds most respected authorities in STEM and STEAM toys and products. Magformers’ ever-growing rise in the competitive world of educational toys can be attributed to its unique and innovative 3D Brain training model, which nurtures young minds and assist children to develop multifaceted thinking. 8 key areas of development are stimulated as children learn through play, organically interlinking and balancing the eight essential mental capabilities of sensory development, modelling, creativity, curiosity, mathematical thinking, imagination, scientific thinking and reasoning. Reasoning Improve reasoning faculties as children interpret two-dimensional pictures and build three-dimensional structures utilising one of several building techniques. Sensory Development Children can practice their fine motor skills and stimulate brain development by touching and assembling the geometric Magformers pieces. They also develop sensory abilities by interacting with various colours and sounds as Magformers pieces snap together with a satisfying “click”. Modelling Magformers enhance understanding of three-dimensional configurations allowing children to easily build complex geometric shapes. Curiosity With its intuitive magnetic building system, Magformers stimulate curiosity by encouraging children to independently explore and build during creative play. Creativity The revolutionary magnetic geometric shapes allow children to build complex structures and vehicles. Imagination is the only limit. Mathematical Thinking Children develops quantitative reasoning skills by exploring concepts such as space, portions and wholes, patterns, and two-dimensional shapes. All why simply playing. Imagination Children can express their limitless imagination through the versatile Magformers magnetic building system. They can follow the building instructions included in each set or let their imagination run wild and construct their own unique creations. Scientific Thinking Children will learn through play and improve their scientific reasoning as they explore the properties of magnets, the heart of the Magformers building system, to create various structures. Through Magformers’ 3D Brain Training parents can be assured that their children will stay entertained through an engaging learn-through-play experience that’s more than just fun. Magformers is the construction toy that truly brings the classroom to the playroom, allowing children to independently play and develop while having loads of never-ending fun!
In a technology filled world, it’s easy to get carried away, and spend endless hours online. For youth, and especially young children, too much screen time negatively impacts them. Both development and life skills can be tampered with if kids have too much exposure to technology. Your relationship with your kids can also be at stake as well. To prevent these negative impacts from occurring, limiting overall screen time is a healthy habit you can teach your kids early on. Establishing Screen Time Duration: The first thing step when limiting your child’s screen time is setting a duration of time that they are allowed online. Talk with them, and ask what time of the day they would prefer for their screen time. As long as you both decide on a convenient and reasonable time, everything should work smoothly. To ensure your child doesn’t abuse their use of technology, install a screen time app. Screen time apps put a time limit on your child’s device so they can’t use it when they aren’t supposed to. When your child is older, you can extend their screen time when neccesary. Teaching your kid(s) young to watch how much time they spend online is a valuable lesson. “They will understand the importance of spending more time away from technology, which is a healthy habit to build. Unfortunately, even if you limit your child’s screen time, the online world is full of many threats,” says Christi T. McDavid, an educator at 1 Day 2 Write and Write My X. This is why you must monitor your child’s device until a certain age in order to protect them. Protecting Your Child No matter if you chose the apps and sites your child can visit online, scary things exist all over the internet. For example, predators often play child friendly games in hopes of finding a target. That’s why you should check all your kid’s apps each time after they use their device. Make sure there are no creepy messages or interactions on any of the apps installed. It doesn’t stop at apps though. Go to your child’s search history to see what they are searching. If there is anything non child friendly in their search history, talk with them about it. Inform them of what they are not allowed to look up. You can also put the safe search setting on your child’s web browser as well for maximum safety. If you find anything harmful on your kids device, then use it as an opportunity to teach them about safe internet use. After covering screen time and the potential dangers of the internet, pushing your child to find a hobby away from their device is important. Promoting Hobbies Don’t let your kid become sucked into the online world like many children are today. Introduce them to new activities on a regular basis to help them find a hobby. Enroll them into sports, clubs, and take them to new places. When your child finds their interest, then support them no matter what their hobby is. Your kid may love art, enjoy soccer, or want to be part of their school’s play. Continue to be by their side while they embrace what they love. Hobbies allow people to focus on something other than the internet. So put the effort in in order for your child to find an established hobby. A huge issue found in the current generation of kids today is neglect. “Many parents leave their children alone on their devices instead of spending more quality family time with them. Don’t neglect your kids, because family time is highly important, and helps prevent extra time online,” explains Stella C. Monk, a writer at Britstudent and Originwritings. Family Time Want to prevent your kid(s) from turning into an online zombie? Then don’t forget to spend some quality time with them! Building a healthy relationship with your kids is crucial. Take them to the park, treat them with their favourite candy every once in a while, or come watch their sports game. Show your kids the value of building strong relationships with their loved ones. This will decrease their online time, and help improve your child’s people skills. It’s recommended to spend around an hour of time with your kids a day. Don’t spend too much or too little time with your kids, and make up for missed time when you are available. Family time will not only strengthen your family bond, but it will also support your child’s healthy relationships with screen time. Your Child’s Habits Hoping that you passed on these methods to your child, they will likely know how to manage their own screen time when they are older. These management skills will be useful for your child later in their life. As long as you are responsible with your child, you should be able to help them have a healthy relationship with screen time.
“It’s a happy talent to know how to play” – Ralf Waldo Emerson Why play? As therapists we are often asked by parents, “What can we do at home to support our child’s learning?” Without a doubt, play is one of the most effective learning and therapy tools available to children and their families, and it is the “homework” we are the happiest to prescribe. Play is of benefit to not only the children in a family, but to the adults too, with the result that it is a win-win situation all round and it leads to happier children and families. When one considers the following quote from Dr Karyn Purvis it is difficult to think of any valid reasons not to be playing with our children: Scientists have recently determined that it takes approximately 400 repetitions to create a new synapse in the brain. Unless it is done with play, in which case it takes 10-20 repetitions. Physical and mental health benefits In our current state of uncertainty and world-wide stresses, physical and mental health are our primary concerns. Healthy brain development and maintenance relies on stimulating the brain to make efficient and effective connections between nerve cells. These connections apply to ‘visible’ skills (such as motor skills) and more abstract skills for language, cognition, social and emotional development. Play is a ‘safe’ way to experience the world and test our skills. Games that require movement are excellent for stimulating physical health and motor skill development. This may be through the use of large movement e.g. jungle gyms, trees and open spaces like parks, or through the use of small movements with hands and fingers e.g. moving pieces on a board or building Lego. Cognitive benefits While all play facilitates brain development, some activities are more directed towards cognitive skills like reasoning and planning. These activities are not limited to board games. The child who enjoys re-enacting Star Wars or My Little Pony uses imagination, memory, reasoning and planning but perhaps to a different degree than the child playing Checkers or Monopoly. Social and communication benefits Games like 30 Seconds, Trivial Pursuit and Pictionary require cognitive skills but focus the ability to communicate clearly using memory, recall, understanding and explaining. Again, imitation and re-enactment activities develop similar communication skills but also have a greater element of socialisation opportunities, including a different type of trial-and-error problem solving, negotiating and understanding social cues. All play requires an element of impulse control which is developed through experience but social play also requires a higher degree of emotional regulation and empathy, leading to a safe place to practice life lessons. Playmates teach each other skills needed for game play and learn to use direction and explanations. A vital role of social play is the development of interpersonal relationships. Friendships and positive experiences relieve stress and provide pleasure. What to play? Many things influence the play chosen by children and adults – some practical and others adapted from traditional rules and experiences. The number of players and their ages are important for appropriate game selection, as is the need for teams or individual play. Will the play be structured (rule-bound and directive) or unstructured and creative? What interests the players and is the necessary equipment available? Remember that games needn’t be bought and creating a game can be fun in itself. Play is only fun if it is appropriate for the players, so it is sometimes necessary to adapt games for physical, cognitive, linguistic and social differences. Developing skills mentioned before, occur during the pleasure of play, so forcing a child with extremely diverse needs to play in the same ways as others in order to ‘teach’ them, is neither productive nor pleasurable. How can I adapt games? If mobility is a challenge e.g. cerebral palsy affecting movement or the use of a wheelchair or crutches: Size up by using bigger balls for ball games e.g. a plastic soccer ball to play tennis. Lighten up by using lighter balls for ball games e.g. volleyball with a balloon. Adjust rules e.g. if a child in a wheelchair is playing basketball that child can carry the ball in his/her lap instead of dribbling. Adjust pace e.g. balloon volleyball. Use accessible areas e.g. flat, open spaces. Buddy up – find a friend to push the wheelchair or assist with mobility – it’s ok to ask for help. If fine motor control is a challenge e.g. hand grips: Use a universal cuff – usually for holding eating utensils, but can be used for play as well. Use a card holder for card games. Non-slip mats under game boards (from most hardware stores). Prestik under game tokens/pieces. Size up e.g. use larger playing pieces or garden size games; build up tools and playing pieces with foam. If vision is a challenge: Texture components using velcro, glitter glue or craft foam from stationery stores. Use games with sounds/sound activated. Include as many senses as possible. Use garden size games. Prestik under game pieces. If language, speech or literacy is a challenge: One-on-one play initially. Subjects of interest with predictable language. Use clear, short sentences/explanations. Emphasise important words e.g. nouns, verbs, prepositions. Slow down and use repetition Model correct responses for your child at just above your child’s current language level. Allow the child to lead too. Use signs, gestures or pictures if they are effective. Shorten the duration of the game. Help if necessary. Remove some steps of the game if it is too complex. Types of play Understanding play may be limited to our own experiences, but the diversity of play activities is massive, from something like a stick imagined as a wand, sword or conductor’s baton, to a complex and strategic game of Risk or Chess played for days. Different types of play develop different skill sets and variety provides more holistic development and more opportunities to develop interests and sources of pleasure. Play can be unstructured and creative or rule
EQ. Two simple letters that wield such a determining influence in our children’s lives. Emotional Intelligence (or EQ as it’s more commonly known) is not a novel concept. For years the importance of developing children’s EQ and IQ in tandem, has been discussed and promoted in scholarly articles and mainstream media alike. The question being asked now (and louder than it’s ever been asked before) is – were we paying attention? The COVID-19 pandemic has forced the calling upon of resilience, empathy, confidence, adaptability to unpredictability, embracing of change and countless other skills that the emotionally intelligent child possesses. And in doing so, it has shone a spotlight on the vast difference in the coping capacity of the high-EQ child versus the not-so-high. But does this matter? Yes. Yes it does. It matters because the pandemic has demonstrated that being emotionally intelligent is an outlook, an approach to life and a determinant of success that will be more important than ever in the aftermath of multiple levels of lockdown and the severe restrictions that were and still are being placed on our children’s complex socialisation needs. The socio-emotional consequences of 2020’s school closures and mandatory isolation are manifesting fast and furiously. Increased cases of childhood anxiety, depression, peer-related issues and behavioural challenges are presenting at schools and in homes…And it’s only through increased efforts in EQ Education that we can hope to offset these consequences for our children in the long-run. But where do we even begin? At the very beginning, ofcourse. Much like learning the basics of reading and writing requires first learning the alphabet – children should be taught emotional awareness and expression (the basic principles of EQ) by first being taught to identify their feelings accurately. Too few children are able to differentiate their feelings and the feelings of others beyond “happy”, “sad”, “scared” or “angry”. But “sad” is not the same as “guilty” and “angry” is not the same as “rejected”. Storybooks like those in the “Game Ranger Grace & The Big 5 Feelings” series have been specifically created to expand the emotional vocabulary of young children. To expand a child’s emotional vocabulary is to help them take their first step on the road to emotional intelligence, because the ability to accurately identify an emotion directly impacts the ability to effectively regulate and express it. And the good news is that the younger the child when EQ Education efforts start, the greater the long-term benefits will be. So start at the very beginning…it’s a very good place to start! Visit www.tjtrainingsolutions.co.za to order copies of the first book in the “Game Ranger Grace & The Big 5 Feelings” series or email info@tjtrainingsolutions.co.za to query available EQ resources and workshops.
Brand-new show launching this October… Winning the hearts of millions is no easy feat, but after more than 80 years and countless accolades, the iconic duo, Tom and Jerry, are back, better than ever, leaving the suburbs behind for new escapades in New York City. To say Tom and Jerry have been around the block would be the understatement of the century! This pair, who love to hate each other, have been around the globe, gone through time travel, into outer space, down every nook and cranny imaginable, and are now running wild in Manhattan. From Monday, 04th of October, Boomerang Africa will premiere Tom and Jerry in New York, the show parents have been waiting for to introduce their kids to. Follow our favourite cat and mouse as they settle into their new digs at the Royal Gate Hotel and unleash mayhem across The Big Apple, inciting hilarious chaos uptown, downtown, and everywhere their manic escapades take them. So, best believe, Central Park, giant museums, department stores, and even subway cars will be turned upside down, inside out or just be totally annihilated in this brand-new Tom and Jerry series! All these chases and games have not been in vain; in fact, with their lengthy history on the small and big screen, Tom and Jerrycontinue to bring on the childhood nostalgia and fresh memories with equal measure. The two have also been over-achievers in their own unique way, having garnered 13 Oscar nominations for best short subject cartoon and winning seven of them in the franchise’s history. Plus, they did all that without even saying much; legend has it that the first time Tom and Jerry spoke at length was in their 1992 feature film. It does not get any more iconic than that! Get excited for the hilarious return of everyone’s favourite frenemies, as Tom and Jerry in New York premieres on Monday, 4 October at 07:25 CAT on Boomerang Africa! Watch. Play. Laugh.
Magformers is a three-dimensional magnetic toy that develops children’s creativity and aids in their brain development. The Magformers Magnets The neodymium magnets inside Magformers pieces allow every piece to attach to each other regardless of their north or south pole. Not only do Magformers pieces stack like normal building blocks, but they can also connect three-dimensionally and in any direction. Magformers for Creativity and Brain Development Magformers is the foremost three-dimensional magnetic educational toy for nurturing child creativity and brain development. Children can create their own original structures by connecting and assembling various geometric figures. Children can observe how two-dimensional shapes become three-dimensional structures, and by doing so, understand the principles of magnets and expand their limitless imagination and creativity. The Six Ways to Use Magformers Six very simple methods can be used to create any shape or figure Magformers is a world-leading manufacturer of magnetic children’s toys. Recognized with multiple awards and educational accolades, our tile sets stimulate critical abilities across age groups with years of safe, quality play time. Your only limitation will be your imagination and with so many different colours you’ll have a hard time picking your favourite. Unlike some other construction toys, which limit children to building only specified models, Magformers pieces can be used freely and with imagination, allowing children to build any shapes they like – as well as following the building guides contained within each set. Magformers magnetic construction sets encourage 3D Brain Training through fun and education. The free-spinning magnets are safely encapsulated within all the edge surfaces of each toughened ABS plastic Magformers piece. And because they can rotate in any direction, they always connect and never repel when two Magformers are brought together. Internationally, Magformers has received more than 50 global educational and toy awards. Children can use basic Magformers geometric shapes to create 2D ‘flat’ plans (known as nets), but also 3D figures. It’s very easy to lay Magformers flat, forming a mathematical net, and pull them up to form 3D towers, cubes, and other shapes. SCIENCE Improves scientific thinking while creating a variety of models using the principles of magnetism. Science gives children an in-depth understanding of the world around us. It helps them to become better at research and critical thinking. – need to flesh science out TECHNOLOGY Develop designs from 2D planar figures to 3D models.Fosters the infinite imagination of children while they make geometric shapes as well as unique models ENGINEERING Developing modelling skills through building blocks by hand. Enhances intelligence for 3D configurations while making 3D shapes. ART Encourage the combination of technology skills with artistic activities, like creating an animated story MATH Develops mathematical thinking while combining and connecting blocks to understand and utilize concepts of space and principles. Spatial concepts, parts and wholes, patterns, principles of shapes etc Children as young as 18 months can start playing with products from the Magformers My First Line. The combination of shapes, colours and, in some sets, more technical accessories, will give your child the tools to create unlimited designs! Imagine how happy and excited your child will be when they show you their latest creative design! Imagine how proud you will feel when your child has mastered the art of 3D modelling, all the while being conscious that your child is learning and developing their brain while having fun! Imagine having the colourful pieces in your hands right now! What would you and your child build together? A vehicle (Plane? Helicopter? Car? Bus? Truck? Bike? Boat?) An animal? A building? One of the seven wonders? A castle? A bridge or other structure? Furniture? A robot? A dinosaur? A tree, flower or plant? Fruit? A unique geometric design? The possibilities are endless!
Once there was a red balloon that lived in a house with a family. Every day the red balloon got bigger and bigger without anyone noticing. One day the balloon popped with a loud bang and everyone in the house got a nasty fright. Anger is often like the red balloon in that it builds up slowly over time until it explodes over a seemingly small incident/event. Aggressive behaviour is learned through the modelling of significant others. If you handle your anger like the red balloon, your children might learn that aggression is the best way to deal with uncomfortable emotions. Eventually these emotions could cause school difficulties, anxiety and relationship problems. Emotional control, however, creates a feeling of security and peace within a family. It is thus important for us as parents to ensure that our emotions and our reactions in response to our emotions are equal. For example, when you are angry, you do not have to express that anger by yelling or throwing things. Feeling angry is not wrong, but the way you express it might be wrong. As parents we have the responsibility to teach our children how to deal with their emotions in effective and appropriate ways. The following tools can help you manage your emotions more effectively: If you realise that there are often outbursts among family members, write down your emotions and thoughts. Keeping a journal will help you gain perspective. Humour can help you feel more in control over stressful circumstances. Take deep breaths. This will help to not only relieve some of the tension but will also give you a few moments to think more clearly. Focus all your attention on something in your environment or something on yourself, like the garden outside your window or the pattern on your dress or shirt. This technique can help you gain control over your emotions. Research has shown that there is a close link between a healthy marriage and successful parenting. It is therefore a good idea to invest in building a healthy relationship with your wife/husband. A good way to do this is by going away for a weekend or having planned date nights, to help you reconnect with your partner. Build your self-knowledge. Who am I? What is my personality like? Self-knowledge can help you gain insight into your own behaviour and emotions. Be mindful of external factors that could contribute to your emotions. For example, are you eating healthy foods, exercising, getting enough sleep? Are you stressed and worried?
The year, 2499. There is still good. There is still evil. Evil is winning. They came out of nowhere, an alien species wiping civilization one by one, stealing technology and making it their own, leaving nothing but chaos in their wake. We are all that stands between them and what is left of civilization. Snap Ships is a versatile building system for creating multiple crafts with action play. A space themed toy with a strong emphasis on construction and interactivity, supported by a complimentary AR (Augmented Reality) mobile app, it is more than all these elements that makes this the must own toy. Behind it all lies a rich world of adventure for children to immerse themselves in. They aren’t just playing with a toy but will be living out an adventure alongside their favourite Forge fleet hero’s. Join us as we introduce you to the hero’s of Forge fleet! 2Bells has the heart of a lion, the strength of a military cargo plane, and is an incredibly picky eater who hates cramped spaces, small talk, and bad manners. 2Bells is the Forge’s muscle in any battle. His tough, rock crystal exterior can sometimes hide his more delicate quirks. 2BELLS – “…*alien sounds* …” Atam is a brilliant mind, an incredible multi-tasker and an avid lover of all forms of puzzles and games. His easy going, chill demeanor masks a driven focus that can see Atam work for days – fueled by his passion to solve complex puzzles. Subscribe to our channel to discover a surprising mystery about Atam! Atam – “I have a plan. It’s risky, but it just might work! …. Oorah! Oorah!” Although young by human standards, Dee La is one of the most accomplished, intelligent and qualified Snap Ships pilots in all of the Forge ranks. She knows this and always expects the best of herself. When faced with a challenge, she takes it head on – hard. Dee La comes from a race of incredibly strong and proud people known for their expert navigation and piloting skills. Dee La – “Since ancient times, my people travelled the waterways of our planet, natural explorers. We’re still renowned for our piloting skills. We’ve just gone from waterways to space lanes.” Dex is the Commanding Officer of The Forge – he is a leader, a warrior, and always willing, ready and able to stand on the front lines of space combat. Dex is tasked with leading forward operations, combat ops, as well as providing further training to the best-of-the-best Snap Ships. Dex – “… and we are the last chance. I’ve lost family, friends, home, but with your help we will not lose more.” Klik is one of the best pilots in the universe. Fearless, driven, and hungry to prove himself, Klik takes risks – sometimes against everyone’s better judgement. His ability to see Snap Ships transformations like no one else gives him a flying ability that borders on a superpower, but his humble upbringing forced him to become a Snap Ships technician instead of a pilot. Will his dreams of flying ever come true? Klik – “My father was a forge pilot, he was the best, fighting to protect us….”
Occupational Therapist, Megan Smith, suggests some age-appropriate games that your children will love to play. They have the added benefit of being fantastic for their development too. Development games for 0-12 months Game: Peek-a-boo How does this game help development: During the end of your baby’s first year, they start to develop a cognitive concept called ‘object permanence.’ Ultimately, this is the brain’s ability to note that when an object is no longer within the visual field, it still exists. You will notice that your baby will start showing signs of separation anxiety around eight months of age. For instance, when you leave the room, your baby may begin to whine or make louder noises. This is their brains exploring the concept that when you disappear visually, you are not disappearing off the face of the earth. Boost the gameplay: Play the game with various other objects, hide bears and toys under blankets or balls in boxes and tins and encourage exploration. Show your little one that the object exists even when it is covered and cannot be seen. Use your voice when your face is hidden, this reinforces the concept that she cannot see your face, but because she can hear you, it is still there. Development games for 1-2 years Game: Finding objects hidden in the sand How does this activity help development? This is another great game to reinforce the concept of object permanence as the toddler’s brain develops. It challenges them on a higher level to search for an object when they do not know what it is. The game provides sensory stimulation through tactile (touch) and visual (sight) systems and challenges the brain to interpret this sensation and simultaneously execute bilateral hand coordination to dig through the sand and locate the objects. Finding hidden objects in sand provides an opportunity for the toddler to start the early development of different visual perceptual skills. Some of these are: Visual Form constancy: to distinguish one similar object from another. Visual figure-ground: the ability to identify an object from different backgrounds. Visual Closure: To identify an object when only half of the object can be seen. Boost the gameplay: Make sure the objects you hide are brightly coloured and can easily be seen against the background of the sand, the objects should also be large enough to fit in the toddler’s palm, any smaller, and they may struggle to find them. Use familiar toys, such as toy fish, flowers, pets and cars. This assists them with identification and will elicit feelings of success. As the toddler ages, you can make the game more challenging and exciting by hiding smaller objects that are more difficult to find and hiding two of each object and encouraging the search for pairs. This can assist in the development of early number concept development. Development games for 2-3 years old Game: Throw the bean bag in the hula-hoop How does this game help development? This game challenges the gross-motor developmental skills and visual perceptual skills, as it requires hand-eye coordination to work alongside visual perception to create success. The use of bean bags provides the toddler with proprioceptive input (this is when the muscles and tendons provide input to the brain explaining where the limb is in space), which is very important information needed to plan and execute a movement appropriately. Boost the gameplay: Put little treats in each hoop that they can win if they get the bean bag in – it will be like taking them to a carnival! Development games for 4-5 years old Game: Hop-scotch How does this game help development? Hop-Scotch is a gross-motor based game. This means that the game itself focuses on developing and challenging gross motor skills, including hand-eye coordination and hand-foot coordination. These games also challenge the child’s bilateral integration, which is the ability to use both sides of the body, in different movement planes, at the same time. This is a skill that is later refined and needed for writing and cutting at school. Boost the gameplay: Make use of bright colours and shapes which the child can hop and jump onto. This is a fun way to incorporate basic concepts (counting, colours and shapes) into playtime.
There’s no doubt that “online” has become the new norm for almost everything. From business meetings and work to entertainment and socialising. School curriculums are also no exception to the rule and extra school lessons have had to move from in-person tutoring to a more digital realm. But here’s why extra classes online aren’t all bad, in fact with Paper Video you might even find them more engaging and favourable compared to traditional tutoring. You decide when and where Flexibility has become one of the most important factors. Busy schedules can make it difficult to stick to set tutoring times and we’ve had to tailor our lives around them. Travelling around from one extracurricular to the next has also become a thing of the past, especially in our current climate. Online tutoring allows learners to catch up in the comfort of their own homes at convenient times that suit an entire household. Paper Video gives learners instant at-home-access to the ultimate collection of revision resources with thousands of embedded video lessons, taught by experienced and engaging teachers. As a result, learners can simply log in, whenever, wherever, to get access to an extra teacher. It’s not just one expert teacher on the line Traditionally, personal tutors specialise in one or two subjects and learners might find that they would like to excel in or need help with more than one subject. Signing up for Paper Video gives learners access to Maths, Physical Sciences*, Life Sciences* and Accounting all on one platform (*covered in Natural Sciences for grade 8 and 9 learners). Not only that, an exceptional list of teachers from a selection of some of the top schools in the country, means that one platform gives you access to specialised experts in each subject. You still get your one-on-one time Many digital learning platforms do come with the perception that there’s not much room for one-on-one interaction. This may be a deal-breaker from some, but many e-learning, online tutoring and online schooling platforms are adapting and making sure their lessons are as engaging, animated and in-depth as possible to accommodate learners who need that extra personal touch. To ensure this, Paper Video has created over 11,000 video lessons that cover everything from individual past exam questions to entire topics in the syllabus. Each video follows a step-by-step approach to explain the required concepts, so the platform ensures that the resources cover any question learners might have. Find what you’re looking for, faster Convenience has become a key driver in the modern world and digital tutoring platforms are making it easier to not only get down to the specifics, but also finding answers fasters. Paper Video helps learners find what they’re looking for with their past exam questions and topics in each subject linked to searchable keywords. Learners can simply type in a word in the platforms’ search box and find a list of all related past exam questions and topic video lessons. Less pressure, more learning While participation is encouraged in many classes, it can often place a lot of pressure on learners and cultivate a competitive environment. Learners all engage and study differently, so while the typical classroom environment is stimulating for some, it does not work as well for others. Today, digital resources can give learners the option to study in a way that’s comfortable for them, and the more comfortable they are, the easier it is to retain information. With Paper Video, learners can study online in their own time and track their own progress. The platform also gives learners the freedom to study at their own pace and revisit concepts they might not have understood, all without the pressure of feeling left behind. Whether you’re a parent or a learner that’s still getting used to the idea of the online migration, the fact remains that online technologies have blown digital education and tutoring opportunities right open. It’s not only saving time but money. Its accessibility, individuality and flexibility are what’s making it more appealing by the day, especially with the unprecedented challenges being faced by learners at the moment. Visit www.papervideo.co.za or contact Paper Video on 061 357 2304 for more information on how to get started.
It is every child’s dream to see a toy they love come to life before their very eyes. Although the Snap Ships line of construction toys already offer real world active play, Snap Ships goes even further with the Augmented Reality (AR) app available on Google Play Store and Apple App Store. With the introduction of AR games, children now have access to advanced forms of technology. The virtual world develops rapidly, and gamified apps can act as an important catalyst to enhance play time and so improve children’s imagination while teaching vital digital skills at the same time. AR technology is a great way to bring digital learning lessons into a real-world situation, turning screen time into a sensory experience where what’s behind the screen is just as important as what’s on the screen. The Snap Ships Augmented Reality experience is not just a simple partner app to the physical product, but a world building experience immersing children into the Snap Ships universe and the heroic characters that exist within it. The Snap Ships app offers several amazing features including: AR – summon ships in Augmented Reality allowing the user to scan and test systems EXPLORE – Experience the Snap Ships universe and learn about the fleet BUILD – 3D instructions for core ships, plus endless custom and combination ships BATTLE – Choose your favourite ship and participate in quick combat flights against the Komplex JOIN – Users gets draw into the imaginative world by joining the Forge as a new recruit. Rank up and unlock awesome ships COLLECTION – Track your collection and discover new builds to create with your kits UNIQUE SHIPS – Check back daily for new unique ships builds, an always evolving supply of new building ideas for your toy fleet! AR creates a link between the real and digital world, offering children an added sense of wonder through the app, while ultimately still leading children back to the physical toy. Interacting with an app such as this also increases a child’s confidence and independence as they learn valuable digital skills while playing. In other words, children from an early age become more independent in handling tasks which also boosts their confidence levels. The advantage of AR is its openness. It offers the freedom to constantly change, update and create. Leading experts are also of the opinion that augmented reality would also assist to nurture a child’s inner creative. Additionally, it can be said that the learning experience of a child can be improved to significant levels. Motivation and concentration are two main components that further boost the creativity of a child. The AR games used by kids can holistically make sure that they learn new ways of interacting and dealing with technology. AR applications also improve cognitive skills and memory through the interactions between child and the app. With the use of AR technology in real world toys, children learn the value of utilising technology to enhance their lives but to not be a slave to the screen. In the case of the Snap Ships AR app. the rewards offered by the app is focused on the real-world Snap Ships toy in the form of imagination stimulating world building activities, additional creative ideas for custom Snap Ships toy builds and more.
Helping your teen to navigate through difficult challenges and still come out resilient, knowing they will recover after a set-back, is an important part of parenting. When a teen has confidence, they are equipped to make decisions. When they have a better understanding of the world around them it’s easier to risk opportunities which helps them exceed in life. A study by Harvard University’s Centre on the Developing Child found that: Resilience requires supportive relationships and opportunities for skill-building. Resilience results from a dynamic interaction between internal predispositions and external experiences. Learning to cope with manageable threats to our physical and social well-being is critical for the development of resilience. Some children respond in more extreme ways, therefore individual traits need to be acknowledged. Individuals never completely lose their ability to improve their coping skills, and they often learn how to adapt to new challenges. Research has identified a set of factors that help children achieve positive outcomes in the face of significant adversity. Individuals who demonstrate resilience in response to one form of adversity may not necessarily do so in response to another. Yet when communities and families strengthen these factors, they optimize resilience across multiple contexts. Factors include: Providing supportive adult-child relationships; Scaffolding learning so the child builds a sense of self-efficacy and control; Helping strengthen adaptive skills and self-regulatory capacities; and Using faith and cultural traditions as a foundation for hope and stability. Good self-esteem activities that parents can apply according to Dr Serahni Symington, Child and Adolescent Counselling and Play Therapist, include the following: Encourage independence to make their own decisions about how they dress, for instance. Having responsibilities at home like walking the dog or making dinner. Enable problem-solving by assisting your child in making choices in a safe space. This will help equip them to make good decisions when they find themselves in less protective situations. Encouragement is good, but over-praise can do more damage than good if they lack the ability to take responsibility for their actions. Praise effort not outcome. Your teen can control their effort, but not always the outcome. Set realistic bars for outcomes. Emotional expression is crucial. TALK about emotions and feelings. Explore all aspects of anger, grief, fear, joy and happiness in a thoughtful and logical way. Help develop positive self-talk. How teens talk about themselves says a lot about how they see themselves. Help them identify thoughts that aren’t true by pointing out how being overly harsh can be detrimental. Teach them to reframe the irrational with something more realistic. Lead by example. It’s important to model self-confidence and resilience during challenging times as children look to their parents as role models. “Identity is grounded in feeling safe in your environment. Nurturing growth and believing in yourself, is an important stepping stone to raising a confident teen with a positive identity, “ Dr Symington concludes. Wingu Academy realises the importance of encouraging a positive identity. This is why they established a Wellness Hub that assist both students and parents with guidelines and counselling to find a healthy balance between self-improvement and self-acceptance.
For so many of us Hasbro’s classic games collection are the building blocks of our childhood. They’ve taught us simple fundamental life lessons like sharing and teamwork while enjoying quality family time together, creating memories to last a lifetime. When the time comes to pass some of these memories down to the next generation, we realise there’s so much more to games night. Hasbro’s board games provide a great opportunity to get together as a family and share the fun – memories included! Especially now in an environment when we may not be able to spend time with all our loved ones. This Winter, what better way to remind us to reconnect and encourage positivity than by spreading the joy that time spent together with a classic Hasbro Game and a mug of hot chocolate brings. Hasbro, one of the world’s largest toy, game and entertainment experience companies, has you covered with a wide range of fun to play and fun to share board game options including: It’s the Twister game, the classic game that ties players up in knots! This action-packed group game is fun for parties or a game night with the family. See where the spinner lands and make a move. Left hand red, piece of cake! Right hand yellow, no problemo! Hilarity ensues as players twist, turn, tangle — and struggle to keep their hands and feet glued to the mat. Right foot blue … uh oh, this is getting tough! Who can do it? Once a player topples over, or their knee or elbow hits the mat, they’re out. The last player standing wins! Bounce ’em in for the win! The Connect 4 Shots game is fast-paced, rapid-fire fun in a race to get 4 shots in a row! Countdown to start 1-2-3…bounce! Two players bounce the lightweight, colourful balls into the grid at the same time. Remember, the balls must hit the table before going in. Keep bouncing balls, trying to fill the holes in the grid vertically, horizontally, or diagonally. Once a player gets 4 in a row of their colour, they win the game! Then when the game is over, fold the grid into a handy storage case. Select a favourite Monopoly Classic token, place it on Go and roll the dice to own it all! This edition features classic Monopoly gameplay: it’s all about buying, selling, and trading properties to win. Chance or Community cards can be a game changer. Will they make a player richer — or send someone to Jail? The Monopoly game is a Family Game Night favourite, and it’s a fun indoor activity for kids. It’s the block-balancing, tower-tumbling classic Jenga game! How will you stack up against the laws of gravity? To begin, stack the genuine hardwood blocks into a sturdy tower, using the handy stacking sleeve. Then slide out the blocks one by one and place them on top of the stack. Is your hand steady enough to slide out the last block before the tower collapses? Quick and easy to set up, playing the Jenga game is a fun thing to do while staying at home. It’s also a favourite game for parties and game night. Play it solo, with friends, or in teams! How do you Jenga? Battleship is the classic game of naval combat that brings together competition, strategy, and excitement! In head-to-head battle, players search for the enemy’s fleet of ships and destroy them one by one. With convenient portable battle cases and realistic looking naval crafts, Battleship game puts players right in the middle of the action. Players command a powerful fleet that includes an aircraft carrier, a destroyer, a submarine, a patrol boat, and a battleship. Each player announces the coordinates of each strike and sees if it hits. Position ships strategically to survive opponent’s relentless strikes, and track hits and misses with red and white pegs on the ocean grid. No ship is safe in this game of stealth and suspense. CLUE, the classic murder mystery game. Six suspects. One murderer. One weapon. One location. And, of course, one winner. Play the game CLUE and use your super-sleuthing skills to detect whodunit, where, and with which weapon. Was it Mustard in the Library with the Rope? Play CLUE the board game and figure it out. *Hasbro Gaming and all related trademarks and logos are trademarks of Hasbro, Inc.
Berry Hungry Baby Butterfly, Scented Doll with colour Change Accessories, Assortment These My Garden Baby Berry Hungry Baby Butterfly dolls (30cm ) are full of sweet surprises! Little ones will flutter over their adorable wings, fantastical hair, and yummy berry scents. “Feed” My Garden Baby doll with the cup and spoon — just add cold water for colour-change fun! For dress-up play, these dolls wear removable onesies with berry adorable prints. Plus, the packaging folds into a crib for even more nurturing play. Choose from My Garden Baby with raspberry, strawberry, and blueberry themes. Little ones will love tending to and caring for their My Garden Baby ! Each sold separately, subject to availability. Colours and decorations may vary. Features and Benefits: My Garden Baby Berry Hungry Baby Butterfly dolls are full of sweet surprises! Little ones will flutter over their adorable wings, fantastical hair, and yummy berry scents. ”Feed” the doll with the spoon and cup — just add cold water for colour-change fun! “Feed” the doll with the spoon and cup — just add cold water for colour-change fun! The dolls wear berry-printed onesies that are removable for changing fun. Plus, the packaging box folds into a crib where My Garden Baby can flutter into sweet dreams! RRP: R399,90 My Garden Baby – My first baby soft swaddle butterfly doll Bring home a bundle of joy with these My Garden Baby My First Baby Butterfly dolls! Little ones will flutter over their adorable wings, fantastical hair, and sweet jasmine scent. Wrap the plush wings around the doll for a snuggly swaddle! With a soft body and 23- cm tall, these baby butterfly dolls are perfect for little arms to snuggle and hold. “Soothe” the doll with the tethered pacifier! Plus, the packaging folds into a crib for even more nurturing play. Tuck My Garden Baby in so she can flutter into sweet garden dreams! Each sold separately, subject to availability. colours and decorations may vary. Features and Benefits: Bring home a bundle of joy with My Garden Baby My First Baby Butterfly dolls! Born with sweet jasmine scents, fantastical hair, and plush wings that wrap into swaddles. With soft tummies and 23- cm tall, they’re perfect for snuggles or take- along play. Plus, the packaging box folds into a crib where this baby butterfly can flutter into sweet garden dreams! Whimsical, soft, and cuddly – – these My Garden Baby dolls make the perfect first dolls for little ones! Choose from blue, purple, and pink dolls. RRP: R299,00 Available at leading retail outlets!
Some parents think that their children don’t pay much attention to social issues, such as the state of the environment. But the truth is, kids care a lot about these things as a global survey indicates that 95 percent of Generation Alpha – children born after 2010 – believes that taking care of the environment should be a priority. It’s encouraging that children have such strong opinions about the environment, but it’s important to teach them how they can actively do their part to save the earth. By teaching kids how to save energy, parents can help their little ones develop good habits and reduce their impact on the planet. Here are some easy ways to teach your kids how to conserve energy at home. Close the drapes and blinds A simple way to conserve energy during the hot months is to close the drapes and blinds during the hottest part of the day. Direct sunlight that comes through windows can raise the temperature of your home, and this means that your air conditioner will have to work harder and use more energy to cool your living space. Assign this easy task to your child and remind them to do this every afternoon. You can also give your air conditioner a break and turn on the fan to keep the cool air circulating inside your home. Remind your child not to open the doors or windows, since doing so would let the hot air in from outside and make your home feel uncomfortably warm again. Ditch the TV and gaming console Studies reveal that children spend almost three hours a day watching TV. Too much screen time not only affects a child’s physical and mental wellbeing, but it also can result in costly utility bills. Instead of watching TV or playing video games, encourage your child to unplug for at least three hours. During this time, your little one can read a book, play board games, or go outside for a walk or a bike ride. Go for timed showers South African households use about 250 litres of water a day, which is more than the world average of 185 litres. To conserve water and reduce your energy bills, encourage your child to have a timed shower. Teenagers and young adults usually take long showers, so this may be a good idea if you have older kids at home. Put a timer in your bathroom and ask them to set it every time they shower. They can have a 10-minute shower if they’re washing their hair, and a 5-minute shower if they just want to feel refreshed. Have rules for using the fridge Young kids have a habit of repeatedly opening and closing the fridge, even if they’re not getting anything inside it. Some even leave the fridge door open, which can let warm air in and make the appliance work harder to restore its normal interior temperature. Place a sign on the fridge to remind them not to leave the door open. To prevent them from constantly opening and closing the fridge, pour ice cold water into a large insulated jug and leave it on the table so they can get a cool drink as often as they want without having to open the fridge. You can also leave fruits and crackers on the table so they don’t have to open the fridge to hunt for snacks. Teaching your kids how to conserve energy at home enables them to do their part to save the planet. Try these easy ways to teach your children to save energy, and help them develop good habits as they grow.
After a school shutdown of more than two months, teachers, parents and students are all gearing up to save the 2020 academic year. However, as Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga and the Department of Basic Education kickstart their phased approach there are still many questions around the ramifications of the disruptive year and how parents and teachers can help limit its effects on our children.
What is Snap Ships? Snap Ships is an award-winning space themed construction toy line, making use of a unique core cube building system which combines to create multiple, posable, action play toys. This versatile building system will ensure hours of fun as children can build and rebuild as they choose with their imagination being the only limit. What’s in the box? Each building set of Snap Ships includes an instruction manual, core cubes, decorative pieces and a pilot figurine. Depending on the size of the model the instruction manual will contain up to three different models to build. Snap Ships feature a unique building system which is based on cubical blocks (core cubes), each with a stud which can connect with ports on the other five sides of the cube. The core cubes serve as the base for assembling a ship. These cubes can even connect at a 45 degree rotation from one another allowing for even more creativity and unique structures. Once the base has been built, then decorative pieces snap into the ports of the cubes. These pieces include wings, fins, engine intakes and exhausts, thrusts, and a variety of weapon systems. Each Snap Ship also includes a secret UJU tech system unique to that set. In fact, it is sealed separately in the packaging to add to the mystery. Sets includes a cockpit piece with an opening canopy into which the pilot can be placed. The box lid can be used as a stand for displaying your Snap Ships making the already unique packaging multi-purpose. Finally, each set comes with a tool for helping to separate parts during disassembly. When look at the cubes which form the base structure of the ships, they look unremarkable at first glance. However, they snap together easily and stay together. Snap Ships aren’t just built to look at, they are meant for kids to play with them. The blocks do not rotate once they are snapped together. However, you can rotate them before you snap them together so they connect with 45 degree rotational offset which allows for some unique designs. Once you have all the blocks forming the general shape of the ship you are building, it is time to add the decorations. Snap Ships as a construction toy is great for STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) development as they teach kids to follow steps, they encourage free play when finished, and also allow their creative minds to develop when kids build their own creations. There are 10 Snap Ships sets at various price points, from stocking filler to large, special birthday gifts. The two factions in the Snap Ships world also offer to unique looking craft build styles while still being 100% interchangeable with one another to make for truly creative craft creation. There is also a corresponding Snap Ships app which allows users to generate ships in the real world through AR (augmented reality), explore the functions and various alternative build instructions for each ship, as well as allowing users to take a Snap Ship for a virtual flight. Each Snap Ships set contain its own cockpit, weapon system and UJU tech which is unique to that set. This makes the range highly collectible and with all parts being interchangeable there is no shortage of unique build opportunities and for your child’s imagination to take flight. After completing building the base ship you will find left over pieces which are needed for one of the other builds included in the set. This means that even the various builds inside of the same set is unique to one another. Snap Ships are available nationwide from Toy Kingdom, Hamleys and C.N.A. as well as online from Takealot and other fine retailers.
Exam time is usually a dreaded and stressful period for parents and children alike, but a little support and motivation can go a long way in reducing stress levels. Here are some guidelines of what you can do to make life a bit easier on your child (and in effect you too!): Create a consistent study environment. According to parentinfo.org it’s best to set up a study corner that is comfortable and inviting to work in, with as few distractions as possible. Everything should be close at hand so they don’t have to spend time searching for things like highlighters, post it notes, paper, etc. Keep communication open. It’s important to show that you are interested in your child’s studies. Ask them how they are doing, do they need any help, how did the exam go. Sometimes a child just needs to vent or know you care about their well-being. Encourage relaxation and taking part in other activities to unwind, like exercising, listening to music, painting and interacting with friends. These can aid significantly in stress management. When it comes to studying and breaks the Pomodoro Technique is the most effective in the world. Study for 25 minutes with 5 minute breaks in-between each study session. After four cycles of 25 minute studies, take a longer 30-minute break. Help your child stay focused with following a well-structured study schedule. According to brainbuxa.com discipline is the bridge between goals and accomplishment. It’s important to enforce restrictions, but don’t micro-manage. Show your child that you trust him/her enough to take responsibility. If your child prefers being quizzed to prep for exams, put in the effort and make it a time of bonding rather than a time of frustration. Stay calm, do flash cards and reward accomplishments by sneaking in a favourite snack. Ensure that your child eats healthy and gets enough sleep. These are very important factors for the brain to recharge and function properly, especially during exam time. Always remember to use words of encouragement. Whether the exam went well or not. Help your child to stay positive. Most children are less worried about the exam itself than about disappointing their parents or losing the respect of their fellow classmates if they do badly. So if it didn’t go well, instead of dwelling on the mistakes, which they cannot change, rather help them relax and prepare for the next exam. “The role of the parent is very important in this online teaching journey. Parents should create and promote a positive learning environment for the student. Parents should also encourage the student to follow a routine to stay focussed and to develop responsibility, self-discipline and independence. Our teachers, student mentors and tutors all have one goal in mind and that is to see our students succeed and prosper,” says Belinda van der Westhuizen, Wingu-Academy’s Director of Education and Assessments. “Most importantly, celebrate your child’s accomplishments and enjoy the journey with him/her.”
