Expert Advice from Bonitas Medical Fund
Bonitas – innovation, life stages and quality care

What you need to know about Pneumonia

Lee Callakoppen, Principal Officer of Bonitas Medical Fund talks about pneumonia: According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), a child dies from pneumonia every 30 seconds. Which means that around 1.1 million children, under the age of five, die each year. This is more than malaria, AIDS and tuberculosis combined. What is pneumonia? Pneumonia is a lung inflammation caused by a bacterial or viral infection, it’s when the air sacs in the lung fill up with pus and can affect or one or both lungs. The flu shot and pneumonia  Having a flu vaccine is the first line of defence when it comes to protecting yourself, with studies showing it reduces the risk by about 50 to 60%.  The vaccine trains your body to recognise flu and fight it. Pneumonia is a relatively common and serious complication of flu.Supporting evidence from randomised clinical trials indicates that fluvaccines are effective in preventing influenza-associated pneumonia. Signs and symptoms of pneumonia may include: Chest pain when you breathe or cough Confusion or changes in mental awareness (in adults aged 65 and older) A cough, which may produce phlegm Fatigue Fever, sweating and shaking chills Lower than normal body temperature (in adults older than age 65 and people with weak immune systems) Nausea, vomiting or diarrhoea Shortness of breath How are flu and pneumonia different? Bonitas explains that pneumonia symptoms are similar to flu but last longer. The severity of the pneumonia depends on your age and overall health.  In the case of newborns and infants, sometimes they show little or no infection and other times they may vomit, have a fever and cough, have difficulty breathing and eating.  Pneumococcal vaccine  There are a total of 80% Community Acquired Pneumonias (CPAs). These streptococcal bacteria can spread from the nose, throat and ears to cause pneumonia – a severe infection of the lungs.  The vaccine protects you against: Infection that can result in Pneumonia, infection of the blood (bacteremia/sepsis), middle-ear infection (otitis media), or bacterial meningitis. Pneumonia is by the most common of these infections.  Is it an annual vaccination? The pneumococcal vaccination is suitable for those over 65 years of age or immune compromised members a pneumococcal vaccination once every five years.  Who should have the pneumonia vaccination? It is recommended for all individuals aged 65 years or older plus individuals aged 2-64 years with certain long-term health conditions, such as a serious heart or kidney condition. In fact for anyone with an  increased risk, from a  chronic disease, immune-suppressed people particularly those who are HIV positive, cancer sufferers and smokers who are more prone to respiratory illnesses.   The cost of pneumonia In severe cases of Pneumonia, the estimated cost of spending a night in intensive care is R15 000 whereas a Pneumococcal vaccine costs around R1000. Most medical aids do cover the cost. Bonitas offers a free flu vaccine annually to members as well as a once off pneumococcal vaccine for people over 65 years of age. According to the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM), ‘In addition to reducing the risk of hospitalisation for an influenza infection itself, the flu vaccinations appear to reduce the likelihood of hospitalisation for influenza-associated complications such as pneumonia.  When to see a doctor? See your doctor if you have difficulty breathing, chest pain, persistent fever of (39 C) or higher or a persistent cough, especially if you’re coughing up phlegm. 

June 12, 2019
Bonitas – innovation, life stages and quality care

Five facts about ‘flu

Gerhard Van Emmenis, Principal Officer of Bonitas Medical Fund gives five facts about flu: Flu strains, like fashion, change every year The latest flu strain South Africa can expect is nick-named ‘Aussie Flu’. This particular strain – H3N2 – is a subtype of influenza A. The virus has, in fact, been around for a whilebut unfortunately the flu strains have a built in survival mechanism, they mutate or change so they outwit the body’s immune response. Which is why each year flu vaccinations are updated, meaning last year’s won’t necessarily protect you this year.  The symptoms of flu? These include high temperatures, body pain, sore throat, tiredness, loss of appetite and are the same year in and year out. However, some flu strains may cause the symptoms to last for a longer time and be more severe. The flu can also bring on headaches, muscle pain, vomiting and diarrhoea. In people with weaker immune systems, the flu is even more serious.  The flu shot doesn’t gives you flu According to the Centre for Disease Control, ‘A flu shot cannot cause flu and serious allergic reactions to the flu vaccine are rare. However, if you are allergic to eggs you need to notify your doctor. Flu vaccines are currently made either with flu vaccine viruses that have been ‘inactivated’ and are not infectious or with no flu viruses at all. The most common side-effects from the shot are small amounts of soreness, redness, tenderness or swelling around the injection site.  Protecting yourself and your family The flu vaccine reduces your chances of getting flu and, if you do get it, it will be milder.The vaccine trains your body to recognise flu and fight it. More importantly, if you are vaccinated you will protect others, via what is called ’herd immunity’. This includes vulnerable members of the family such as such as small babies and the elderly as well as those who are immune-compromised. Some of the reasons people don’t vaccinate Every year there is a debate about flu injections yet up to 11 000 people die from flu in South Africa every year, despite the flu vaccination being readily available and paid for by most medical aid schemes.  There are a number of reasons, including the notion that:  ‘I don’t get flu’, ‘the vaccine doesn’t work’, ‘it will hurt my arm’ or ‘the vaccine will give me flu’.  However, according to Bonitas, there are very good clinical reasons why you should. Bonitas covers one flu vaccine for all members. Members can go Clicks, Dischem or Pick n Pay pharmacies for the vaccine at no cost, or attend a Bonitas Wellness Day.

June 5, 2019
Bonitas – innovation, life stages and quality care

Deciphering Medical Aid Speak

It can be rather daunting trying to understand the terms in your medical aid plan and all the detailed information about your benefits.  Medical Schemes and the Council for Medical Schemes (CMS) use certain terms in reference to benefits.  They can be tricky to fathom. Here are some of the most frequently asked questions, as highlighted by the Bonitas Medical Fund call centre.   Prescribed Minimum Benefits (PMBs) PMBs are confusing even to those in the medical industry but simply put, it is a list of 26 chronic diseases and 270 treatments which have to be covered by all medical aid schemes as outlined in the Medical Schemes Act.  PMBs are in place to make sure all members have access to certain minimum health services, regardless of their benefit option. The aim is to provide members with continuous care to improve their health and well-being and to make healthcare more affordable. Above Threshold Benefit Medical Schemes set an annual limit for day-to-day claims. Once you have reached this limit – or threshold – then your claims are paid from the ‘Above Threshold Benefit’. The amount available depends on the plan you are on as well as the number of dependants.  Day-to-day limits Members and their dependants are given a pre-determined maximum amount of money for out-of-hospital expenses during a year. There is a limit to what you can spend after which you move onto the above threshold benefit. Pre-authorisation Unless there is a medical emergency, members are required to obtain pre-authorisation from their schemes before being admitted to a hospital for a procedure. If you do not organise pre-authorisation, the scheme can refuse to pay.  Quotes for procedures Bonitas advises members to not only obtain pre-authorisation but to also ask for a detailed quote from the hospital and medical practitioner prior to being admitted to hospital (if it’s not an emergency).  It means you can submit it to your medical aid ahead of the procedure to find out if co-payments will be required and if so, how much they are. Co-payment Medical practitioners and hospital often charge more than medical aid rates. This means medical schemes seldom cover the entire bill.  A co-payment refers to the outstanding portion of the account, for which you will be responsible.  A co-payment varies from one medical aid scheme to another and is sometimes not necessary if you use a designated service provider or network hospital.  The medical aid can pay from 100% – 300% of the medical aid tariffs, depending on the plan you are on. ICD codes This is a coding system developed by the World Health Organisation (WHO) that translates the written description of medical and health information into standard codes.  It means every medical treatment and diagnosis has a specific code – called an ICD 10 code.  These are important as it allows the scheme to identify the code of the healthcare service you require and to make sure payment is made. The correct ICD Code must be included on every claim to ensure you are paid for the correct benefit and t the healthcare practitioners are paid for their service.   Claim After you have seen a doctor or been in hospital, you can either pay the bill directly and claim the amount back from your scheme or your doctor can submit the claim on your behalf.  Remember to ensure that all the correct information is on your claim, including your membership number and the ICD 10 Code. Chronic Medication Is medicine prescribed by a medical practitioner for an uninterrupted period of at least three months. This medicine is used for a medical condition that appears on your scheme’s list of approved chronic conditions. Payment of chronic medication is usually a separate allowance on your medical aid plan. Formulary Medical Aids have a list of medicines on what they call their formulary – or list – that are recommended to treat different diseases.  If you opt for medication not on the formulary there might be a co-payment. Generic medicine There are a number of generic medicines on the market that are cheaper than the original, patented brands however they contain the same active ingredients and are just as effective.  Most medical schemes encourage the use of generic medicines to save costs and help you stretch your benefits. Check with your pharmacist. Private healthcare in South Africa is not cheap and the best way to make the most of your medical aid or hospital plan is to understand what is and isn’t covered as well as the terms and conditions. Make sure you get to grips with the various terms used by your Scheme and Dr and if you are unsure … ask!

May 10, 2019
Bonitas – innovation, life stages and quality care

Pre-authorisation and payment: Do you know the difference?

Medical aid members know that pre-authorisation ahead of a medical procedure is always required but does pre-authorisation mean it’s an agreement to pay in full? No, not necessarily. This is the cause of a great deal of confusion and unhappiness from medical aid members as well as doctors and hospitals. Gerhard Van Emmenis, Principal Officer of Bonitas Medical Funds says, ‘Pre-authorisation is required for all hospital admissions, including emergencies. However, it is not an agreement to pay all the costs and expenses in full.’ Why not? Let’s take you through the Ts and Cs.  Why do they differ? Most medical aid plans have varying hospital benefits according the level of cover you have chosen. Van Emmenis says, ‘All of our plans provide hospital cover for major medical events when you or your dependant is admitted to hospital. But, each plan has different hospital benefits available. We encourage you to use the healthcare providers on our network and to get pre-authorisation for your hospital stay so the providers of your treatment or procedure are paid to the full extent of what your plan offers.’ Understanding your medical aid rate of payment‘ For example’, says Van Emmenis, ‘The Bonitas Rate is the rate at which we reimburse healthcare providers. Where we pay 100% of the Bonitas Rate, this is NOT necessarily what the healthcare provider charges. They may charge 200% of your medical aid rate which means you are responsible for half the payment. Each plan has a different rate according to the premium you pay. If you visit a healthcare provider that charges the Bonitas Rate, we will pay the bill in full (provided that you have benefits available). For this reason it is important to use designated service providers with whom Bonitas has negotiated rates.’ How much will your plan cover? If it is not an emergency the best way to find out how much your medical aid will cover is by asking the hospital and medical practitioners for a detailed quote.  Submit this to your medical aid to check what they will cover and how much the shortfall, if there is one, will be.   Co-payments The shortfall will be in the form of a co-payment. These co-payments differ from one medical aid scheme to another, and are often higher than anticipated, mostly due to medical practitioners and hospital charging higher than the medical aid rate. Minding the gap When there is this shortfall between what the medical scheme pays and what the hospital or specialist charges, it helps if you have taken out gap cover. Even if you have a top of the range medical aid plan, it doesn’t mean there will not be ‘gaps’ between the tariffs your scheme is prepared to pay and the amount your specialist charges. GAP cover is not a medical aid product but an insurance policy taken out to reduce or eliminate co-payments. Again the amount you receive depends on your GAP policy  It is important to note that Gap Cover is an insurance ‘policy’ and is regulated under the Long and Short Term Insurance Act (1998). Medical schemes, on the other hand, are overseen by the Council for Medical Schemes Act (1998) and are not for profit. Ensuring you are covered 1. Make sure you get a quote.  Medical aid members are advised to not only obtain pre-authorisation but a quote from the hospital and medical practitioners prior to being admitted to hospital (if it’s not an emergency).  Submit this to your medical aid to find out if there are any co-payments and if so, how much they are. 2. Find a hospital on your medical fund’s preferred network in order to ensure maximum payment 3. Make sure you fill in provide all information required for pre-authorisation correctly: Have your correct membership number and the details of the member who the request is for The date you are going into hospital and the date of  the treatment or procedure The name of the doctor who will be treating the member, their telephone number and practice number The name of the hospital where you will receive treatment, their telephone number and practice number The relevant procedure and diagnosis (ICD-10) codes for the treatment (ask your doctor for these) If your request for authorisation does not include all the information listed above, your request will not be approved. If your pre-authorisation is declined the reasons for doing so will be listed on the correspondence. If it is approved, you will receive a pre-authorisation number and this will also outline the approved length of your hospital stay and the status of all codes. However remember the pre-authorisation is not a commitment to pay the full amount.  4. Gap cover If you have Gap Cover, notify them of the co-payment required prior to being admitted to hospital as there are limits to the amount they will pay. What about emergencies? Emergencies must be pre-authorised within 48 hours of going into hospital or on the first working day after a weekend or public holiday. If you don’t get pre-authorisation, your account won’t be paid by the Scheme. ‘The most important thing’, says Van Emmenis, ‘is to find out, prior to being admitted, what your medical aid will pay and what payment you are responsible for. It will save a great deal of stress when you are recovering from surgery.’

April 5, 2019
Bonitas – innovation, life stages and quality care

Medical tax rebates stable after budget speech

Private medical aid members can breathe a sigh of relief after the budget speech. Treasury has been hinting for a while that they were considering reducing of the medical tax credit to fund the National Health Insurance (NHI), fortunately, it remains unchanged for the year ahead. Although it was a relief to members it was also a surprise tax sacrifice, considering the need to fund NHI. This equates to over R30 billion this year and around R35/36 billion for the coming year – a large sum indeed.  It is believed the removal of tax credits would have upset too many people who are dependent on it to access private health care and are essentially being rewarded for not burdening the government health care. Before 2012, SARS deducted your medical aid contributions against your taxable income. ‘Originally,’ says Gerhard Van Emmenis, Principal Officer of Bonitas Medical Fund, ‘your medical aid contributions would be a deduction against your taxable income. However, from 2012, SARS introduced a medical credit, a ‘tax credit’ which is deducted from your overall tax liability.’ The medical tax credit consists of the following two amounts: The medical scheme fees tax credit This applies to the premiums paid by you to a registered medical scheme on behalf of yourself and your dependents. The main member, as well as the first dependant on the medical scheme, receive a monthly tax credit of R310 (for the 2018-2019 year).  All additional dependants receive a monthly tax credit of R209 (for the 2018-2019 tax year). There are three categories: 1. Under 65 (without disability) 25% of the total contributions paid to the medical scheme  Less (4X medical scheme fees credit) Plus qualifying medical expenses paid less 7.5% of taxable income 2. Under 65 (with a disability) 33.3% of total contributions paid to the medical scheme Less (3X medical scheme fees credit)  Plus qualifying medical expenses paid  3. 65 or over (with or without disability)  33.3% of total contributions paid to the medical scheme Less (3X medical scheme fees credit)   Plus qualifying medical expenses  It is important to note that if your premium is a deduction from your salary or wages, your employer is obliged to use the credit system to adjust your monthly PAYE tax accordingly. If you contribute to a medical scheme independently from your employer, you will receive the tax credit on assessment when you complete your tax return.  2. The additional medical expenses tax credit This means that the overall amount of tax you need to pay at the end of the tax year is reduced. The amount of your tax rebate is made up of a percentage of all out-of-pocket expenses you have spent on qualifying medical expenses that weren’t covered by your medical scheme. This amount accumulates throughout the tax year. You will need to keep the slips for these expenses. To calculate the additional medical expenses tax credit, special formulas are used. The specific formula to use depends on your age and whether you or one or more of your dependants has a disability. The following out-of-pocket expenses qualify: Consultations, services or medications from a registered medical practitioner, arthropod, physiotherapist, dentist, chiropractor, herbalist, homoeopath, optometrist, osteopath or naturopath Admission to a registered hospital, including nursing homes Care at patient’s home by a registered nurse, nursing assistant, nursing agency or midwife Medicines prescribed by a duly registered physician (as listed above) and acquired from a duly registered pharmacist Medical expenses on services rendered or medicines supplied outside of South Africa and which are substantially similar to the services and medicines listed above Money paid towards the treatment of a physical impairment or disability (as long as it is a qualifying expense prescribed by the Commissioner). What about over-the-counter expenses It is important to note that unless these are prescribed by a registered medical practitioner and acquired by a pharmacist they don’t enjoy a tax rebate. Examples include medicines, such as cough syrups, headache tablets or vitamins.  ‘Whether NHI is going to materialise or not’, says Van Emmenis, ‘The Government’s coffers need filling and the approximately 17% of the South African population on private medical should expect their medical aid tax relief to get less and less in the future.’ 

March 15, 2019
Bonitas – innovation, life stages and quality care

Bonitas gives back

Members of Bonitas Medical Fund will now have access to free lifestyle vouchers as well as discounted offers on gap cover and financial services products through the Fund’s new multi-insurer platform. This is not another Loyalty programme. ‘Our members’ health has always been a priority and we strive to make healthcare as affordable as possible,’ says Gerhard van Emmenis, Principal Officer of Bonitas. ‘And while our various plans offer a host of benefits, we know that in difficult financial times money matters can add to stress levels.  For this reason, we have adopted a multi-insurer platform which offers members discounted lifestyle vouchers as well as exclusive offers on gap cover and various insurance products.’ The past 12 months have been extremely difficult for consumers, impacted by the increase in VAT, the fuel levy and the resulting escalating prices. This has increased the burden placed on consumers struggling to make ends meet.  ‘In 2017 a Financial Wellness Indicator revealed that 73.5% of South African households were financially unwell,’ says Van Emmenis.  ‘2019 is no different. Consumers are cash strapped so being able to align with strategic partners to offer a comprehensive and tangible way to relieve the money pressure while helping them find them some ‘extra’ money, will go a long way to keeping them physically and financially healthy.’  A report published last year, which reviewed rewards programmes in South Africa, indicated that there are around 100+ existing loyalty programmes with the average consumer subscribed to about nine. ‘The economic landscape is tough to navigate and we didn’t want to add to the pressure already placed on our members by offering a loyalty programme for which they would have to pay an additional monthly fee for. Our multi-insurer platform is premised on negotiating exclusive deals to the benefit of our members.  ‘They are designed to add real value aligned to member needs.’ Van Emmenis explains. In brief: These do not cost anything  There are no points No levels of membership You don’t have to work for rewards The model is split in two.  One: Free monthly discount lifestyle shopping vouchers to offset daily living expenses These are available from over 30 retailers and 6 000 outlets countrywide, such as Shoprite, Takealot and Edgars, as well as for airtime and data purchases and electricity. ‘The deals are aimed at the average South African, with discount vouchers for groceries, data, airtime and electricity. There are also discounts on activewear and gym membership to encourage a healthier lifestyle,’ Van Emmenis says. Two: Discounted financial service products through Medgap and Indie MedGap offers comprehensive gap cover at a discount of up to 26% exclusively for Bonitas members.  Indie offers various financial products such as a funeral, critical illness or disability cover, as well as income protection at a discounted premium, together with a free investment at no extra cost.  Indie will match and invest up to 110% of Bonitas’ member’s life insurance premiums, with cash drops every five years. The multi-insurer platform is supported by a new, revamped member zone to allow members to manage their medical aid 24/7, on any device. This includes submitting claims, applying for chronic medicine and viewing benefits clearly signalling a new era of medical aid has dawned. 

March 2, 2019
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Advice from the experts
Dr Gerald B Kaplan

Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is

I was asked recently to present a talk to nursery school parents about how to look after their children’s teeth. You may wonder why a specialist prosthodontist who is trained to treat advanced restorative problems in patients that have very broken down mouths was so excited to talk to a group of young parents? The reason is very simple. Teeth are designed to last a lifetime. The care of teeth begins from early childhood and parent awareness is the key factor in helping young children develop the appreciation and skill of looking after their teeth. I may be doing myself out of future business but there are enough problems that abound in adults and even teenagers as a result of both ignorance and inadequate dentistry. In a presentation, diagrams charts and cartoons are entertaining but real-life pictures make the point. And so, I set out to find a suitable example I wanted a photograph of a young child to include in my presentation. In searching for such a picture I walked past a young lady of five years old sitting with her mother on the pavement of a restaurant and I thought that she would be the appropriate candidate. As she smiled I noticed that she was missing a back baby tooth. That really upset me greatly. Why should such a young person lose a baby tooth ? The loss of such a tooth has major consequences in terms of long-term dental health. It changes the bite and sets the patient up for future orthodontic treatment during her early to late teens. I suggested to the mother that she bring the young child in for a quick look see. She agreed and the clinical examination revealed the presence of seven teeth in need of restorative dentistry. That begs the question – Why was the decay not diagnosed earlier and why did she have to lose a tooth unnecessarily. Dental decay in a baby tooth should be treated promptly. It spreads fast because the tooth enamel is thin. Now the young lady needed a general anaesthetic to do the fillings and also have of a space maintainer placed to prevent further loss of space while the jaw continues to grow. The permanent tooth will erupt at the appropriate age and they need space to fit into a healthy dental arch. If that shock was not enough, I then had the pleasure of meeting her eight-year-old brother. I was aghast. This young man already has a mixed dentition, that is, both baby teeth and primary teeth present in the mouth which are in the process of growth and development. Not only not only were his teeth laden with plaque and widespread decay on the baby teeth. This was revealed with disclosing solution . Plaque is invisible and effective toothbrushing needs to be checked. ( Has your dentist made you aware of disclosing?)  A permanent molar tooth was ravaged with decay as well. The first permanent molar tooth erupts into the mouth at the age of between six and seven years of age and they should last a lifetime if properly cared for. These teeth are the most vulnerable teeth in the mouth for a young person and the teeth most frequently lost as the years go by. The problem is preventable with effective dental care both by the dentist and by responsible parents. Now both of these gorgeous children have compromised mouths. They are fearful of sitting in the dental chair. They can only be treated under general anaesthetic with all the risk and anxiety that it entails. And what about the expense that could have been avoided with effective toothbrushing; regular fluoride treatment; and a proper diet. The young boy’s mouth will now be the bain of his life. A downward cascade . Whose fault? – The parent or the dentist or both. I wonder. Poor child. No dentistry is the best dentistry! Dental problems are preventable with the knowledge of how to look after teeth and exercise effective plaque control. This skill needs to be taught and constantly supervised. Regular dental visits are essential. There is a prevalent misconception that because one belongs to medical aid, all the costs of dental treatment are covered. This is not true! The fees set by medical aids and the limits imposed are so restrictive. They are unrealistic. Like all things in life, price is what you pay-value is what you get. (Kurt Vonnenberg). Everything is on the Internet today. Yellow page directories and telephone books continue to shrink. Want to search for anything? Just Google it. And so it is with dentistry… Type in keywords like: / implant dentistry/, cosmetic dentistry/, prosthodontist/ and see what comes up . Perhaps that is how you found my website which I trust has been informative. I also did some Googling and typed in the following: “ You get what you pay for”. Believe it or not, Google even had answers for that. Amongst the articles that came up is one that caught my eye was one written by Bob Borson quoting from the 19th century English poet, fervent art critic and socialist, John Ruskin. “There is hardly anything in the world that someone cannot make a little worse or sell a little cheaper, and the people who consider price alone are that person’s lawful prey. It’s unwise to pay too much, but it’s worse to pay too little. When you pay too much, you lose a little money – that is all. When you pay too little you sometimes lose everything because the things you bought were incapable of doing the thing it was bought to do .The common law of business prohibits paying a little and getting a lot – it can’t be done.” And so it is with good dentistry. Good dentistry may be costly in the beginning but its benefits last and last. Give us a call on 011 483 2281 . We would love to meet you and offer you real

September 7, 2016
Bethwel Opil

Cyberbullying causes Depression, Nightmares and Anorexia

According to the study Growing Up Online – Connected Kids, conducted by Kaspersky Lab and iconKids & Youth, cyberbullying is a far more dangerous threat to children than many parents think. The consequences for the majority of young victims of online harassment include serious problems with health and socialisation.   Cyberbullying is intentional intimidation, persecution or abuse that children and teenagers may encounter on the internet. Interestingly, children aged 8-16 are more wary of this threat than their parents are. According to the study, 13% of children and 21% of parents consider it harmless. At the same time, 16% of the children surveyed are more afraid of being bullied online than offline, while half (50%) are equally afraid of both real-life and virtual bullying.   Parents should not downplay the dangers of cyberbullying. Despite the fact that the study found only 4% of children admitted to being bullied online (compared to 12% in real life), in 7 out of 10 cases the consequences were traumatic.   Bullying on the Internet seriously affected their emotional well-being: parents of 37% of the victims reported lower self-esteem, 30% saw a deterioration in their performance at school, and 28% cited depression. In addition, 25% of parents stated that cyberbullying had disrupted their child’s sleep patterns and caused nightmares (21%). Another 26% of parents noticed that their child had started avoiding contact with other children, and 20% discovered their child had anorexia.   Just as worrying are the statistics showing that 20% of children witnessed others being bullied online, and in 7% of cases even participated in it. The survey shows that children often hide incidents of cyberbullying from their parents, making the task of protecting them even more complicated, though, fortunately, not impossible.   Andrei Mochola, Head of Consumer Business at Kaspersky Lab, comments: “In an effort to protect our children from danger, we mustn’t forget that they not only live in the real world but also in the virtual world, which is just as real to them. On the Internet, children socialise, learn new things, have fun and, unfortunately, encounter unpleasant situations. Cyberbullying is one of the most dangerous things that can confront a child on the Internet, because it can have a negative impact on their psyche and cause problems for the rest of their lives. The best solution in this case is to talk to your child and to use parental control software that can alert you to any suspicious changes to their social network page.”   For more advice on protecting children on the Internet, visit kids.kaspersky.com.   Information about a technical solution to these problems can be found at Kaspersky Safe Kids.

August 24, 2016
Dr Gerald B Kaplan

The Big Ouch

A specialist prosthodontist is trained to treat adults who present with severe dental problems. Restoring a broken down mouth back to good health is a major challenge and oftentimes very costly in terms of time and effort and expense. Patients want to regain their lost dental health. They are looking for the ability to eat well; look good; and smile to the world. They don’t want to wear dentures at all costs. The question that needs to be asked is “Why did such a compromised situation result?” That is a very difficult question to answer and can be the result of many factors. Clearly there is one element in the equation that has a solution… Teeth are designed to last a lifetime and dental care should begin from early childhood. Let me tell you a story… I was asked to prepare a lecture for a group of nursery school parents to teach the importance of baby teeth and how to look after them. I wanted a photograph of a young child to include in my presentation. In searching for such a picture I walked past a young lady of five years old and thought that she would be the appropriate candidate. As she smiled I noticed that she was missing a back baby tooth. That really upset me greatly. Why should such a young person lose a baby tooth? The loss of such a tooth has major consequences in terms of long-term dental health. It changes the bite and sets the patient up for future (probably unnecessary) orthodontic treatment during her early to late teens. I suggested to the mother that she bring the young child in for a quick look see. She agreed and the clinical examination revealed the presence of seven teeth in need of restorative dentistry. That begs the question –  Why was the decay not diagnosed earlier and why did she have to lose a tooth unnecessarily. Dental decay in a baby tooth should be done promptly. It spreads fast because the tooth enamel is thin. Now the young lady needs a general anaesthetic and placement of a space maintainer to prevent the loss of space while the jaw continues to grow to allow. The permanent tooth will erupt at the appropriate age and it needs space to fit into a healthy dental arch. If that shock was not enough, I then had the pleasure of meeting her eight-year-old brother. I was aghast. This young man already has a mixed dentition, that is, both baby teeth and primary teeth are present in the mouth which is in the process of growth and development. Not only not only were his teeth laden with plaque and widespread decay on the baby teeth, but a permanent molar tooth was ravaged with decay. This was revealed with disclosing solution. Plaque is invisible and effective tooth brushing needs to be checked. The first permanent molar tooth erupts into the mouth at the age of between six and seven years of age and they should last a lifetime if properly cared for. These teeth are the most vulnerable teeth in the mouth for a young person and the teeth most frequently lost as the years go by. The problem is preventable with effective dental care both by the dentist and by the responsible parents. Now both of these gorgeous children have compromised mouths. They are fearful of sitting in the dental chair. They can only be treated under general anaesthetic with all the risk and anxiety that it entails. And what about the expense that could have been avoided with effective tooth brushing; regular fluoride treatment; and a proper diet. Let me end off by saying that restoring the mouth of an adult patients is challenging and oftentimes very difficult. Why let such a situation develop at all?. Teeth are not to be taken for granted. They are precious as pearls. How wonderful it is look forward to the enjoyment of sound dental health for one’s whole life.

August 17, 2016
South African Divorce Support Association

It Takes 2 to Tango

I’m sure you are all too familiar with the saying it takes 2 to tango. The tango is a dance which requires two partners moving in relation to each other. The partners sometimes move together and sometimes in opposition, but at any given time they are part of the movement. A tango with only one dancer is no longer a tango. So, while you are no longer in a romantic relationship with your ex, if you are in a conflict with them, you remain part of the “tango”. When parents separate, they inevitably remain in a parenting relationship. When this relationship is conflicted, it is worth while to consider what your role in the conflict is. Even if your ex is the unreasonable one, you become part of the conflict, if like the tango, you move with your partner, being together or in opposition. Conflicts often emerge more when people are stressed and circumstances change. Staying out of a conflict is much more intricate than ignoring the conflict. Ignoring the conflict could still be seen as taking part in it by being passive aggressive. Staying out of a conflict requires more understanding on your part about your behaviour rather then your opponent’s behaviour. So how do you go about understanding your role in your ongoing conflict when you are close to certain, that it’s your “partner” who is at fault. See how you answer the following questions: Do you recognise that you have to be right for the conflict to end? Are you highly emotional? Do you criticise your ex for what s/he does or how s/he does things? Do you blame your ex for your current situation? Do you complain a lot? Do you nag to get what you want? Do you attempt to punish by withholding things that your ex wants? Do you threaten with legal action? You hang on to telling the same negative story over again? Are you seeking people’s approval to your situation? Are you feeling guilty about what is happening? Are you mostly thinking negatively about your situation? Your self esteem is damaged Have you lost the ability to foresee a bright future and set new goals? Being in a conflict is never fun and leaves people feeling miserable and a victim of their circumstances. But being in a conflict motivates people to remain negative as conflicts are about being right and not what is right. When focusing on a solution and adopting a positive approach to the disagreement at hand, people are able to leave the conflict by not feeding it and while you may not be the one creating the conflict, it is important to acknowledge your role in it, in order be able to remove yourself from it. So take a step back, breathe deep, listen and use your conflict to increase understanding and creative thinking. The conflict is not the conflict. The conflict is how you deal with the conflict. Nadia Thonnard Founder SADSA | The South African Divorce Support Association

August 16, 2016
The Heart & Stroke Foundation

Exercise During Pregnancy

Take care of yourself while you’re taking care of baby So you’re pregnant? Congratulations!Suddenly everything in your life centres around the new little person you’re expecting. There’s so much to do and plan as your countdown begins, but how many of us make time to look after ourselves? Sadly, not many do. Work, home life, busy schedules, and antenatal check-ups – they all take time, and often the exhausted expectant mom has no time or energy left to consider her own health and wellbeing. That’s why we’re here to help. Below are simple, practical exercise tips that can be incorporated into your already busy schedule — without a lot of fuss or expense. Remember, a healthier, happier you results in a healthier, happier baby. The Benefits of Physical Activity Physical exercise offers many health benefits during pregnancy, including: And if you’re worried about your figure, staying active might help you bounce back more easily after baby arrives. Safe Exercises by Trimester First Trimester (Months 1–3) Safe exercises include: 👉 Only exercise when you feel well enough. Morning sickness, fatigue, or tender breasts may affect your energy. Second Trimester (Months 4–6) Continue with: Avoid: Third Trimester (Months 7–9) Stick to light and gentle movement: Avoid throughout pregnancy: Our Top Tips for Exercising While Pregnant When to Stop Exercising and See a Doctor Stop exercising and contact your healthcare provider immediately if you experience: Taking care of your own wellbeing is just as important as preparing for your baby’s arrival. Exercise can be a wonderful way to feel good, boost your energy, and give your baby the healthiest possible start in life.

August 14, 2016
Mia Von Scha

Open letter to a depressed teenager

“Reaching the desired area, The blade hesitates, quivering, Then slicing slowly, meticulously Into the soft, awaiting flesh. The wound gapes, Smiling at how it has relaxed the skin.” This was the poem I wrote when I was your age, going through something like what you are going through now. I know it feels like nobody can understand. I know it feels like nobody has ever felt that much pain; nobody has ever felt so restricted and constricted and constrained; nobody can possibly know how dark the darkness gets. But I have been to the bottom of those unchartered depths; I have cried the disregarded tears that never seem to end; I have etched out the pain onto my wrists and thighs and screamed it into the darkness. I know how you feel. And I know that it ends. It isn’t a permanent ending like the one you are contemplating; I’ll admit that it is a temporary one. That darkness can creep back in at any time, but it can come as a dreaded enemy or as a familiar friend. It doesn’t have to consume you. I have found a way to walk through it now, and it feels more like a stroll through a misty forest than a desperate flee through a dark tunnel. You can learn to do this too. You can find that inner light that will guide you through the blackest night. It is there already, it’s just hidden. For you to be feeling this bad, you must have been misunderstood by the people around you. It isn’t that they don’t care, it’s that they’re not capable. They’re trying to see you through the filters of their own beliefs and mental structures that aren’t flexible enough to see you for who you are. They love you, they just don’t know you. That’s ok. It is enough to know yourself, to find yourself, to peel off those layers of expectation from everyone around you and allow that inner light to shine. I know you have it – of that I am absolutely certain. Every one of the seven billion people on this planet has a place in this world. Every single one has something to contribute. Including you. You may not even know what your own thing is yet, you may not know for some time to come, but it is there, waiting to be discovered. So when you’re sitting at the bottom of the bottomless pit, ask yourself one thing: “If I could make one contribution to this world before I go, what would that be?” We all have an innate desire to make a difference, to change things in some way, to impact the world with our existence. And a lot of the time this desire gets squashed by the well-meaning people around us trying to tell us what is important to do with our lives instead of allowing us to push our way up through the soil and blossom into whatever it is that WE were here to do; instead of allowing us to give off our own unique scent that is quite different from what everyone thought it would be. Don’t get me wrong here – there is struggle and challenge and difficulty as we push our way up through the soil. Life was not meant to be an easy ride. It is those very struggles that shape us and strengthen us and give us the tools we need to blast out into the light. This very difficulty that you are going through right now is part of this bigger plan. You are in the struggle phase of growth, but it won’t last forever. You can push through, you need to push through, there is such beauty awaiting you on the other side that you cannot see now while you are still trapped in the darkness. Trust me, because I know. Trust me, because I have been there. Trust me, because you are worth it and the gift that you have for this world is still to be discovered. If you give up now we will all lose out on that. So please, when it feels like the going is just too tough to bear, when it feels like your options have run out, when it feels like one more night will be one night too many, tell someone. Anyone. And if they’re not able to help or they don’t take you seriously or they don’t understand – tell someone else. And someone else. There is somebody out there in your world like me, someone who is familiar with that darkness; who knows it by name. They can guide you to the other side, they can hold your hand as you familiarise yourself with the darker parts of human nature, your own nature, our nature. Whatever the darkness is in yourself that you find unbearable, there is another side. Every one of us has both the dark and the light, and there is nothing so bad that you can’t navigate your way to the other side of it, but sometime we all need some help. Sometimes it takes someone who isn’t afraid of the dark to help you to find the light. Sometimes it takes time to find the right person. But you will. Keep asking, keep reaching out, keep calling out into the dark until somebody hears you. We are out there, we are listening, we are waiting for your call.

August 8, 2016
Ati2ud

Why am I so Angry?

Underneath anger is hurt and pain. Underneath tears is hurt and pain. It is the same emotion, just expressed differently…. Anger is a signal that something is wrong, we are in a state of stress/distress and are being triggered. Whatever it is that we are facing needs to be resolved in order for us to function again. If we don’t resolve or channel our anger it can affect our productivity, well-being and even lead to long term effects such as illness. We face conflict everyday throughout our lifetime: When we are facing a crossroad or decision we need to make = inner turmoil In our relationships with our partner = relationship problems With our children and families = family issues With our friends and in the workplace with our colleagues, customers and suppliers = peer pressure and social norms At times we also have turmoil on a spiritual level where we question our faith and beliefs. Conflict can result in a number of emotions being expressed as everyone deals with conflict differently. Some try to avoid it by shutting down, disengaging and withdrawing (a Minimiser). Others are seen to attack and/or become aggressive (a Maximiser). Both of these reactions are defensive mechanisms to protect us from being exposed and vulnerable on an emotional level. Anger can become a major health issue. Seeing as our childhood forms the foundation of our emotional intelligence (this is where we are taught how to express ourselves, to communicate, to show affection, how to manage conflict and more) we need to help children find healthy ways of dealing with their emotions, especially anger. Parents typically respond to their child’s outbursts with punishment, rejection or their own outbursts.  They might give their child time-out in their room or the naughty corner, high school kids are given detention, suspended or even expelled. But children don’t understand where their anger comes from, we have to help them identify their underlying emotions and how to express their emotions in a way they understand e.g. they might be feeling left out, rejected or misunderstood. If children are not taught how to do this, they will find ways of dealing with what they are feeling that will become their adaptive patterns in adulthood and by then these traits are well entrenched. The key to understanding our emotions is self-awareness.Becoming self-aware – We all have a trigger system that gives us clues as to what is going on inside of us. The sooner we identify these triggers (e.g. increased breathing, knot in the stomach, heart rate etc), the sooner we can do something about it. Self-regulate – The quickest and easiest way to self-regulate is to focus on your breathing. So if you need to count to 10 (or 100), walk away and do a quick breathing exercise then do that. It is the body’s natural way of self-regulating. Consider your options – In every situation we always have a choice. By weighing up the options and consequences for all the options we can make an informed decision and ultimately better choice than one based on pure reactivity. When we learn to Embrace Conflict and not see conflict as a bad thing but rather be curious as to what is going on and what is triggering us, real change can happen vs. repeating the same patterns over and over again.  As adults, we owe it to ourselves to learn these basic skills in order to provide a better emotional foundation for our children and future generations.

August 5, 2016
Munchkins

Goodbye Winter Bugs! Natural Remedies for Children

Every year we’re dealt a dose of those old winter bugs that bring the common cold and chesty coughs to our normally healthy children. Sometimes, we’re bewildered that our child has picked up a dreaded sniffle because we feel we’ve taken good care to avoid exposure to germs and have made sure that healthy eating, vitamins and keeping warm are part of our winter defence regime. However, as parents we can’t always be perfect – and we certainly can’t control every bug floating on the chilly breeze. Kids have a way of being more vulnerable to close contact with others and changes in temperature – and every parent knows there are going to be those days when their child’s otherwise robust immune system is going to take a knock. There are many over the counter remedies that can help – but not all of these are necessarily good – especially when you’re dealing with these bugs year after year. So how can you protect your child in avoiding these dangers or dealing with the consequences in the simplest, safest, most natural way possible? Germs, Temperature and Immune Systems Ears Keeping your child’s head and ears warm is a key factor in warding off chills. The area around the ears is delicate and vulnerable – an area that when warmed, can help to warm the entire body. Staying warm, keeping an even body temperature, is useful in keeping winter viruses from gaining the upper hand. Cleanliness This is another simple defensive tactic. Keeping hands clean as much as possible helps to protect your child from the transfer of a variety of germs, especially when they are with other children. Colds are usually passed from person to person by touching contaminated objects, including doorknobs or toys. So basic measures, such as making sure your kids wash their hands often, while not an easy regime to instill, can certainly be helpful as a preventative measure, especially when backed by immune-building supplements such as vitamins A, C, D and herbal teas. Congestion Lemon is excellent for drying up congestion. The addition of honey provides a soothing coating for the throat. Mix a tablespoon of each, microwave for 20 seconds until warm (not hot), and give your child a teaspoon at a time. Caution: Honey is not safe for babies under 1 year. Saline solution – using a nasal wash with a seawater solution helps all family members get over colds faster and strengthens the immune system. Saline nasal drops can help relieve congestion, especially in an infant’s small nasal passages. Because babies breathe through their noses and not their mouths, breaking up nasal congestion can make it easier to breathe, allowing a baby to nurse or drink from a bottle more comfortably. Place a few of the salt water drops in each nostril to thin the mucus, wait at least 60 seconds, then gently remove discharge. For infants, try this before feeding. Nausea For children aged 2 and older, add a teaspoon of shredded fresh ginger to four ounces of boiling water, and let it steep for 4 – 5 five minutes. You can add a bit of honey to make it taste better. This is an extremely good remedy for car sickness.  Natural immune boosters  Fish oil Remember the daily spoonful of cod liver oil your mother (or grandmother) dosed you with? Well, now we know there’s real science behind the practice. Fish oils are rich in essential fatty acids, including omega-3s, so they provide a powerful immune boost. Fish oil can stave off colds and ear infections in children. Make sure to look for the words: pharmaceutical grade and distilled, which mean that the product does not contain mercury or other metals, PCBs, dioxins, or other impurities. Garlic Garlic contains allicin, a compound which has been known to have anti-bacterial properties. The only problem is that children rarely find it palatable. Try mincing the garlic very finely and adding to a light sauces and various dishes to disguise the taste as much as possible. Herbs Essential oils or teas made from dried herbs have been shown to work well for children older than six months. There are some strong expectorant herbs, such as thyme, eucalyptus, mint, pine, licorice, and anise that are effective in bringing up mucus. To soothe a tight cough, you can try thyme, slippery elm, peppermint or lemon balm. Add a drop or two of an essential oil to a cup of massage oil, and gently rub the mixture into your child’s chest and back. Cough drops with slippery elm or licorice will also give some relief. Tea Herbal tea provides respite from a number of complaints. Mint, lemon and ginger tea are excellent for colds and flu – and act as a good preventative measure. If your child objects to hot tea, you can add some honey and freeze it into ice-pop molds. These on a summer’s day are refreshing and good for building the immune system as winter approaches. Honey Honey has several beneficial effects that bode well for building a healthy system to fight infections. Honey is an energy boost of natural sugar and so helps to alleviate fatigue and feelings of being ‘run down’. It can improve the digestive system; food better absorbed helps to strengthen the immune system. As a powerful anti-oxidant and with strong immune-building properties, honey contains bacteria that kill infection. Tea or hot liquids made with honey plus lemon, ginger and cinnamon are perfect for cold winter evenings and for fighting the first signs of winter sniffles. Caution: Honey is not safe for babies under 1 year. Homeopathic solutions There are several homeopathic solutions for colds, coughs, flu, congestion, etc., you only have to check with your stockist.  However, Umcka Cold Care, which comes in drops, tablet, syrup or powder, has been shown to lessen the effect of colds on kids, relieving sore throats, coughs, and congestion.  Sambucus has proved efficacious as well – it’s an organic product made with

August 4, 2016
Parenting Hub

Authenticity – the expression of self

The expression of self is something that we struggle with from birth. The inability to express what your true needs or feelings are creates a frustration within you, which if not managed, can in fact cause serious physical and psychological harm. So how do we manage this? More importantly, how do we help our kids deal with this conundrum. Conceptually, authenticity awakes feelings of peace and joy within you until you realise that maybe you aren’t quite sure what it is you need to do. As adults we have  a legacy of hiding who we are, which means that teaching our kids differently can be tricky. To be authentic is in essence quite simple. It’s about acting in line with your values structure; it’s about voicing your opinion not someone else’s. It’s about making life decisions that are in your best interest and not something that you think someone else wants you to do. The best we can do hear, is model this for our kids to see. After all, they learn more from what they observe than what we tell them. Authenticity is about making the choice to be the best you that you can be. This means that we as adults need to re-assess our behaviour and make a conscious decision to model what we want our kids to learn. Of course, in the real world this isn’t always easy as we are so easily swayed by the opinions and perceptions of others. Our society dictates an in-the-box focus on life and in many instances discourages individuality. What the world needs is more people who are prepared to stand up for what is right. We need to teach our children to be individuals who are able to think for themselves. We need to do this by first freeing ourselves from thought patterns that add no value to our own lives. Feel that it is time to drop the shackles of mediocrity? Start by understanding your own value structure. If you are consciously aware of your values, you will make decisions based on your values, allowing no room for external negative input. Actively teach your children that it is okay to make decisions based on their value structure. Of course, we also need to temper that with teaching them to make safe decisions too. Learning to express your true self is the greatest gift your will ever give yourself. It’s a journey of discovery taking you to places you may never have seen or forgotten existed. You will get in touch with your dreams, set goals for a brighter future. For me nothing says I’ve “got it right” than when my daughter stands up for herself and what she believes is right for her. This does sometimes mean I get to bite my tongue every so now and again. It’s worth it.

August 2, 2016
Good Night Baby

Tips You Can Try TONIGHT To Help With Your Child’s Sleep Problems

Would you like to know one of the most important steps parents can take in order to get their child sleeping through the night? It’s very simple, very easy… and actually pretty fun, too! It’s setting up a bedtime routine. Now, I know you might be thinking “Oh, I already know about bedtime routines,” but stick with me here because there I’m also going to talk about the single biggest mistake that parents make with bedtime routines. Here are 3 easy tips to help you master your child’s bedtime: TIP #1: MAKE SURE IT’S FUN! Okay, this might seem obvious, but I’m going to make sure I say it loud and clear anyways… Don’t make your child angry at bedtime! Seems like common sense, but you’d be surprised how many clients I’ve worked with who insist on including baths in a bedtime routine — even though their child totally HATES baths! When I ask them why they’re forcing their child to do something he or she hates right before bedtime, they usually say, “Because that’s what I was told to do.” Their mom or sister or friend told them that ALL children need a bath before bedtime, so they just started doing it. But trying to get your child to do something she hates right before bedtime is a flat-out bad idea. Tempers flare… tears are shed… and your child gets so emotionally wound up that it takes MUCH longer for her to calm down and get back into her happy place. So make sure your bedtime routine includes only activities your child enjoys! TIP #2: KEEP IT SHORT (BUT NOT TOO SHORT) Specifically, somewhere between 20 and 30 minutes, from start to finish. Why? Well, you want it to be long enough to get your child calmed down, relaxed, and ready for sleep. Plus, bedtime is a wonderful way to spend time bonding with your child. For many parents, it’s the best “quality time” you’ll spend with your child all day! However, if you let your bedtime routine drag on for too long, you risk letting your child get overtired, which makes falling asleep MUCH more difficult! TIP #3: NO SUGAR OR TELEVISION RIGHT BEFORE BED Yes, I know this one sounds “preachy,” but if you’re giving your child sweets (or juice) right before bed, it’s going to be harder for him to fall asleep. Same thing goes for letting a child watch TV right before bed. The juice or sweets will give him a “sugar rush” of jittery energy, which is the LAST thing we want before bedtime. And watching TV or playing on the computer can (for lots of children) overstimulate them, so I recommend NOT letting your child watch TV as part of your bedtime routine. THE BIGGEST BEDTIME MISTAKE… As promised, I also want to share the single biggest bedtime mistake that parents make. It’s simply this… Letting your child doze off BEFORE you put them into bed. Now, I know it’s tempting for many parents to let their child fall asleep while rocking, bouncing, or feeding. After all, for many babies, this is the way they’ve ALWAYS gotten to sleep. Unfortunately, it’s also the reason why they tend to wake frequently in the night. If you’re interested in learning some easy strategies for getting your child to fall asleep on their own at night (rather than being rocked nursed, or otherwise soothed to sleep by you), I’d love to chat further!

July 29, 2016
Kath Megaw

Picky Eating Revisited

Picky eaters come in all shapes and sizes and so do their parents. I define a picky eater as someone who limits what he or she is willing to eat, won’t try new foods and won’t give a rebuffed food a second chance. Food allergies or sensitivities, sensory issues or an honest dislike of a particular food (but not hundreds of particular foods or entire food groups) are not the same as picky eating. If a child’s eating habits are causing trouble at your dinner table, here are 12 ideas to help you return the family meal focus to conversation and togetherness rather than battles over whether young Johnny will eat “just one bite.” 1.If you don’t want your child to eat it, don’t bring it home. When it comes to food one of the pillars of parenting is to protect the home environment. Attention to this non-coercive measure can prevent eating issues in the first place, or help defuse problems that have already developed. You decide what foods are welcome. 2. Institute a “one-meal rule.” If you don’t want to be a short order cook, making a separate meal for different children, stop. Keep the messaging positive: Tell your kids that the house rule is now one delicious dinner for everyone. Parents need to parent,Food related responsibilities in families should go like this: Parents are in charge of what foods are offered at home, and children can choose to eat it or not. If a child rejects the food, it is not the parents’ responsibility to offer something else. It’s fine to make sure the meal includes at least one thing that’s generally acceptable (even if that’s just plain pasta), and you should decide in advance what’s acceptable to you after dinner for a child who didn’t eat (a choice that’s distinctly different for toddlers than for teenagers). 3. A little hunger can go a long way. Snacks are fine but don’t overdo them. If children arrive at the dinner table hungry, they are more likely to eat what is in front of them. I routinely put salad on the table before the entree and found that salad eating spiked as a result. 4. Shop and cook together. Involve your children in every step as much as possible. Take them to the grocery store and ask them to pick any vegetable/fruit they want. Have them help you cook. Depending on their age, this can mean counting out cherry tomatoes to add to a salad, stirring, and later making a meal on their own. Even setting the table instills ownership. 5. Meet them where they are. If your children love roast chicken, don’t start the “one-meal rule” by making exotic pork dishes with a lot of sauces. Make basic food you know they like. This way it will not feel like deprivation. Additionally, make sure they can personalize parts of their meal: If you’re making burritos/omelets/burgers, have all the fillings/toppings in little bowls so they can choose what to add. 6. Don’t force them to eat anything. There are many schools of thought about this. Some people feel you should make them “just take one bite.” I don’t agree and think that this has a very negative implication and tends to backfire. Instead say, “Wow, these roasted brussels sprouts/shredded carrots/spinach pancakes are amazing.” Children who won’t taste don’t get nudged or judged. The 10th time you serve them, your child may, unprompted, take a bite. 7. Talk about what it takes to grow and cook food. Breed respect. When children understand that someone had to plant a seed and harvest a vegetable even before it gets to your kitchen, they will more fully appreciate what goes into making a meal. Even better, plant a little garden. 8. Be consistent but not rigid. Be sure everyone knows what the rules are, but if your rule is a home-cooked dinner every night and you’re exhausted, cut yourself some slack: get take-out. Eat breakfast for dinner. Pull everything out of the fridge and see who can make what. 9. Be a good role model. Children take their cues from their parents: if you don’t like something, don’t pretend to like it but express your pleasure that someone – even you — went to the trouble to prepare it. 10. Play. Experiment. Try different food “games” outside of dinnertime. We’ve had a lot of success with games where everyone can make a lot of choices and mix and match: Vegetable Tasting Extravaganza: trying many vegetables, each prepared in multiple ways. Raw Vegetable and Dip Experiment: trying different dips with different raw vegetables 11. Don’t refer to anyone as a “picky eater” or make a big deal out of their “picky eating.” If your child doesn’t eat carrots, don’t stop serving them, or when your child is a guest at someone else’s, don’t say: My child doesn’t like carrots. If you define them, it makes it much harder for them to change. 12. Use positive peer pressure. When my children were in pre primary school, their friends ate whatever my kids ate when they came to our house. I literally never had a child say: “I don’t eat hummus. I don’t like carrots.” Seeing a peer eat an unfamiliar food automatically makes it safer. You’ll be amazed at how many children will eat something because they see another child eating it.

July 29, 2016
Carla Grobler

Is Your Child Suffering From ADHD or ADD?

Do you have a busy child who is always running around, struggles to fall asleep before 10 at night, shouts out answers in the class, has difficulty concentrating and sitting still? Your child may be suffering from ADHD or ADD. But what is ADHD/ADD? Does my child need medication? Is the medication dangerous? Medical professionals use the DSM criteria to diagnose Attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and Attention deficit disorder (ADD). The following signs and symptoms were taken from Kaplan and Saddock (IV edition): Either (1) or (2): (1)        Inattention: Six (or more) of the following symptoms of inattention have persisted for at least six months to a degree that is maladaptive and inconsistent with developmental level: (a) Often fails to give close attention to details or makes careless mistakes in schoolwork, work, or other activities (b) Often has difficulty sustaining attention in tasks or play activities (c)  Often does not seem to listen when spoken to directly (d)  Often does not follow through on instructions and fails to finish schoolwork, chores or duties in the workplace (not due to oppositional behaviour or failure to understand instructions) (e)  Often has difficulties organizing tasks and activities (f)    Often avoids, dislikes or is reluctant to engage in tasks that require sustained mental effort (such as schoolwork or homework) (g)  Often loses things necessary for tasks or activities (e.g. school assignments, pencils, books or tools) (h)  Is often easily distracted by extraneous stimuli (i)    Is often forgetful in daily activities (2)       Hyperactivity-impulsivity: Six (or more) of the following symptoms of hyperactivity-impulsivity have persisted for at least six months to a degree that is maladaptive and inconsistent with developmental level: Hyperactivity (a)  Often fidgets with hands or feet or squirms in seat (b)  Often leaves seat in classroom or in other situations in which remaining seated is expected (c)  Often runs about or climbs excessively in situations in which it is inappropriate (in adolescents or adults, may be limited to subjective feeling of restlessness) (d)  Often has difficulty playing or engaging in leisure activities quietly (e)  Is often ‘on the go’ or often acts as if ‘driven by a motor’ (f)    Often talks excessively Impulsivity (g)  Often blurts out answers to questions before the questions have been completed (h)  Often has difficulty awaiting turn (i)    Often interrupts or intrudes on others (e.g. butts into conversations or games) Some hyperactive-impulsive or inattentive symptoms that caused impairment were present before age 7 years. Some impairment from the symptoms is present in two or more settings (e.g. at school, work and at home) There must be clear evidence of clinically significant impairment in social, academic or occupational functioning. The symptoms do not occur exclusively during the course of a pervasive developmental disorder, schizophrenia or other psychotic disorder, and are not better accounted for by another mental disorder. Your child may only have Attention Deficit Disorder; this is all the above symptoms except the hyperactivity-impulsivity symptoms. So what should I do if I think my child may be suffering form ADD/ADHD? Take your child to an occupational therapist to determine the possibility of ADD/ADHD and the effect it has had on development and skills. If the therapist suspects that your child is suffering from ADD/ADHD you will be referred to a paediatric neurologist for an evaluation. It is important not to take your child to a GP for medication as a specialist needs to be consulted as medication for ADD/ADHD is schedule 5/6 and works on the neurological system. Your child’s neurological system is still developing and damage can occur if the dosage of the medication is too high. Is medication always necessary? Sometimes medication is necessary – this will help your child to focus her attention; this will improve her concentration and thus learning can take place. Usually children with ADD or ADHD cannot concentrate for sufficient periods in class and thus they lose learning-time – that is why some children with ADD or ADHD fail their grade or fall behind in class. It will not help to hit/punish your child if they suffer from ADD or ADHD because although they try their best to sit still/work/pay attention, they are incapable of doing so – that is why medication is sometimes a blessing for both the child and the parents. It is sometimes difficult for parents to admit that their child needs medication but this is an issue that the parents need to deal with – don’t take valuable learning-time away from your child by not taking him/her to see a trusted paediatric neurologist. Usually the neurologist will start on a minimum prescription of Ritalin (for attention) and Risperdal for hyperactivity/restlessness. These medications will vary according to the age of the child and the severity of symptoms. Remember that it will take some time for your child’s body to adapt to the medication – don’t give up too soon. If unacceptable side-effects persist for more than 2 – 6 weeks, please talk to your doctor. Remember that not all medications work for all children and that the doctor may have to try a variety of medication until he/she finds the combination of medication that works for your child. Helpful hints Children with ADD or ADHD need a structured/disciplined environment to function optimally. Using the same handling approach at school, therapy and at home gives the child clear guidelines of what is expected of him/her. The golden rule to follow with a child with ADHD is a low GI diet. Find out if your child is allergic to any food e.g. dairy products, yellow food (corn, squash), junk food, fruit juice, sugar, chocolate, NutraSweet/Canderal/etc., processed meat, MSG’s, fried food, food colouring or fish as this may cause temper outbursts! Avoid processed foods. These contain additives and preservatives e.g. certain cheeses, certain cold meats Avoid junk food/take-aways Avoid sodas/fizzy drinks Avoid candy Avoid cookies No energy drinks e.g. Play/Red Bull Avoid fried foods E.g. chips, crisps, KFC Avoid additives and preservatives. Fruit juice should be diluted and not given

July 25, 2016
The South African Depression and Anxiety Group

Leave Me Alone!

The realities of teen loneliness, depression and suicide attempts in South Africa By Janine Shamos “There’s no point to this hell called life is there? It never gets better! No-one understands how I feel. They think I’m making it up – just being dramatic and looking for attention. I’ve had enough…”For many teens suffering from depression, loneliness and isolation are part of their daily struggle. “I felt so alone, like no one could ever understand what I was going through. I started asking myself if I was being pathetic and dramatic.” Teens like Lungi (16) are not alone. Research shows that 1 in 5 teens have considered suicide and almost 17% have formulated a plan to take their lives. The teen years can be emotionally turbulent and stressful. Teens face pressures to succeed, fit in, family and financial stress, loss and trauma, and many struggle with self-esteem issues, self-doubt, and feelings of alienation. “Very concerning is that 60% of youth who have a mental health problem like depression, anxiety or trauma, don’t get the help they need”, says SADAG’s Cassey Chambers. Gina (19) is no stranger to sadness. “I’ve had bad things happen my whole life, like since I was just a kid. I just kinda dealt with it, you know?” But last year, Gina’s precious St. Bernard, “Lord”, was poisoned. Already fragile (she was repeating matric and not doing well at school, as well as dealing with very shaky family relationships), Gina’s boyfriend left her. “He said I was like jinxed or something. I felt so alone. I really just gave up.” One Friday, during the school assembly, Gina tried to take her life in the matric girls’ bathroom. Suicide is a desperate attempt to escape unbearable pain and suffering. “Blinded by feelings of self-loathing, hopelessness, and isolation, a severely depressed person can’t see any way of finding relief except through death”, explains psychologist Liane Lurie. “They wish there was an alternative to committing suicide, but they just can’t see one.” This is why SADAG’s teen suicide prevention programme, and National Teen Suicide Prevention Week, is so vital – it gives teens hope for an alternative.  Through SADAG’s national school-based programme, “Suicide shouldn’t be a secret”, approximately 700 000 teens have been made aware of the signs, symptoms of depression and suicide, and critically, how to intervene. “We know that many teen suicides could have been prevented if people knew what to look for”, says Chambers who says that SADAG often hears stories of teens who told friends about wanting to die, but were not taken seriously. Lungi spoke to friends about how she was feeling, and even tried to talk to an aunt about the fact that she wanted to kill herself. “No-one really listened to me – they thought I was just looking for attention.” But SADAG has shown that 80% of teen who are suicidal have given some kind of warning, just like Lungi did. Friends are in a key position to pick up on warning signs that a friend or classmate is depressed or suicidal. “It is very important never to take warning signs lightly or promise to keep them secret”, says Lurie. There are so many youth who suffer in silence, scared of being judged, unsure how to talk about how they are feeling. Often, families are the last to know. TV personality, SadeGilliberti, knows this from first-hand experience. “My depression started early, and when I was depressed my parents didn’t know. When my father found out he was shocked, but he supported me.” Family support is a key factor in teen health. “Family support, good communication, friendships and cultural or religious beliefs are all things that can help a teen deal with depression or stress”, says Lurie. One of the hardest things to do is speak to a depressed teen – they are moody and emotional – and many people feel uncomfortable with the topic of suicide. There are many myths and misconceptions about how to deal with a depressed or potentially suicidal friend, and too often victims of suicide are blamed and their families and friends are stigmatised. People don’t communicate openly about suicide with the result that suicide is left shrouded in secrecy. “Many youth wonder if it’s a good idea to say anything to a friend if you notice something wrong”, says Chambers. “They worry about their friend becoming angry but it is always better to risk the friendship that to risk the friend. Get help before someone you care about does something that can’t be reversed.” Help doesn’t always come in the expected way. For one Grade 10 student, life-saving support came from a friend’s sister on WhatsApp. “My brother was worried about a friend of his who was going through a really hard time and was starting to talk very negatively and aggressively”, says Tracy. “He was concerned so I offered to try help.” Shaun didn’t want to talk face-to-face but agreed to chat via the popular social media app. Shaun was feeling very isolated and his family didn’t seem to be taking any notice of his disturbing behaviour – he was cutting his arms, drinking heavily, locking himself in his room, and refusing to go to school. Tracy says she thinks talking to Shaun ‘anonymously’ in a non-threatening way is what he needed to build trust and open up – and ultimately allow him to get the help he needed. Death from youth suicide is only part of the problem. For every completed suicide, there are an estimated 20 attempted suicides. And far too often, these go unnoticed. Fortunately for Gina, a teacher noticed she hadn’t returned from the bathroom and went to check on her. Ms Smit, a Maths teacher, found Gina unconscious on the floor. After being taken to hospital for treatment, Gina had daily sessions with her Life Orientation teacher at school.  “He really helped me to heal.” Gina says that her teacher helped her see life in a different way and encouraged her

July 14, 2016
Parenting Hub

Parents most at risk for colds and flu

As South Africa braces itself for another onslaught of cold and flu infections this winter season, the biggest risk factor for catching the common cold is having children under the age 12. So says leading colds and flu generic medicine provider, Pharma Dynamics. According to Mariska van Aswegen, spokesperson for Pharma Dynamics, parents fall ill almost twice as much as anyone else. “Young children are a reservoir of germs and if they’re at crèche, school or anyplace else where they are around other children, they’re in a super-virus environment, which makes them the perfect vectors for illness and for passing viruses around. Kids hug, touch and cough all over each other. They chew on toys and as a result share their saliva, and then parents hug, kiss and cuddle them. It’s no wonder that the average parent catches a cold more compared to those without children,” she says. A recent study conducted by the University of Utah’s School of Medicine confirms this notion. They found that families with two, three or four children have some type of virus present in their household just under 60% of the time, whereas childless households were only infected with viruses three to four weeks of the year. Each additional child in a household increased a family member’s risk of falling ill. Households with one child tested positive about 18 weeks of the year, while families with more than four children tested positive about 45 weeks of the year – that’s a whopping 87% of the time. Van Aswegen adds that parents who live with small children are 1.5 times more likely to be sick since children under the age of five tend to have at least one virus present in their mucus 50% of the time. “As we enter another cold and flu season it is imperative that those at risk, especially parents of younger children, give their immune systems a boost, whilst adequately protecting themselves from sources of cross-infection. But for a parent with little ones, it’s difficult to take care of yourself when you’re ill, since you have to take care of everyone else. This makes the recovery process so much harder (and unpleasant). “I often get asked whether there is any sense in trying to stop the spread of infection by wearing a mask for example, but the best and most practical way of protecting yourself (and your family), is to practise proper handwashing techniques and to do so often. This could reduce the chances of catching your child’s cold by 30 to 50%. Another way is to stay out of waiting rooms in doctor’s offices, emergency rooms and the shops, and to avoid public transport as much as possible. Also use your judgement about your own situation. If you are pregnant and have had several bouts of flu or have a newborn, you may actually want to wear a mask. “Besides eating your greens, getting enough sleep is another critical factor in fighting off colds and flu. Research tells us that people who sleep six hours or less a night are four times more likely to catch a cold when exposed to a virus, compared to those who get in more than seven hours a night. Most parents probably don’t get enough Zs, but it’s vital to our wellbeing, so try to carefully plan your day to ensure enough time is spent in slumber land,” she advises. Van Aswegen says keeping a clean and dust-free house is equally important. “It might also be worth getting an air filter to clean and purify the air in your home, especially if you’ve experienced wave after wave of illness in your household. “In truth, there is no cure for the common cold or flu, but time-deprived parents may benefit from supplements that can boost their immune system. Look for one’s that contain Vitamin C, zinc and Echinacea, which when used in combination are excellent at combating colds and flu, such as Efferflu C Immune Booster. She says that if you do catch your child’s cold, there is an upside to all of this shared illness business. “Once a child starts to develop a functioning immune system, at about six months, then the exposure to general viruses and germs isn’t necessarily a bad thing since it helps build and stimulate the immune system. It’s important to remember that a child’s immune system will only be fully developed between 12 to 14 years of age, when they finally reach adult levels of antibody formation, so you may be in for a tough few years, but as the children grow up it will help them fight other infections and stay healthier in the long-run,” concludes van Aswegen.

July 13, 2016
Tanya Hanekom

Auditory Processing – Another Buzz Word?

Auditory processing has become quite a buzz word amongst school teachers and therapists recently. And rightly so, as it is often under-identified or misdiagnosed as attention deficit disorder or bad behaviour, due to poor listening skills. What is Auditory Processing? Auditory processing is “what the brain does with what the ear hears” (Katz, 1994). In short, it is the ability of the brain to identify, localise, attend, remember and respond to auditory stimuli, generally the spoken word. Central auditory processing disorders (CAPD) or auditory processing disorders (APD) are a pattern of disorders whereby certain of the skills that make up auditory processing skills are relatively weak, thereby affecting listening behaviours. How Do You Know If It Is Auditory Processing, Or Just ‘Not Listening’? Central auditory processing disorder (CAPD) and attention deficit disorder (ADD or ADHD) often present with similar symptoms. The primary symptoms for ADD tend to be inattentiveness, distractibility, hyperactivity, restlessness and impulsivity. The primary symptoms for auditory processing disorder (APD) tend to be difficulty hearing in background noise, difficulty following oral instructions, poor listening skills, academic difficulties, distractibility and inattentiveness.[i] How Is Auditory Processing Assessed? Auditory processing is generally assessed by an audiologist (hearing healthcare professional). The audiologist would begin by assessing the outer, middle and inner ear structure and function to make sure that the hearing levels themselves are within normal limits, and there is no ear wax or middle ear infection preventing your child from listening! Thereafter, the audiologist runs a series of tests. Your child wears a set of headphones and responds to auditory tests. Other tests involve more direct interaction with the audiologist. The results are scored and compared against normative data for children of the same age group. Relative strengths and relative weaknesses are identified. The following subtests typically make up an auditory processing assessment: Auditory memory or sequencing for stories, sentences, words and digits Auditory discrimination between similar sounding words (chat/fat) Auditory closure for words that are missing a portion or are distorted Auditory analysis which involves breaking a word down into parts Auditory synthesis which involves building a word up by parts Speech in noise testing to test the child’s ability to ignore competing background noise Dichotic listening which involves listening to words or sentences presented to each ear at the same time Certain children present with patterns of strengths or weaknesses for certain skills. Depending on the pattern of presentation, this may result in certain difficulties in the classroom environment. Can Auditory Processing Weaknesses Be Treated?  Treatment of auditory processing weaknesses is typically tailor-made for your child, depending on the pattern of weaknesses or strengths identified. Speech therapists are typically involved to provide auditory processing therapy, alternatively a home program of exercises may be suggested. Certain classroom modifications may be recommended to the teacher. If the weakness is significant, then assistive listening devices like an FM system may be helpful for some children. What can parents do to help?  If you suspect that your child may be presenting with an auditory processing weakness, you can arrange for auditory processing testing to be conducted by a local audiologist . Testing is typically conducted on primary school-aged children age 6-11, but testing can be conducted on teenagers, depending on the tests available at your audiologist. The audiologist will be able to provide further information, specific to your child’s presentation.

July 11, 2016
Parenting Hub

Increased screen time can lead to higher need for OT therapy in South African children

Occupational specialists warn that too much TV and electronic time can affect physical and social development in children, leading to a higher need for OT. OT specialist, from Sensory Zone, Ray Anne Cook recently addressed a workshop of parents at Toy Kingdom, Canal Walk, Cape Town, to talk more on the importance of play, especially in the foundation years for children.  According to Cook, “when children sit in front of a screen, they are not developing holistically; they are not using their bodies to move. The screen is simultaneous visual and auditory stimulation which is not calming or soothing for a child as much as movement and resistance activities are.” Cook elaborates further in the press release below. Some of the key insights include: Sensory Development– at the age of 2 years old, a child does not yet know where their body is and they need to explore and see how their bodies can move in a 3 dimensional world. This is where motor planning skills becomes important so that children can learn to problem solve. Cook highlights the need for traditional play time with educational toys that can encourage problem solving skills. Empathy and Social Skills– children need to learn from a very young age how to react to the world around them, and playing with toys such as dolls and action figures can help with understanding feelings of empathy Spatial awareness– giving your children the freedom to move during play will increase their sense of understanding of their bodies. If a child is frequently knocking into things, it is more than likely that his or her sense of touch and body space awareness is underdeveloped. Signs to look out for? – Cook advises that generally, if a child does not enjoy an age appropriate game or activity, has difficulty engaging with his peers in play, is unable to participate actively in everyday classroom tasks and is struggling to develop independence in age appropriate tasks at home, i.e. play, dressing, feeding, toileting etc., there may be a deficit or delay in skills development What sorts of toys are useful? – Cook includes of list of the sorts of toys to help development, e.g. things that feel weird, toys that require use of both hands etc. To help parents navigate their stores to find skills building toys, Toy Kingdom have introduced a category system in stores nationwide that helps parents identify which toys help to build certain skills. Occupational therapy is a term becoming increasingly known to South African parents as one of the fields recruited to assist with early childhood development, particularly in the areas of play, motor and perceptions skills. A child’s occupation is play and they develop and learn through play. OT specialist Ray Anne Cook recently addressed a group of parents at an OT workshop hosted by toy brand, Toy Kingdom, and emphasised concerns around too much screen time. “When children sit in front of a screen, they are not developing holistically; they are not using their bodies to move. The screen is simultaneous visual and auditory stimulation which is not calming or soothing for a child as much as movement and resistance activities are.  ” Cook explained that the first two years in a child’s life focuses on sensory development, followed by sensory motor development from ages 2-4 years which explores touch. “At the age of 2 years old, a child does not yet know where their body is and they need to explore and see how their bodies can move in a 3 dimensional world. This is where motor planning skills becomes important so that children can learn to problem solve.” Cook highlights the need for traditional play time with educational toys that can encourage problem solving skills. She believes that a child who does not learn to problem solve in the classroom, playground or at home and in the community will have trouble tackling issues later on in life. Cook further stresses the importance of nurturing a child’s interest when it comes to toys, and to not force children onto toys that a parent thinks they should be playing with. If the toys or games speak to the child’s interest, the child will be more inclined to play. Children need to learn from a very young age how to react to the world around them, and playing with toys such as dolls and action figures can help with understanding feelings of empathy, as well help to build social skills. “Play is relationship building, this is the space where social skills are developed and parents must be mindful that it’s not about getting the game right, it’s about the experience the child is having. Never force a child to play, let them discover their surroundings” said Cook. Giving your children the freedom to move during play will increase their sense of understanding of their bodies. If a child is frequently knocking into things, it is more than likely that his or her sense of touch and body space awareness is underdeveloped. Cook explains that even doing something as simple as pulling a child on a blanket across the floor will not only be fun for the child, but will teach him or her about the sense of balance. For many parents, knowing what to look out for in their children when assessing their needs for further skill development or occupational therapy can be daunting.  Cook advises that generally, if a child does not enjoy an age appropriate game or activity, has difficulty engaging with his peers in play, is unable to participate actively in everyday classroom tasks and is struggling to develop independence in age appropriate tasks at home, i.e. play, dressing, feeding, toileting etc., there may be a deficit or delay in skills development.  She also explains that often children’s resistant, controlling or avoidant behaviour can be the first sign that they are finding something challenging. Quality development in the right areas can assist young children to inhibit the basic skills needed to perform efficiently

July 8, 2016
SA breastmilk reserve

Breastfeeding could save the lives of thousands of infants affected by drought

South Africa is currently suffering one of the worst droughts in recorded history. This poses a major health risk to thousands of infants in drought ridden areas, which can be largely mitigated by simply supporting and encouraging breastfeeding mothers. “Disaster areas are particularly dangerous for infants because their fragile immune systems struggle to cope with stressors like overcrowding, lack of access to clean water and lack of quality medical treatment” says Stasha Jordan, breastfeeding activist and executive director of the South African Breastmilk Reserve (SABR). Diarrhoea is rarely fatal in adults, but it kills over 2 million children under the age of 5 each year around the world. Up to 90% of deaths in emergency situations are due to diarrhoea.1 To compound this tragedy, many of these deaths are avoidable through breastfeeding. A stark illustration of this fact is the investigation by the Centre for Disease Classification (CDC) into the deaths of more than 500 children in Botswana in 2005-06 after a major flood. The study found that nearly all the babies who died were formula fed, and that breastfeeding infants were almost entirely spared.2 Some of these deaths result directly from contaminated water, but even access to clean drinking water does not guarantee an infant’s safety. The United Nations Refugee Agency has found that “insufficient water means that containers and utensils used for mixing milk are often dirty, thus making secondary contamination highly probable. [Dried skim milk], [dried whole milk] or infant formula that are reconstituted with contaminated water are ideal media for breeding harmful bacteria.”3 Proper cleaning and sterilising of cleaning implements, surfaces and hands consumes enormous amounts of water. Feeding an infant eight times a day on formula requires 24 litres of clean water per day, and about 170 litres per week.4 Yet each time there is a humanitarian disaster, aid agencies are flooded with donations of breastmilk substitutes. This stems from a widespread misconception that, during disasters, women’s breastmilk is somehow compromised.5 “Many mothers are worried that, during times of stress or hunger, their breastmilk will not be sufficient to provide for their baby’s needs, and so they are swayed into formula feeding by well-meaning aid workers,” says Jordan, “The irony is that continuing to breastfeed is the single most healthy thing that they could do for their child,” she adds Karleen Gribble and Nina Berry, two leading academics on breastfeeding, state unambiguously that “mothers who are exclusively breastfeeding are able to continue to provide food to their infants regardless of the stress they might be experiencing and their own access to food” and that “exclusive breastfeeding could be considered an emergency preparedness activity.”4 Five of our provinces have already been declared disaster areas as a result of the drought, and millions of the country’s poorest people are struggling to access enough clean water. In that context, supporting breastfeeding mothers is more vital than ever. “It is our collective responsibility as a society to ensure that babies who are already being breastfed continue to be and that babies who are not breastfed re-start breastfeeding,” says Jordan. ”Together we can help prevent a humanitarian disaster and save the lives of thousands of infants,” she concludes. To get involved and alleviate the challenges faced by the SABR, including low breastfeeding rates in South Africa, sourcing donor mothers and funding for the operation of the milk-banks, please visit www.sabr.org.za or call 011 482 1920 or e-mail: [email protected]. References: Why infant formula causes deaths due to diarrhoea. Karleen Gribble (2007).   Protecting infants in emergencies: Information for the Media, IFE Core Group   UNHCR policy related to the acceptance, distribution and use of milk products in refugee settings   Emergency preparedness for those who care for infants in developed country contexts, Gribble and Berry, International Breastfeeding Journal (2011)   Supporting breastfeeding in emergencies: protecting women’s reproductive rights and maternal and infant health, Karleen D. Gribble, Marie McGrath, Ali MacLaine and Lida Lhotska

July 7, 2016
Edublox - Reading & Learning Clinic

Dyslexia: Fact or Fiction?

Megan struggles to read. She is eight years old and everyone in her class seems to read better than her. Megan tries really hard but it never gets easier. She feels silly. Mom thinks Megan has dyslexia. According to popular belief, dyslexia is a disorder which causes kids to struggle with reading, spelling, writing and studying. Many believe that dyslexia is a neurological disorder in the brain that causes information to be processed and interpreted differently. Some people even believe that dyslexia is genetic. Road to Reading Susan du Plessis, director of Edublox Reading and Learning Clinic, says that if the term ‘dyslexia’ is only used to indicate a reading problem, it’s used correctly, but she doesn’t subscribe to the theory that it’s a neurological disorder. Susan shares this view with many others in both the fields of medicine and education. Many kids are labeled dyslexic from a very early age, long before they’ve even mastered the basic foundations required for reading. Can any child be labeled a ‘poor reader’ if he hasn’t been taught correctly or mastered specific steps on the road to reading? Let’s look at the sport of ice hockey. Before you kit your child out with the protective gear required by the sport and expect him to make the team, he first needs to learn how to ice skate, both forward and backward. He must also learn to turn and stop. Once he has mastered this step, he can move on to learning to control the puck with the stick, to pass and receive a pass, and to shoot. Only when these skills are well practiced and achieved, and he also knows the rules of the game, can he possibly make the team. “It’s exactly the same with reading,” explains Susan. “Without a good foundation and mastering the individual steps, children simply don’t learn to read well.” Steps to Reading Learning to read is a process. In order for a child to master this complex task, he or she needs to master the following skills: Language This vital first step begins at birth. Before any child can learn to read, he or she must have a good grasp of language. It’s the step that fits in at the same level as the ‘learning to skate’ section in our analogy on playing ice hockey. Before any child can learn to read, he must have a good command of language. Cognitive skills The next step on the road to reading starts when your child is two or three years old. Cognitive skills are mental skills that are used to acquire knowledge. Learning difficulties, like dyslexia, are often linked to weak cognitive skills. Concentration, perception, memory and logical thinking are four important cognitive skills needed for reading. Concentration: Children need to be taught to focus their attention and keep it focused for a period of time. Concentration is both an ‘act of will’ and a skill. Skills need to be taught and like other skills, concentration can be improved with regular practice. Perception: Perception is the ability to identify, recognise and interpret something, usually through the senses of sight or hearing. Two important perceptual skills for reading are directionality and form discrimination. Directionality relates to the direction of objects ‘in relation to self’ while form discrimination is the ability to perceive differences in the shape of objects. In reading, both these skills are essential — from learning the letters of the alphabet to syllables and then recognising whole words. Memory: There are many different kinds of memory and each is an important foundational skill for reading and spelling. Visual memory is particularly important, because a child must remember the visual appearance of words and letter sequence in order to read them. Logical thinking: Logical thinking is the ability ‘think head’ in sequence or steps in a way that makes sense or logically follows the previous step. This is an important skill for reading comprehension, because by using logical thinking skills, a child can anticipate what happens next. Susan says that weak cognitive skills can be strengthened and normal cognitive skills can be enhanced to increase ease and performance in learning. “Specific brain-training exercises can strengthen these weaknesses leading to increased performance in reading, spelling and learning,” she states. Just like the ice hockey player who is proud of his achievement when he finally makes the team, so your child, with some extra help in the right areas, can be a great reader — and proud of it too.

July 4, 2016
Parenting Hub

Winter skincare tips for your baby

One minute you’re wondering if the blistering heat will ever come to an end and the next you’re leaving home in the dark bundled in layers of warmth. It’s May and autumn has taken hold in South Africa. When it comes to your young ones, the changing seasons bring unwelcome bouts of colds and flu – which are often connected to skin ailments. Su-Marie Annandale from baby skincare brand Krayons has the following tips for common autumn and winter skin ailments: Chapped cheeks and nose can often occur from continued running, and wiping of your child’s nose.  Annandale suggests taking a facecloth soaked in warm water and gently dabbing the affected area. Once the skin is warm, apply Krayons Aqueous Cream gently in upward stokes until it has been absorbed. Follow this same routine two to three times a day to help your little one avoid chapped cheeks. Heat rash sometimes happens when your babe is wrapped up too warmly. You’ll see itchy red bumps arising from the clogging of sweat glands. The best way to combat this is to dress your baby in breathable layers so that one or two layers can be removed if the weather warms-up. Watch out for overheating, especially in little babies. Take time to pamper at bath time. Use this special time with your children to really indulge their skin. In winter, use Krayons Aqueous cream before the bath and rub generously onto your child’s skin. Make sure that the water isn’t too hot and avoid harsh soap products on their skin in the winter months (when skin is especially dry). Once bath time is over, pat the skin dry and apply another layer of cream before dressing. Finish off with a quick swipe of Krayons petroleum jelly on their lips. Don’t forget to use sunscreen throughout the year. The sun can cause unnecessary damage to young skin in summer and winter. Annandale says that your child’s skincare routine in the winter months should be more proactive than reactive. “Keeping your baby or child’s skin adequately moisturised in the cold will make sure that many skin ailments are avoided.” The full range of Krayons products are available at all major retail outlets for between R7,99 for the Krayons soap bar to R32,99 for the 500ml Petroleum Jelly. Ends. Follow Krayons on Facebook : www.facebook.com/krayonsbabies

June 23, 2016
Doug Berry

Time for bed!

An eye-opening estimated 70% of children are not getting enough sleep or enough quality sleep these days! Keep reading to find out what this is doing and how to help them and yourself, as a parent, rest easier! The amount of sleep a child needs varies depending on age and health, but here is a quick guideline to help you gauge how much sleep your child ideally needs! Age Sleep hours needed per day 1-4 Weeks 15 – 16 1-4 Months 14 – 15 4-12 Months 14 – 15 1-3 Years 12 – 14 3-6 Years 10 – 12 7-12 Years 10 – 11 12-18 Years 8 – 9 So, why do we our children need regular, quality sleep? Sleep serves a critical role in our health and well-being and gives your body a rest, allowing it to prepare for the next day. Every movement we make uses vital resources and creates minuscule wear and tear for our bodies. At night, while we sleep, our body finally gets the chance to rebuild itself. While we are awake, our minds are barraged from input from 5 senses, as well as constantly using thought, logic, creativity, and creating memories. Sleep gives the brain the time it needs to sort out and store information, replace chemicals, and solve problems. If you are having a hard time trying to get your kids to sleep as much as they should, here are a few age-appropriate tips to give you a hand: Newborns Observe baby’s sleep patterns and identify signs of sleepiness. Put your baby in the crib when drowsy, before they fall asleep. Place your baby to sleep on their back with face clear of blankets and other soft items. Infants Develop regular daytime and bedtime schedules. Create a consistent and enjoyable bedtime routine, such as reading to them or singing. Make their space “sleep friendly” environment, with soft lighting. Toddlers Maintain a sleep schedule and consistent bedtime routine. Make the bedroom environment the same every night, without much change. Encourage use of a “sleep pal” such as a blanket or stuffed animal. Preschoolers Have a relaxing bedtime routine that ends in the room where the child sleeps. Child should sleep in the same sleeping environment every night, in a room that is cool, quiet and dark, without a TV. School-aged Children Teach them about healthy sleep habits and why sleep is important. Make child’s bedroom conducive to sleep – dark, cool and quiet. Avoid caffeine and sugary food and drink.

June 15, 2016
Parenting Hub

Rest is critical for everyone

Diana Du Plessis on behalf of Philips Mother and Child Division The early months with your newborn can be very tiring but it’s important that you also try to get enough shut-eye. It is estimated that new parents can lose between 400 and 750 hours sleep in their baby’s first year! The good news however, is that there are a few things you can do to help make life a bit more restful, for everyone. Most new parents like to keep their baby close by in the early weeks. A Moses basket or small crib is ideal as it can be moved around the house so that your baby can be where you are. It is also recommended that babies sleep in their parents’ room for the first six months, in a separate crib. However, after the first few weeks you might begin to feel a bit more relaxed about letting your little one sleep in another room. Staying connected with your baby when you’re not together is very important though and that’s where a good baby monitor can help. Stay Connected Baby monitors allow you to keep an eye on your baby even when you’re not in the room – giving you extra peace of mind. Not only do they let you know when your baby is crying, but you can talk back and reassure them with your voice depending on the model of monitor of course. If your baby is older (and a noisy sleeper), look for a monitor with adjustable sensitivity. You won’t hear every sound, but you’ll know if your baby needs you. Some monitors can also remotely notify you of the temperature and humidity of your baby’s room. Your baby’s sleep and relaxation can be easily affected by even the slightest variations in climate, as babies aren’t capable of efficiently regulating their own body temperatures. The latest monitors mean you can keep an eye on temperature and humidity levels from anywhere in your home and check your baby’s room is comfortable and healthy. Introduce a Routine Some babies find it easier than others to settle. If your baby is a good sleeper, you’re lucky. But, there may still be times when your little one needs a bit of extra help at bedtime with baby sleep training. Introducing a sleep-time routine such as a darkened room, a certain song or lullaby, and a baby sleeping bag instead of sheets and blankets can really help. A soother may also help to settle them. Babies have a strong instinct to suck and that simple sucking action is naturally relaxing. Try and get your baby in the mood for sleep, but encourage them to do the ‘going to sleep’ bit alone, by saying good night and leaving the room quietly. Return to soothe if needed it but leave before your baby is completely asleep. Gradually, they’ll find it easier to settle themselves on their own. A baby who knows how to go to sleep alone nearly always sleeps through the night earlier, as it’s easier to get back to sleep. Most babies are able to sleep the whole 10 to 12 hour night at around 6 to 7 months. Here are some top tips for helping your baby sleep Newborn babies who are more unsettled may benefit from skin to skin contact and lots of cuddles. Newborns also find movement very soothing. For unsettled babies, try gentle rocking in your arms, in the pram, or in a sling or baby carrier. Suckling is also very soothing, so try a breastfeed or soother. Lullabies can help soothe your baby back to sleep, and you can sing or play them through a parent unit, if your monitor has one. The talkback function enables you to reassure your baby without going into the room. This is really useful for baby sleep training and also lets your baby know you are on your way. A night light is comforting for many babies, and is useful when checking on your baby when it’s dark. You could use the night light on your monitor, for example, as it won’t disturb your baby. A special baby sleeping bag is a great alternative to sheets and blankets, as your baby can’t wriggle out of it. They are tog rated for the different seasons and keep your baby at an even temperature when sleeping. Babies and parents really benefit from a bedtime routine from about two to three months onwards. In the early evening, try a bath, a quick massage, a milk feed and maybe a special soothing bedtime song. From about six months, introduce a story and maybe a sleep time teddy or bunny. Encourage your baby to sleep more at night by feeding well and regularly during the day. At night, keep lights low, avoid too much stimulation and only change your baby’s nappy if necessary. It can take a bit of time to learn good sleeping habits, but persevere and you will soon see the results.

June 13, 2016
Munchkins

Healthy is Happy is Healthy

Your child’s health and happiness are essentially two sides of the same coin. We sometimes feel that giving children what they want – sugary treats, screen time, toys – will make them happy. And who does not want to bring joy to their most precious little human, right? However, we tend to harm our children’s health in this process of pleasing, which ironically rather impedes their happiness. If you invest in health, happiness will flow from it. And the happier a child is, the healthier they are in turn – a beautiful upward spiral! When it comes to a kid’s contentment, we need to start thinking long-term rather than giving in to those instant, but very fleeting, feel-good fixes. Happiness often lies in temporary displeasure, so tough out the tantrums, manage the manipulation and enjoy the more steadfast state of serenity! Areas to focus on when you prioritise your child’s health might by now seem like that worn-out notice behind the bathroom door that you still find yourself reading each day.  Yet, before we have reached perfection in parenthood (which have the same odds as owning a unicorn), we cannot be reminded enough. Eat, drink and be merry! Your little human simply cannot fully flourish on a faulty diet. Nutrition works like farming: what you put into the soil (e.g. pumpkin seeds) will deliver a correlating crop (in this case – pumpkins). Likewise, if you put good stuff into your child, you will grow good stuff, but if you fill them with nonsense, you will have to put up with a produce of nonsense too. Daily provisions of processed foods, refined grains, sugar and harmful additives are going to affect your child’s body and brain negatively. This will eventually show in his functioning, behaviour and mood. Vegetables (especially the green kind), unprocessed proteins, good fats and fruit (in proportionally less servings than the veggies) are really what your children (and you!) need to operate optimally. Be wary of anything that is not consumed very close to its natural state. Messing with nature’s way – like most modern diets do – also messes up a person’s nature! Concentration difficulties, hyperactivity, depressed moods, anxiety and other childhood problems are often (at least partially) associated with diet. It is just too easy to fill our little ones’ stomachs with convenience foods and to get them smiling with sweets. But what you are really doing (and this might sound harsh) is merely making your own life easier – and even then, only in the short term. You are not investing in durable happiness. If you plan, shop and budget well, you can achieve proper nutrition on a shoestring, too – so do not make budget your excuse. You just need the correct information and, of course, the willpower. Munchkins need to move it move it! Our bodies were made to move and a child will not develop properly without a healthy amount of physical activity. There are many links between movement and mood. Exercise releases a feel-good sensation. It serves as an energy-spender which consequently keeps little busy bees out of trouble and makes them feel less cooped up. At the same time, staying active actually maintains their energy levels to keep them performing vibrantly all day. Furthermore, movement improves sleep (yes – theirs and therefore yours too!). Ultimately, exercise is imperative to overall physical and cognitive health – and an ill or poorly developed child is a miserable one. Positive activities activate positivity A bored kid is a parent’s worst fear for good reasons. Boredom breeds blow-ups. Children need times of appropriate stimulation. Activities like arts, crafts and structured games aid cognitive development and creativity. Remember, what might seem like mere useless fun to you is actually a child doing important business. Positive play in childhood is equal to productive labour in adulthood. Thus, just like we get depressed during times when we have nothing useful to devote ourselves to, children also need to feel well applied to stay content. Just remember that structured activities should be age-appropriate and interjected between physical activity and free play. What happens on the outside reflects on the inside A discussion on health and happiness cannot be complete without looking at a child’s physical and social environment. Healthy relationships (which should include ample affection, positive discipline, the enforcement of a flexible routine and the modelling of health habits) as well as safe surroundings are absolutely invaluable to mental and physical health. Toxins in the environment (e.g. cigarette smoke, pollution, abuse or parental discord) will poison little bodies and minds and will play out in a child’s level of contentment. Protect them from these health hazards as best as you can – even if you are one of them! Bottom line: if you compromise on health, you compromise on happiness. Our inner child is programmed to equate chocolate milkshakes and endless episodes of our favourite cartoon with joy. But let the informed adult in you rather make the choices that will affect your child’s continuous contentment. About the Author Petro Wagner is a pregnant, work-from-home mommy of a two-year-old princess and a limited-edition dog. She has a Master’s degree and further training in Play Therapy, backed by an impressive knowledge of all the Heidiepisodes; knowing the lyrics to endless nursery songs; and having personally met Sleeping Beauty in her real castle in Germany.

June 9, 2016
Dr Gerald B Kaplan

But it isn’t hurting!

If you think about it, the comment, “I will wait until it breaks”, is completely illogical. It doesn’t make any sense. See, not long ago I noticed low tire pressure in one of my tires, so I prayed all the way to the tyre fitment centre, hoping to arrive without incident. I made it! After evaluating the pressure issue, the technician walked from the garage over to where I was expectantly waiting. I thought to myself, “Oh boy- here we go!” He reported that I had a nail in my tyre, and that they would repair it at no charge. He also told me that for safety reasons, my car would benefit from new tyres in the near future. If I were like a dental patient I might have said, “I think I’ll just wait for a blowout”. See what I mean? It just doesn’t make sense. I didn’t plan on buying four new tyres that day but I did and I didn’t hold it against the technician either. So let’s get real… You the patient and not the prosthodontist has ownership of the problem. Why do you not take time out of your day to visit our practice? Why let your medical aid dictate appropriate treatment?  They are your teeth, not theirs! How would you like your teeth to be in 5, 10, 15 years down the line – surely sound and healthy as they could be now. What if we as prosthodontists see something that isn’t necessarily symptomatic at the present time, but could potentially pose a problem in the foreseeable future – how soon would you want to do something about it? If we were able to help you ward off any emergency or pain or inconvenience  timeously while saving you some money, would that not  be helpful? You are welcome to give us a call to prevent the blowout.

June 6, 2016
Parenting Hub

Autism and the Senses – A Parent’s Guide

All around the world famous landmarks have been lit up with blue lights – a great way for the world to notice that autism is real, it impacts more people than we can imagine and there is still so much to learn about the condition. Ask any parent, adult, sibling or adolescent living with autism, about what aspect they find most difficult and they will mostly confirm that dealing with the sensory elements of autism is or was their biggest hurdle. At every moment in our 24-hour day, our senses are inundated with new and old sensory input, which gets filtered appropriately in order for one to function effectively. Many autistic children have great difficulty with processing sensory input from the environment, and added to that they have great difficulty communicating what they don’t like about the sensory input. Autistic children are typically sensory sensitive with either low or fluctuating thresholds, meaning that they are hugely affected, (often negatively), by sensory input from their environments. It is just too loud, too bright, too tight or too fast for them. They experience sensory overload on a constant basis and they really battle to cope with this. This video  by the Interacting with Autism Project is a fantastic illustration of what somebody with autism must be experiencing when confronted with sensory overload. Their withdrawal patterns and poor social skills are not necessarily caused by sensory overload, but augmented by their sensory issues. Children on the Autism spectrum need consistency, routine and structure. Unpredictable and sensory overloaded environments (like shops and shopping malls) are very difficult for them to cope with, which typically will cause them to throw tantrums, get aggressive and/or withdraw from such environments. Sensory meltdowns occur when there is some form of discordance that happens in one or more of the sensory systems (touch, taste, sound, sight, smell, movement). Low blood sugar levels are also of relevance, as lowered blood sugar levels heighten all the senses. Remove the child from the distressing environment and take him to a safer and calmer place. Parents should be aware of meltdowns, it happens so quickly and without warning – but try not to over protect them or to shield them from stressful environments. Learn to anticipate which sensory system overloads the quickest and be prepared. Exposure to new and uncomfortable environments needs to be done in a gentle and calculated way (when the child is calm and regulated) as it helps them learn to anticipate, to adapt to and to manage these environments. A portable sensory toolkit can be taken with you whenever you are away from home and can include the following items: Sunglasses (to decrease the effect of bright light). A baseball cap or wide brimmed hat (for decreased visual stimulation). An ice cold water bottle with a sport cap for sucking water or an ice cold juice with a straw. A chewy snack, like biltong, dried fruit, chewing gum. Soundproof headphones for very loud environments. A change of clothing (long-sleeved t-shirt to avoid unwanted touch). Deep bear hugs – for a calming effect. Deep breathing – the universal calmer. One’s senses are thus a vital key to coping with autism – it is the window to their souls and interactions. Understand it, use it wisely and learn to look at people and environments form a sensory point of view.

May 30, 2016
Ati2ud

Active vs. Passive Listening

There’s a saying that goes “We have two ears and one mouth – so that we can listen more than we speak”. And there definitely is a difference between listening and hearing. Has there been a time when you have been speaking to someone and they’ve answered you completely out of context to what you said or just gave you a one worded answer? This is passive listening. In other words the other person is not fully present in the moment giving you their undivided attention. They may be distracted, thinking of something else, are not interested in the topic on hand, or may just plainly not have much time for you. Considering that 7% of our communication is verbal, 55% is visual (i.e. body language) and 38% is voice (tone, inflection, etc) there are a lot of cues to be looking out for when interacting with someone. Active listening is being fully present in the moment. It means being aware of where you are at in your own head (your emotional state), how you are contributing to the conversation (body language etc), and your impact on the other person (is it positive or negative) and how the other is impacting on you (your reaction). When we are fully present in a conversation, not only are we giving that person our undivided attention, we are also showing them respect and that we value them as a person and what they are sharing with us. They say that 90% of problems in relationships (personal or peer) is due to the lack of communication – either what is not being said (fear of not feeling safe to share, retaliation etc) or what is not being heard (lack of understanding, not being able to see things from the other person’s perspective). Most of the time we listen to respond instead of really hear what the other person has to say. We are so busy preparing our response that we miss vital pieces of information that are coming our way. This primarily has to do with how the brain is wired, to look for the negative. Our brain reacts more strongly to stimuli it deems negative – this stems back to our early days where it was all about survival (and still is today). One way to ensure you are fully present and tuned in to what the other person is saying is to use mirroring. Mirroring is a psychological phenomenon in which people mimic speech patterns, gestures and nonverbal behaviours of others. Research has shown that people who use mirroring effectively tend to build a good rapport with the other person and can be seen in a positive light. The more the relational space (i.e. the space between two people) is safe and open, the better the relating that will take place – in other words, the better the quality of the conversation, communication and the relationship as a whole.

May 19, 2016
Baby Jakes Mom

Sleep Safety Guidelines for New Moms 

I am yet to encounter a new mom whose baby sleeps flat on their back. Every time I visit a fellow new mommy friend, they’ve carefully wedged their new baba on their sides, nestled in between those little foam side wedges and sleep positioner’s. Why? Because they’re worried that if their little one is on their back, and spits up in their sleep, they’ll choke to death on their own vomit. Oh moms. Side sleeping hasn’t been recommended for the last 26 years. Back sleeping is the ONLY safe to sleep position for newborns and infants.  That said, allow me to state that I am not inherently paranoid. I let Jake sleep on his tummy for many a day nap (OMG?!? Yes, I just admitted that out loud). And yes, you will find many loose toys in Jake’s cot. And a cot bumper. Nor have I ever used the Angelcare Breathing Mat. (This post should be attached with one of those “Do not try this at home” disclaimers). And now that he is older (and out of the high risk stage), he gets himself into the most obscure sleep positions; twisted and curled like a mini contortionist, face down. Accompanied by his many furry friends (Doo Doo, Doo Doo the 2nd, Kitty, Barney & Bunny). At the end of the day though, I was always fully informed and aware of the risks of SIDS. I’m providing this information for the advancement of your own knowledge. Know the facts. Use common sense and trust your own mommy instincts (because yes, that is a real thing, and yes, you possess it). Also remember that SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) is rare. No need for panic. But it’s about being aware, informed and up to date. The information listed below is taken directly from official guidelines as provided by various State and Government departments around the world. I’m just sharing the information so you can make informed mommy decisions of your own. EVER HEARD OF THE BACK / SAFE TO SLEEP CAMPAIGN? It’s a public education campaign used by governments of first world countries to try and decrease the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) – the current leading cause of death among infants.  The Campaign was first introduced in the early 1990’s. Countries which have implemented public health campaigns to promote the use of the back sleep position for infants have reduced their rates of sudden infant death by as much as 80%. In the USA, SIDS rates have decreased by 50% – while Australia has seen an 83% decline. BASIC SAFE SLEEP GUIDELINES: Babies sleep safest on their backs. Babies who sleep on their backs are much less likely to die of SIDS than are babies who sleep on their stomachs or sides. Every sleep time counts. Babies should sleep on their backs for all sleep times—for naps and at night. Never on tummy or side. Babies who are used to sleeping on their backs but who are then placed on their stomachs to sleep, like for a nap, are at very high risk of SIDS. Sleep surface matters. Babies who sleep on a soft surface, such as an adult bed, or under a soft covering, such as a soft blanket or quilt, are more likely to die of SIDS or suffocation. Babies must therefore never be left alone on an adult bed or put to sleep on a sofa, bean bag, waterbed or sagging mattress Keep soft objects, toys, stuffed animals, crib bumpers, and loose bedding out of your baby’s sleep areato reduce the risk of SIDS and other sleep-related causes of infant death. Do not use pillows, wedges, positioners, nests, blankets, quilts, sheepskins, or crib bumpersanywhere in your baby’s sleep area. Evidence does not support using crib bumpers to prevent injury. In fact, crib bumpers can cause serious injuries and even death. Use a firm mattress that fits snuggly in the cot with a fitted crib sheet. Avoid using loose blankets. Do not let your baby get too hot during sleep (Remember that a cold baby will wake from discomfort, a hot baby won’t). Around 18 degrees Celsius is the correct room temperature. Don’t let your baby’s head become covered. To prevent your baby wriggling down under the covers, place them in the “feet to foot” position. This means their feet are at the end (foot) of the crib, cot or Moses basket. Smoking remains the most important modifiable risk factor in reducing the risk of SIDS. Make sure that everyone who cares for your baby uses the safe sleeping recommendations to put your baby to sleep. FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS: Why should I place my baby on his or her back to sleep? Research shows that the back sleep position is the safest for babies. The back sleep position carries the lowest risk of SIDS. Will my baby choke if placed on his or her back to sleep? No. Healthy babies naturally swallow or cough up fluids—it’s a reflex all people have to make sure their airway is kept clear. Babies might actually clear such fluids better when on their backs because of the location of the windpipe (trachea) when in the back sleep position. Healthy infants protect their airway when placed on their backs, provided that swallowing and arousal mechanisms are normal. Cases of fatal choking are very rare except when related to a medical condition. The number of fatal choking deaths has not increased since back sleeping recommendations began. In most of the few reported cases of fatal choking, an infant was sleeping on his or her stomach. Is it okay if my baby sleeps on his or her side? Side sleeping is not recommended as a safe alternative to sleeping on the back and increases the risk of SIDS. Much (but not all) of the risk associated with the side position is related to the risk of the infant rolling onto their tummy. For this reason, babies should sleep wholly on their backs—the position associated with the lowest SIDS risk. What

May 18, 2016
The Headache Clinic

Teen stress a strong risk factor for headaches

Stress has a dire impact on the quality of modern life, and this is sometimes amplified in a teenager’s life. Often pressures from school, home, friends, and physical changes during this highly self-aware period can lead to anxiety and the latest research also suggests it can even have an impact on the frequency of headaches teenagers get. A recent study, published in Paediatric Neurology, aimed to describe the relationship between risk factors, such as stress, depression and anxiety, and potentially protective factors against paediatric headache-related disability. It found that stress is “the strongest risk factor for headache-related disability”. The study was a cross-sectional survey among adolescents seen in an academic neurology clinic, who were reporting four or more headaches monthly. Among the 29 participants, the average age was 14.8 years with a ratio of 31% male and 69% female. The average headache frequency was 11.6 per month and the most commonly reported trigger was stress (86% of the participants reported stress). Headache disability was assessed using the six-item Headache Impact Test (HIT-6) (which is a validated assessment of the functional impact of headaches for both migraine and TTH in adults and has been used in adolescent as well as adult headache populations). Reducing headaches, reducing depression “Depression is a well-known predictor of moderate to severe headache-related disability among adolescents,” says Dr. Elliot Shevel, South Africa’s migraine surgery pioneer and the medical director of The Headache Clinic,  “but contrary to the belief of many doctors, depression does not cause headaches, it is in fact the other way around. A headache attack alters the sufferer’s mood due to the pain, and constant pain is one of the most important causes of depression. Therefore chronic headache and migraine pain is often a major contributor to chronic depression.” “Another study has shown that  adolescents who missed more school due to headache had higher depression scores and lower academic performance than students who missed less school.” According to Shevel the most effective way to reduce the depression linked to headaches is to find the cause of the pain and treat that. “If you get rid of the pain, the depression in most cases will become less or go away.” He adds that it is important to differentiate between stress and depression. In this case stress can result in headaches, which then in turn can result in depression. “Stress is one of the biggest triggers for headaches as stress causes muscle tension, and muscle tension is one of the primary causes of headache pain. Although its advised, its usually hard to avoid stress (which is the trigger), so at least the muscle tension (which is the underlying cause) can be safely and effectively treated.”

May 9, 2016
Parenting Hub

Swimming – An all year activity with excellent health benefits

I have been teaching swimming for 10 years with about half of them being in the UK and the last 5 years here in Cape Town. I am always surprised by South- Africans’ attitudes to swimming in terms of its role as an all year sport and activity. We are extremely blessed by the amazing weather in our country. A common misconception is that we should only swim when the sun is shining; this is only true for outdoor pools. The effective heating and covering of swimming pools allow this excellent sport to be enjoyed all year round in comfort. For those of you who remain sceptical, I have put together some of the great advantages of swimming all year. Do remember though, as long as your baby, your children and you are dressed warmly on the way to and from lessons in a heated indoor facility of course, there should be no reason to stop your swimming lessons. Swimming is a fun way to encourage your child to do physical exercise With the colder winter months approaching we all have the tendency to become less active. The rainy weather does stop most of us from spending prolonged periods outside, riding our bikes or going for a walk. Going swimming in an indoor, heated environment provides the perfect shelter from the outside elements. Taking your child to a 30 minute swimming lesson, once or twice per week is no doubt a fun and energetic activity that they love. Swimming is a great form of exercise, because it offers the swimmers a full body workout with very low impact on their joints – “To be swim fit is the best fit!” Swimming develops the whole child Not only is swimming a great way to get physically fit, swimming has also been proven to encourage intellectual and emotional development. According to a scientific study at the German Sports College, Cologne (1979) children that swim all year round fared better academically, particularly in problem solving skills. The good news however doesn’t end there. A four year Early Years swimming Research project (with 45 swim schools in Australia, New Zealand and the USA) found that children younger than 5 who had swimming lessons were more advanced in their cognitive and physical development. The researchers in Melbourne went on to find that the children in this study also had higher IQ’s. Still not convinced? According to Art Kramer (2009) at the University of Illinois and Pittsburgh, exercise helps a persons’ memory, which in turn leads to greater learning potential. In their study they found that people who were fit had a larger hippocampus than those less fit. Swimming enhances brain development in babies and people with special needs. The benefits of swimming for babies and children with special needs are vast. I will cover these in another article, but I thought it would be important to touch on just one of these benefits here. According to a study conducted at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology by Dr Hermundur Sigmundson (2010) it was concluded that even the youngest swimmers were better at balancing and grasping. Working with children with cerebral palsy, downs syndrome and autism, I have also witnessed a vast improvement in these skills after just a relatively short time in the pool. One of the reasons for this is because being in water exposes babies and children with special needs to tactile stimulation of the nerve pathways. Water has over 600 times the resistance of air, so just moving through water is already stimulating. Dr Ruth Rice (1979) found in her research that children learn significantly through touch and the texture of different objects – also known as tactile sensory development. It was proven that this stimulation leads to “significant gains in neurological and mental development.” Swimmers have better social skills It is hardly surprising, having read the previous studies, that swimming will enhance your social skills. Looking at the same study by the German sport college, Cologne, swimmers displayed more self-discipline and have better self-esteem which made them more comfortable in social situations. It was also found by Dr Liselott Diem (1980) that children who had taken swimming lessons from 2 months to 4 years old could adapt to new social situations more easily, because they had more confidence in social settings. Swimming help teach children to take turns, listen, share and cooperate. All necessary skills in social environments. Swimming improves your immune system Contrary to the erroneous belief that your child will be more ill in the winter months if they keep on swimming, swimming will in actual fact improve your child’s immune system. Every time your little one goes under the water it triggers a reflex called the diving response. This is when the body – “starved of oxygen” pumps oxygen rich blood to the vital organs, namely the heart, lungs and brain.  This means the vital organs get stronger which helps us cope better with common illnesses. It was actually proven in a study that swimmers have vital organs 20 years younger than their actual age. Swimming reduces your child’s risk of drowning This is the most important reasons for taking your child to swimming lessons, but I sometimes think we get so hung-up on this fact, we miss some of the other great benefits as listed earlier. Swimming is a life-skill and all children should be able to swim. No questions asked. No baby is born not liking water, so when your little one cries for the first few lessons, there is usually another reason for this. A good swimming teacher will look for a way to make your little one feel comfortable and look forward to coming to lessons. Gone are the days of the “Just throw them in!” attitude, as this can do more harm than good. Conclusion:  Swimming is a fun and potentially lifesaving activity, with a wide range of health and social benefits. Don’t dismiss this sport and activity because of our

May 2, 2016
Ati2ud

When You Need to Pick Yourself Up

Sometimes life doesn’t go according to plan. You have this idea about something that you want to do or achieve, and you put all your focus, effort and energy into it, and then, boom! – it backfires, leaving you with waves of thoughts of ‘what if’s’ and an aftermath of emotions to deal with. This has happened to me a few times. My plan didn’t go according to plan, which left me with a “now what?” situation. I did not think things wouldn’t go according to plan. In fact, I thought it was a done deal I was that confident about the situation. So what does one do when faced with this scenario? Well, you stop looking back. You stop over analyzing. You stop asking yourself ‘what if’? You pick yourself up, you forgive yourself and you focus on moving forward. The greatest growth comes from the insights you get from these experiences. How you apply this new found knowledge is what moves your forward instead of keeping you stuck in the past. Quick exercise When you find yourself in a situation like this, ask yourself these questions: How badly did I want this goal in the first place? Did I do the best I could in this situation? Was there anything I could have done differently? Would the outcome have been different if I took this action? What will achieving this goal do for me? How will it make me feel? Is it worth the sacrifices I need to make to get it? What do I need to do to achieve this goal going forward? Reflection time Failure is not final – it’s feedback. It’s a second chance to start over and to do things differently. It gives us wisdom and experience. It gives us insight and knowledge. It gives us the ability to dig deep within ourselves and to tap into our inner knowing and being. It guides us to look at a situation from a different perspective. Knowing the answers to these questions assists us to make better decisions and to discern whether these goals are in line with our divine truth.

April 26, 2016
Baby Jakes Mom

Helping mommy, Helping baby

The first week after a baby is born is often referred to as ‘Hell Week’. You don’t know how often your baby will be crying, feeding, sleeping or requiring that all important clean diaper. Mommy is still possibly in loads of pain, especially if she had a caesarean, so it is important that daddy lends a hand. The problem with this is of course that daddy’s are ignored for the most part during the pregnancy. Almost every blog or group dedicated to babies are centred on what mommy is feeling, how mommy can cope with the new baby and which resources mommy can use to assist with a new baby. A great example of this is a new mommy group that my fiancée belongs to. No men are invited to this group as they, “don’t know what it is like to raise a child”. This leads to daddy being unprepared for those ever important first week and possibly for a long time after that. Support from family and friends will also mostly focus on how to assist mommy and although I agree that mommy and baby are the two most important people from birth onwards, I feel that daddy’s should have more support as well. Daddies are under appreciated. Here are 3 easy to remember tips focused on what daddy can do the first few weeks to help both mommy and baby. Change as many diapers as possible: This may seem like a trivial point, but it is greatly important ion various levels. It gives mommy a break from changing which will improve her mood and frustration levels. This will in turn lead to a better and less stressful relationship between mommy and daddy. This is peak bonding time for daddy and baby. Make sure to make as much eye contact with baby as possible and explain each step of the process as you change their diaper. Baby will only recognise your face from about 4 weeks onwards but they can already recognise your voice. Feed baby when you can: Feeding baby is also a wonderful means of bonding with baby. This is made a lot more difficult when mommy is breastfeeding, but daddy can still be involved by burping baby. Skin contact is very important during this bonding time, so try and burp baby being shirtless but remember to have a cloth in between where her face might make contact with your skin. If you are at home after work and it is time for a feeding always volunteer to do the feeding and give mommy a rest. If baby is not sleeping through yet, this takes a while, daddy should give the feeding closest to bed time. If you usually go to bed at 23:00 and her feeding time is 23:30 let mommy go to bed if possible and do the feeding on your own. Mommy can then do the next feeding during the night and allow daddy to be well rested for work. Break the stigma:  The reason the stigma exists that men should not wash dishes, clothes, clean the kitchen, etc. is that men do not want to perform these tasks historically reserved for the women of the house. Newsflash!! Women also do not want to perform these tasks. Break the stigma. Washing dishes and giving the kitchen a scrub is a great way of giving mommy a rest. Mommy being rested leads to her being more relaxed, which means the baby is more relaxed. This leads to a less fussy baby that is easier for you as a daddy to bond with. Help yourself by helping mommy which in turn helps baby. Help with washing some of baby’s clothes. Nothing is more frustrating than changing baby and not finding anything that fits and is clean. Washing baby’s clothes can help daddy feel that he contributes to more than just a salary. Bonding with my baby and feeling that you contribute more than just a salary are two main things will keep you going through that first “Hell week”.  You feel a sense that you are also part of your baby’s life and making meaningful contributions to their wellbeing.

April 20, 2016
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