Parenting Hub

A Guide to Winning the First Year & Reaching Baby’s Developmental Milestones 

Embracing fun from day one is easy when you’re focusing on key milestones and Winning the First Year. From the first giggle to those wobbly first steps, every moment in a baby’s first year is a building block for lifelong learning. Fisher-Price understands that play is more than just fun—it’s essential for development. With toys that support cognitive, sensory, and motor skill growth, parents can turn everyday moments into meaningful learning experiences. Because seeing little ones thrive is easy because the Happiest Childhood Starts Here: Fisher-Price Glow And Grow Kick & Play Piano Gym Baby Playmat (Age 0 – 36 months) Get your little one moving, grooving (and learning) with the Glow and Grow Kick & Play Piano Gym from Fisher-Price. This soft baby activity mat features a high contrast toy arch with 10 linkable toys. The removable piano with 5 light up keys features a multi-coloured light show and has 4 musical settings that grow with baby from newborn to toddler. With 3 Smart Stages learning levels, and a bonus freestyle mode with real piano notes, you can keep things fresh and fun as your little virtuoso goes from lay and play and tummy time to sitting up and making music! RSP: R 1489.99 Fisher-Price Soothe ‘n Snuggle Otter (Age 0+) The Fisher-Price® Soothe ‘n Snuggle Otter is a unique plush soother that helps comfort your baby just like you do. The soother’s soft textures, up to 30 minutes of calming music, sound effects and soft lights, and gentle rhythmic motion engage your baby’s developing tactile, visual, and auditory senses while helping to promote relaxation. The otter’s sweet face, calming motion, super snuggly fabrics, and satiny tail help comfort your baby, giving them a sense of security. RSP: R719.99 Fisher-Price Plush Smart Stages Laugh & Learn Puppy (Age 6 – 36 months) Say hello to your baby’s first best friend! Puppy is soft, cuddly, and he’s ready to make sure learning fun never ends. He responds to your baby’s touch with exciting sing-along songs and phrases that introduce more than 100 first words, parts of the body, colours, shapes and more! And because every baby develops at their own pace, Puppy comes with Smart Stages™ technology, so you can choose the level that’s best for your child. There are a variety of songs, sounds and phrases within each of the three levels of play. And Puppy’s light-up, multicolour heart even twinkles along to the music! RSP: R749.99 The Fisher-Price® Rock-a-Stack® This toy offers classic stacking fun for your baby. They will love grasping, holding, shaking and exploring the five colourful rings. This helps develop fine motor skills and gross motor skills as baby grasps, shakes, and stacks the rings. Babies can stack the rings on the post, then bat at the wobbly base to make it rock back and forth. Stacking helps them develop hand-eye coordination and introduces them to the concept of relative size as they learn to sort and stack from biggest to smallest! RSP: R219.99 Fisher-Price Baby’s First Blocks Set  Open a bucket of fun for your baby with the Baby’s First Blocks set from Fisher-Price. These chunky, colourful blocks help introduce colours and shapes as babies sort, stack and drop the blocks through the slots in the bucket lid. Empty the bucket to start the fun over again and again! And with an easy-carry handle, you can take Baby’s First Blocks wherever you and your tiny tot go! All that block-grasping and shape-sorting play helps strengthen your baby’s hand-eye coordination and dexterity while enhancing their problem-solving skills. RSP: R295.99 Winning the First Year is all about celebrating every giggle, every discovery, and every milestone, big or small. With Fisher-Price, parents can feel confident that they’re not just choosing toys but tools that nurture growth, spark curiosity, and make learning fun. Whether it’s tummy time, or those first steps, the right companion can turn every stage into a joyful achievement. Because when play leads the way, you’ll know that the Happiest Childhood starts here.

July 2, 2025
Yummy Cakes

Beat the chill with these fun, easy and yummy winter holiday treats

It’s that time of year again when South Africans haul out their winter wardrobes and cosy up with their families. With winter school holidays just around the corner, it’s the perfect time to start planning indoor fun for young, old, and everyone in between.  More time with family, more time entertaining, and generally just more time for fun; it’s the season for board games, movie marathons, and warm afternoons and evenings with friends. But none of these magical moments will be complete without yummy snacks to go along with them, which is why we’re sharing easy-to-make treats that the whole family can create together.  Whether it’s a day in the kitchen with the kids, playdate fun for school friends, or even a dinner party delight, there’s a sweet treat that’s perfect for any and all winter occasions! Forget complicated recipes and long hours in the kitchen. We’ve compiled a list of fun, delicious, and incredibly easy-to-make winter treats, using one main ingredient – cake! We’ve used Yummy Cakes, but any left over cake will do.  Winter warmers for a toasty treat When the temperature drops, nothing beats a warm dessert. These simple recipes will give you comforting winter warmers in minutes. Mug Pudding – This is the ultimate quick comfort food. Simply crumble your cake into a mug, whisk in an egg and a splash of milk, and for the chocolate lovers, throw in a few chocolate chips. A quick spin in the microwave, and you’ll have a warm, gooey pudding-style dessert ready to be devoured.  Warm Apple Crumble Cups – For a twist on a classic winter dessert, these apple crumble cups are a must-try. Layer crumbled vanilla cake with microwaved cinnamon apples in a cup or bowl. Top it off with a spoonful of creamy yoghurt or warm custard for a truly decadent treat.  Toasty Cake & Custard Pots – Simplicity at its most delicious. Gently heat up some cake chunks and pour warm, velvety custard over them. A final dusting of cinnamon or nutmeg will fill your kitchen with the warmest, most inviting winter aromas.  South Africans will never miss the opportunity to light the fire, so when the winter sunshine is out, these “Fireside Toasties” are a fun and gooey treat. Make a sandwich using cake as the “bread” and fill it with marshmallows or banana slices. Toast your creation until it’s golden brown, and the filling is melted and delicious. Whether done on the braai or just around the fireplace, the fun is in the making, while the joy is in the snacking! Fun frozen & chilled delights Who says chilly treats are only for summer afternoons around the pool? These frozen and chilled ideas are a great way to have some hands-on fun with the kids, no matter the weather outside. Frozen Cake Sandwiches – A guaranteed hit with the little ones. Take two slices of cake and fill them with a big scoop of your favourite ice cream. Roll the sides in colourful sprinkles or chocolate chips for extra crunch and flair. Pop them in the freezer for a bit, and you have your very own mini ice cream sandwiches.  Cake Sundae Jars – Unleash your family’s creativity with DIY sundae jars. Get a few glass jars and set up a creation station with cubes of cake, custard or ice cream, a variety of fruits, and a selection of toppings like sauces and sprinkles. Everyone can have fun layering and building their own personalised dessert masterpiece.  Party-style snacks for indoor entertaining When friends come over, these party-style snacks are perfect for sharing and will definitely impress guests with their yummy flavours and clever creativity. Cake Pops – The ever-popular cake pop, made simple. Mix crumbled cake with a bit of cream cheese to bind it together. Roll the mixture into balls, insert a stick, dip them in melted chocolate or sprinkles, and let them chill. They’re a perfect bite-sized treat for any occasion. Microwave Cake S’mores – Enjoy the classic taste of s’mores without the need for lighting the fire. Sandwich a piece of chocolate and a marshmallow between two slices of cake. A few seconds in the microwave is all it takes to melt them into gooey perfection.  Cake and Berry Skewers – For a lighter, fresher option, these skewers look good and taste even better! Simply alternate cubes of cake with fresh, juicy berries like strawberries, grapes, or blueberries on a skewer. For an extra touch of sweetness, you can add a little drizzle of honey.  Yummy Banana Sushi Rolls – This is a truly inventive and fun snack. Flatten a slice of cake with a rolling pin and spread a thin layer of chocolate or peanut butter on top. Stick a banana in at one end and roll it up tightly. Slice the roll into “sushi” rounds and finish by rolling them in desiccated coconut or crushed cereal for added texture.  Who says winter can’t be fun? This winter, you can make your home the ultimate go-to place for family-filled, heart-warming deliciousness. With a little imagination mixed with a lot of fun, you can transform any day into a yummy day!

July 1, 2025
Twinkl

Making Maths Easier for Every Child: Discover the Twinkl Maths App

If you’re a parent, you’ve probably experienced the daily homework battles or tried to make sense of the methods your child is learning in Maths today. The good news? Help is finally here – and it’s as simple as downloading an app! The Twinkl Maths App is designed to make learning Maths fun, interactive and easy to understand – whether your child is just starting to count or preparing for high school assessments. Covering the South African curriculum from Preschool to Grade 9, the app provides bite-sized, curriculum-aligned questions and activities that build your child’s confidence and help them master key concepts step by step. With colourful illustrations, child-friendly questions, and instant feedback, the app is perfect for practising at home, whether for homework, revision, or extra support during the holidays. What makes the Twinkl Maths App even more appealing is that it’s designed by educators who understand what children need – and what parents are looking for.  Maths Made Easier – In Your Language As part of its Maths Made Easier campaign, Twinkl has also released a range of dual-medium Maths resources for Grade 7 learners. These resources are now available in English alongside isiZulu, isiXhosa, Sepedi, Setswana and Sesotho – helping more learners understand tricky topics in a language that makes sense to them. It’s part of Twinkl’s ongoing commitment to making education accessible, inclusive, and empowering for every South African child. Win a Set of SHARP EL-W535SA Scientific Calculators for Your Child’s Class! To celebrate Maths Month and the launch of their dual-medium Maths content, Twinkl is giving away a full class set of SHARP EL-W535SA Scientific Calculators on their Facebook page! To enter, simply visit our Facebook group and look out for the Math Made Easy Competition post with the entry details. It’s that easy – and it’s a great way to support your child’s learning while standing a chance to win a prize that makes a real difference in the classroom. Download the Twinkl Maths App from your app store today, or explore free printable resources and bilingual Maths support at www.twinkl.co.za.Follow @TwinklSouthAfrica on Facebook to enter the competition and get involved in the Maths Made Easier campaign!

July 1, 2025
Bonitas – innovation, life stages and quality care

Smoking and pregnancy – should I quit

If you’re an avid smoker you’re probably wondering if being pregnant means you should wave your smoking habits goodbye. Unfortunately, even if your health isn’t enough for you to stop, your baby’s health should be. What can happen to my baby if I keep smoking? Smoking during your pregnancy is harmful to your unborn baby. The chemicals in cigarettes are both damaging to you and your baby; nicotine and other harmful poisons increase the risk of health problems for unborn babies. Second hand smoke, vaping and e-cigarettes are all still damaging to your baby’s health and should also be avoided (or quitted). You may need to designate your house a non-smoking area, and ask any friends and colleges not to smoke around you. So what exactly does smoking do to your unborn baby? Smoking lowers the amount of oxygen available to your growing baby and nicotine damages the baby’s brain and lungs. Smoking can make it harder to conceive, and if you do fall pregnant, can lead to miscarriages or stillbirth. Babies can be born premature, have a low birth weight, or be born with birth defects.  Smoking during pregnancy can also affect your baby’s health after they are born, leading to cases of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, asthma and other respiratory problems and infections. Help – I am really struggling to quit! Even if you have decided that quitting is in both of your best interests, this may be easier said than done. If you are pregnant already it is best to quit without using any medication, as this is healthier for you and your baby. You also won’t be able to transition to vaping or e-cigarettes, as these too, are harmful and usually contain nicotine, which is damaging to health. In order to quit for good, try avoid the triggers that make you want to smoke, and try find something else that you can do when the craving kicks in. Get the support of your family and friends, or join a stop-smoking group or self help plan. Whatever your plan is to stop, you can be sure that both you and your child’s health will benefit from it.

July 1, 2025
Parenting Hub

How to Build Your Child’s Confidence Without Creating Pressure

As parents, we all want our children to feel confident, capable, and proud of themselves. But in a world that often rewards achievement over effort, it’s easy to unintentionally place pressure on our kids—sometimes even in the name of encouragement. So how do we help build authentic confidence in our children without overwhelming them? Here are a few research-backed, emotionally healthy ways to do it: 1. Praise Effort, Not Outcome Instead of saying “You’re so smart,” say “You worked really hard on that.” Praising effort fosters a growth mindset, where children believe their abilities can improve with time and practice. This encourages resilience rather than perfectionism. 🧠 “When we praise children for being smart, we teach them to value performance over learning,” says Dr. Carol Dweck, Stanford psychologist and author of Mindset. 2. Let Them Make Choices Allowing your child to make age-appropriate decisions—like choosing their clothes or what to eat for a snack—helps them trust their instincts and feel in control. This autonomy fosters confidence and reduces anxiety. 3. Celebrate Mistakes as Learning Opportunities Normalise failure as a natural part of learning. If your child feels safe making mistakes, they’ll be more willing to try new things without the fear of judgment or disappointment. You could say: “What do you think you learned from this?” or “I love how you didn’t give up!” 4. Be Their Safe Space Your child should feel unconditionally accepted by you, regardless of how they perform in school, sports, or other areas. Avoid tying praise or attention only to achievements. A consistent, warm relationship gives them the security to explore the world confidently. 5. Model Confidence (and Humility) Children learn more from what we do than what we say. Let them see you try new things, speak kindly to yourself, and admit when you don’t know something. Modelling this balanced confidence shows them that it’s okay to be a work in progress. 6. Encourage Their Interests (Not Yours) Every child has their own passions and strengths. Support what they love—even if it’s different from what you enjoy or excelled in. This gives them the freedom to develop a true sense of identity and confidence in who they are. Final Thought: Confidence isn’t about being the best—it’s about believing you can try, should try, and that you are worthy no matter the result. By providing support without pressure, we allow our children to grow into capable, emotionally healthy individuals who thrive in their own skin. 📚 Sources:

July 1, 2025
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