Health - Parenting Hub

Expert Advice from Bonitas Medical Fund

Advice from the experts

How Sugar Can Affect Our Children

Sugar is addictively awesome, but is the long term health effects really worth that momentary indulgence? It is blamed for most health issues, from behavioural problems to skyrocketing rates of childhood obesity and diabetes. Yet babies come into the world with a ‘sweet tooth’ (nature’s way of drawing them to breast milk), so you may wonder, how could an occasional lollipop or cupcake be so detrimental? In modest amounts, sugar can have a healthful place in a child’s diet (or an adult’s). But many kids get too much, too often. Worse, sugar-rich foods tend to be full of empty calories and often displace the nutritious foods children need. A recent landmark study of more than 3,000 babies and toddlers found that close to half of 7- to 8-month-olds are already consuming sugar-sweetened snacks, sodas and fruit drinks, a percentage that increases dramatically with age. These findings are of concern to health experts, since eating sugary foods at an early age makes you crave them even more later on. Fortunately, parents can do a lot to train their young child’s taste buds so that he or she doesn’t end up wanting sweetness so much. Beware of Hidden Sugars Sugar can hide in foods where you least expect it. Get in the habit of reading labels. You don’t always see the word “sugar” on a food label. It sometimes goes by another name, like sucrose, glucose, dextrose, fructose, maltose, malt sugar, fructose sweetener, liquid fructose, honey, molasses, anhydrous dextrose, crystal dextrose and dextrin on the ingredients list of packaged food. If any of the above-mentioned names appear in the first 3 ingredients of a product, it’s best to avoid the product. Also remember that ingredients are listed by decreasing weight so if you see sugar by any name near the top of the list, reconsider the product. Why should we cut back on sugars? Added sugar means empty calories which put kids at risk for obesity and health problems that can show up as early as adolescence. High-sugar diets can increase a child’s risk of developing Type 2 diabetes or the pre-diabetic condition known as insulin resistance syndrome. Tooth decay Sugar fuels the growth of bacteria which causes tooth decay. While fluoridated water and regular tooth brushing help prevent cavities, a steady stream of sugar in the mouth increases the likelihood thereof. When babies or young children have prolonged exposure to sugars found in sweetened water, fruit juice, milk, breast milk and formula such as giving a baby a bottle in bed or by sweetening a dummy, they are at an increased risk of tooth decay. That’s why dentists advise against putting babies to sleep with a bottle of milk (it contains milk sugar called lactose) or fruit juice, or letting them sip these drinks throughout the day. Behavioural problems When your child consumes refined sugars, there is a sudden spike in blood sugar levels. The body responds by producing a large amount of insulin, a hormone that sweeps sugar out of the blood and into body cells. When the sugar levels begin to fall, your body produces adrenaline which can contribute to hyperactivity in children to compensate for the low blood sugar levels. Blood sugar levels may then drop so quickly below normal that your child may feel shaky, sluggish, experience behaviour disturbances and impair learning by decreasing attention. This is often the case in children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). A study comparing the sugar response in children and adults showed that the adrenaline levels in children remained ten times higher than normal for up to five hours after a test dose of sugar. Some children and adults are sugar sensitive, meaning their behaviour, attention span and learning ability deteriorate in proportion to the amount of sugar they consume. Children with ADHD are often sugar-sensitive. Not surprisingly, low blood-sugar levels can trigger a craving for more sweets, which creates a vicious cycle of sugar highs and lows. Childhood obesity Children gain too much weight when they take in more calories than they burn. Unfortunately, sugary drinks and treats typically supply calories above and beyond what kids need to satisfy their hunger. A can of soda contains ten teaspoons of sugar (160 calories), and many sweetened fruit drinks have as much or more. Regularly drinking even one sugary drink (soda, fruit punch or sweetened iced tea) a day increases the risk of obesity. Overweight or obese children are at increased risk of chronic conditions such as heart disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, type II Diabetes, asthma and sleep apnoea. 80% of children who is overweight before the age of 13 years, will be obese as adults. Weakened immunity Excess sugar intake can cause cold-like symptoms in children causing runny noses, excessive mucus, cough and symptoms of sinus infections. Consuming sugar also alters the balance between good and bad bacteria in children’s bodies, weakening their immune systems which leads to worsening of symptoms and prolonged recovery. Studies have found that excess sugar in the blood (including fruit sugar fructose and honey) caused a 50% drop in the ability of white blood cells to fight bacteria. In contrast, ingesting complex carbohydrates did not lower the ability of these white blood cells to engulf bacteria. The immune suppression was most noticeable two hours after eating lots of sugar, but the effect was still evident five hours after ingestion. Poor diet Sugar can cause stomach ache and poor appetite in children causing them to eat poorly when healthy nutritious food is offered. What to do as parents? Limit the amount of refined sugar in their diet by providing meals consisting of lean proteins such as lean chicken or beef, eggs or low-fat dairy and healthy fats such as nuts, seeds, avocado and olive or canola oil. Desserts and sweets: Limit portions of cookies, candies and other baked goods. Instead try fruit-based desserts. Cereals: Limit sugary cereals. Look for whole-grain cereals, such as oatmeal,

October 16, 2015

Your Child’s Development – Making it Fun!

“Just as my maternity leave was coming to an end, I was asked by Parenting Hub to review the Skidz Activity Box for 0 – 6 Months.” Our Parenting Hub reader to whom we gave the Skidz Activity Box was preparing to go back to work after being at home for the last four months with her beautiful little boy. Because her baby boy is going to be at home in the care of his Nanny, she told us that she had been trying to find ways to keep him stimulated whilst she was away at work and so the Skidz Activity Box came at just the right time. “What I particularly liked about the Skidz Activity Box is the fact that it comes with manual loaded with information so relevant to my baby boy who is now four months old.” The manual not only gives you a list of activities that you can do from birth to six months but includes detailed instructions on how to do everything as well. These include various physical exercises that you can do with your baby, what will be achieved through these exercises, how to do them and when is best to do them. “The manual is also broken up into a weekly curriculum for 0 to 3 months and 3 to 6 months outlining exactly what you can be doing with your baby every day. What I found so helpful with this weekly curriculum was that I was able to give it to my baby’s Nanny who can follow each activity on a daily basis.” If you don’t want to follow the detailed curriculum, you can set one up that works best for you and your baby and the manual includes a section to guide you as to how to do this – brilliant! The box includes everything that you need to work with to follow the curriculum. Stimulating fabrics, toys, textures, colours and sounds. Everything that you need is included in the box. From our Mom, a big high five to Chantelle du Toit who put together this programme. She told us that she would recommend this product to all moms of little children. “Especially where you have to return to work and you’re not going to put your baby in crèche.” Skidz Activity boxes can be obtained through the Skidz website www.skidz.co.za

October 15, 2015

Food Fun For Fussy Families

If you think that everyone is going to love food as much as you, you’re wrong. Some of us just have no interest in the stuff other than to fill the gap. In fact, balance in a family almost dictates that if one person really loves food there will be someone else who doesn’t value it at all. So fine for us adults, we can take our chances with sub-par nutrition, but what if your little one is refusing all but their favourite five? Here are some tips for getting your kids to develop a healthier and broader view of food and to help the fussier ones to expand their palates. Get your child onto a good multivitamin. That way you can relax about their nutritional balance and take the fight out of mealtimes. The first step to expanding your child’s love of food is to make food something that is fun, relaxed, and choice-driven. Never force a child to eat something. Get your kids involved with the cooking. Cook, bake and generally have fun in the kitchen together. Even if they don’t eat what you’ve prepared together they will start to have positive associations with food. Start a veggie garden. Let your child have their own patch of garden where they can grow a variety of vegetables and fruit. Understanding where food comes from and experiencing the joy of your first harvest can go a long way to enticing kids to eat things out of their comfort zone. Enjoy your food. Yes, you. The more they see you enjoying a variety of foods, the more likely they are to try something new in the future. Eat meals together. Comment on your food – point out what you like about it – the colours, texture, flavours. Pretend that you are a food critic who has just received the most amazing meal ever and let them know why. If you don’t enjoy food then start by examining your own relationship to food before you address your child’s. Make sure your kids understand digestion. Read books together, find fun documentaries, discuss what happens when your food leaves your mouth. Use metaphors for the little ones if necessary, but get your kids to have a thorough understanding of their own bodies and WHY they need to eat a variety of foods. Show them other kids enjoying food. Let them eat with other children, invite kids over, watch Masterchef Junior, have cooking parties. Keep presenting new foods to your child. Even if they only eat their favourite few, just keep offering them some variety. Something at some point will pique their interest, particularly if they keep seeing you enjoying it. Don’t make a big fuss when this happens – just let it be a normal, natural thing for a child to eventually start broadening their reach. Give your kids some control. Children will sometimes use food as a control if the rest of their lives feel out of control or if they are lacking in independence. Make sure that your children have choices in their lives. Keep as much routine as possible when going through major life changes (death, divorce, moving house/schools, holidays, new babies etc). Make sure that the food issue isn’t just a symptom of something else. Food aversions often occur alongside other disorders such as autism, sensory integration issues, stress, other medical conditions. If you’re not sure, have your child checked by an Occupational Therapist, Gastroenterologist, Psychologist, Neurologist or Dietician. Have fun with food. Help your kids to see the joy of food outside of just eating it. Food is a full sensory experience – give them opportunities to explore it as such. Set up a still-life and let them paint a beautiful picture of food, let them sculpt with mashed potatoes, let them roll around in a tub of jelly, make potato stamps. Play games where you identify food by smell or touch. Have a food fight. Keep in mind that there is a difference between a fussy child and a child with food aversion. A fussy child will probably eat eventually if you just don’t offer their favourites and they get hungry enough, but a child with a food aversion will literally starve before trying something new. But whichever one your child is, every child can be enticed to branch out a bit when you add some love and fun into the food mix.

October 13, 2015

Tips To Get You Back In Shape This Summer

New moms often struggle to find any time for themselves. Between what seems like constant feeding, changing and washing, exercise is the last thing on your mind. Yet, getting back into shape is not about maintaining a perfect physique but keeping your energy and fitness levels on par with the increased demands of your new mommy life. Skechers, the globally trusted brand behind Skechers GOwalk 3 walking shoes, believes that a few minutes of focused walking in a week can be a game changer for a new mom that may be descending into burnout or post-baby blues: Get moving when you can – You don’t need to belong to a gym, you don’t need to fit in with a schedule of classes, and you don’t need a completely new wardrobe to get started. You can pick up your house keys, put on your walking shoes, and get out there, whenever it suits you. If you’re a working mom, take your walking break during your lunch hour – you’ll be extra-refreshed and alert when you return to your desk. A few minutes is all you need – You don’t need to be out walking for hours. A 30 minute brisk walk five days a week will help you lose weight, boost your fitness and strengthen your heart. If 30 minutes sounds like a long time, start with 10 minutes, and build up to longer time frames over a week or two. Find a space that relaxes you – Walking in a park or green space can help reduce depression and raise self-esteem, especially when you’ve spent your maternity leave serving the needs of another at the expense of your own. Don’t forget your tummy – You’ll get the best results if you tighten your tummy muscles while you’re walking. This will help you walk up straight, and help your breathing too. Walking isn’t just about your legs – It’s about your arms too! Swinging them as you walk tones the muscles in your arms, shoulders and upper back, and while you may not get Obamarms just from walking, it’ll be a good start… Invest in proper walking shoes – When you’re trying them on make sure that your toes have room to wiggle and that your heels don’t slip. Choose a shoe that’s lightweight and flexible too. Track your progress – You can choose an app on your mobile phone. You’ll be able to track your distance covered as well as your time, and you can set new goals for yourself too. Check if walking saves you money – Many medical aids offer loyalty points for tracking your activity with a pedometer, so chances are you could save yourself some money through the discounts they offer as a reward for investing in your health. Keep things interesting – Walk different routes every day. Ringing the changes will also mean that you don’t make yourself vulnerable to criminal elements who monitor your movements. Vary your pace too and the landscape – Hills may seem daunting, but they’ll work your glutes and burn more calories, while sprint walking between landmarks will add to variety and alleviate boredom too. Find a friend to walk with – If you’re feeling isolated, walking time could be a great way to catch up with your partner or close friend without any other distractions.

October 9, 2015

Picture Perfect: The Pressure On Girls & Woman To Look Perfect

I had seen a movie clip of Dustin Hoffman getting emotional during an interview about the movie “Tootsie”, in which he had to dress up and act like a woman. He said he thought that the character he played was an interesting woman – one that he (as a man) would’ve enjoyed meeting. However, because she was unattractive (in the eyes of society), in all honesty he probably wouldn’t have looked twice at her. He said that he felt terrible when he thought of all the potentially fascinating, interesting women out there who could’ve enriched his life if he’d only been able to look past their physical appearance. This got me thinking: Why do we place so much value on looks, especially when it comes to girls and women? Yes, we do with boys and men too, but they seem to have a bit more leeway – “He’s not great looking BUT he has such a lovely sense of humour!” or “He may not be gorgeous, BUT he’s really intelligent and hard working.” I don’t believe it’s only men who judge women by their appearance either – we’re even more critical of ourselves and of each other! I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve been with a group of women and one has exclaimed: “Wow, what a gorgeous woman!” and someone else has said: “Yes, but… look at her shoes OR those boobs are definitely not real OR I really don’t like those pants!…” Why this need to tear each other down? It’s almost an inherent insecurity we’ve bought into because few of us fit into that image of perfection society tells us we should live up to. In a Forbes magazine article entitled: “Why most women will never become CEO”, the male writer says: “Guys are still checking out the girls in the office. I see their body language noticeably change whenever a pretty female employee enters the room. Words, thoughts and important points are missed because of a new perfume or a low cut blouse. It works the other way too. The less attractive female employees are also frequently ignored…for the opposite reason. Men are still trying to take women seriously in the workplace. But most haven’t progressed beyond the maturity level of my teenage son and his friends. But that’s just the beginning. Women also have more personal and social pressures than men. And this affects their ability to further their careers and get the experience they need to become good managers.” The media fixation on gorgeous female fashion models, actresses, singers and other celebrities doesn’t help matters. We compare ourselves to them and usually fall short. Even if we’re told we’re attractive, we find it hard to believe because we aren’t as skinny, successful, or as perfect as them. We do this despite the fact that some of these celebrities are hopeless role models, shallow and narcissistic, often displaying inane and pathetic behaviour. It starts when we’re little girls – the pretty ones get most of the attention, and continues through our painful teenage years when so many young girls develop eating disorders, start cutting, or begin other unhealthy habits trying so desperately to be accepted and fit into society’s norm. Statistics from the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery from 2012 corroborate this desperate need by women to be perceived as attractive: 90% of all cosmetic procedures were performed on women. Of those, the most common surgical cosmetic procedure was breast augmentation (330 631 procedures) and the most common non-surgical procedure was botox injections (3 257 913 procedures). I think it’s all totally ridiculous and the buck stops with US – with women! We aren’t going to be taken seriously by men until we show them that WE value each other’s strength, intelligence, kindness, nurturing spirit and emotional expression more than we value a perfect size 8 with C cup boobs and a cellulite-free bod! Let’s celebrate our uniqueness and individuality rather than buying into this ridiculous “Stepford Wives” ideal. We should be looking up to women who have made or are making a difference in this world – like the late Audrey Hepburn (who worked tirelessly for UNICEF), Oprah Winfrey (not just because of her enormous success but because of what she had to overcome to achieve it), Rosa Parks (who exemplified courage), Marie Curie (Nobel Prize winner), Katharine Hepburn, Eleanor Roosevelt and how about our very own icons like Helen Zille and Redi Thlabi. These are beautiful women not just because of their physical appearance but because of what they have inside and what they stand for – women with the confidence to be themselves – women with gumption!

October 8, 2015

Nutritional Deficiencies: Know the Signs 

You might think nutrient deficiencies are a thing of the past, reserved for sailors trapped at sea. But even today, it’s possible to lack some of the essential nutrients your body needs to function optimally. Nutrient deficiencies alter bodily functions and processes such as water balance, enzyme function, nerve signalling, digestion and metabolism. Resolving deficiencies is important for optimal growth, development and function. Nutrient deficiencies can also lead to other diseases. For example, calcium and vitamin D deficiencies can cause osteopenia or osteoporosis, two conditions marked by brittle bones and inadequate iron can cause anaemia, which zaps your energy. Tell-tale symptoms are usually the first clue that you might be low in one or more important vitamins or minerals. In this newsletter we’ll try to help you detect nutritional deficiencies since knowing what to look for is part of the battle. Who is most at risk of nutrient deficiencies? A healthy diet can provide all a growing body needs, but the reality of our busy lifestyles and sometimes finicky eating habits can lead to a nutrient deficiency. Even if you do eat well, other factors – such as your age, lifestyle and certain health conditions (digestive issues e.g. Coeliac Disease) – can impact your body’s ability to absorb the nutrients in your food. Nutrient requirements are also increased during different stages of the lifecycle when the body calls for additional vitamins and minerals. Teenagers Rapid growth during adolescence requires extra nutrients to provide in the baby’s increased demands. These increased needs, coupled with dysfunctional eating or poor eating habits due to peer pressure, erratic eating times and increased activity levels, make adolescents the ideal candidates for supplementation. Elderly The aging process may increase the need for some nutrients due to the fact that the elderly do not always eat enough of the right kinds of food or that the body is no longer able to absorb nutrients effectively. Elderly are very often at risk of developing zinc deficiency. Smoking Even moderate smoking can reduce the body’s vitamin C level significantly. Should one smoke in excess of 20 cigarettes per day vitamin C levels can be reduced by as much as 40%. Alcohol Excessive alcohol intake will not only enable you to dance naked on table tops at parties, but can also interfere with the body’s ability to absorb B complex vitamins such as thiamine. Exercise programmes Intensive exercise regimes may increase the need for anti-oxidants, B-vitamins and protein. When a weight reducing diet is combined with an increase in exercise levels, nutrient needs are increased even more, especially that of the B complex vitamins. Stress – Living in the fast lane Busy lifestyle as well as high stress levels can increase your body’s demand for certain nutrients and if not met can cause nutritional deficiencies. Restricted diets Individuals that avoid certain foods like in the case of food allergies or intolerances or have dietary restrictions for example vegetarians may miss out on essential nutrients. Vegetarians are especially at risk of developing vitamin B12, zinc, iron or calcium deficiency. Weight loss programmes Individuals who are often on weight-reducing diets may find it difficult to meet the recommended level of nutrient intake for their age. This is especially the case if you eat less than 1600kcal a day – placing you at risk of nutrient deficiencies. Most weight loss plans are less than the above-mentioned number of calories and therefore warrant the use of nutritional supplements such as a multi-vitamin/mineral supplement. Medication Certain medications interfere with the absorption of nutrients e.g. long term Metformin usage (seen in Type 2 Diabetics, Insulin resistance and PCOS) increases the risk of vitamin B12 deficiency. Regular measurements of vitamin B12 blood levels during long term treatment should preferably performed to detect possible deficiency. Women using oral contraceptive agents (the pill) could experience low levels of several vitamins – especially vitamin B2, niacin, vitamin B6, folic acid and vitamin C. Laxatives can reduce the absorption of fat-soluble vitamin A, D and E. Meanwhile, soil quality, storage time and processing can significantly influence the levels of certain nutrients in your food, such that even healthy produce may not be as nutrient-rich as you may think. Know the signs: Nutrient deficiencies can be sneaky, unless you are seriously deficient for some time, you may notice no symptoms at all, leading you to believe (falsely) that your body is getting all the nutrition you need. Thankfully our body gives us small warning signs, helping us figure out what nutrients we might be missing out on. Eye, hair, nail, mouth and skin symptoms are among the early outward warning signs of vitamin and mineral deficiencies. Here’s how to recognise common nutrient deficiencies. Hands If you tend to have very cold hands it may indicate magnesium deficiency or perhaps could be a symptom related to hypothyroidism or chronic fatigue. Nails If you have small white spots in your nails it may indicate the deficiency of minerals but more often, it indicates zinc deficiency. A zinc deficiency is also indicated by longitudinal ridges on the nails. While transverse ridges could be indicative of a protein deficiency. If your nails are soft or brittle it is a possible sign of magnesium deficiency. Interestingly, if you bite your nails it is usually because your body is low in minerals. Hair Coarse, dry and brittle hair is often caused by zinc and/or vitamin A deficiency. While dandruff could be due to a deficiency in vitamins B2, B6, zinc, magnesium, biotin. Greying of the hair is usually a sign of the times but it can also be exacerbated by a deficiency in folic acid, pantothenic acid, biotin and minerals. Hair loss can be caused by a lack of protein, zinc, vitamin B6, selenium, biotin. Skin Dry skin in general is caused by a deficiency of vitamins A, C and essential fatty acids. If you have B-vitamin deficiency, your skin on your face and sides of the nose will be greasy red scaly. Seborrheic dermatitis around your

October 8, 2015

Sardines Yuck! But they can make your baby smarter

Sardines are so crucial to your child’s development, that little tins of the stuff should be included in the baby gift bags that the hospital sends you home with. There are some aspects of motherhood that truly embody the concept of self-sacrifice. Feeding your baby sardines is at the top of this list. And while sardines may be at the bottom of the aquatic food chain, they’re the ultimate brain food for your baby. Many moms don’t go the sardine route though. They simply don’t think of it; they can’t stomach the thought, or they figure that because it’s not something they would necessarily eat themselves, they don’t see a point of feeding it to their baby. Wrong, wrong, wrong. Sardines can actually make your baby smarter. Almost 60% of our brains are made up of fat (Essential Fats, not the type of fat that makes your jeans too tight). Our brains (and the brains of our babies) are critically dependent on these Essential Fatty Acids. Simply put: your brain cannot work without them. And your baby’s brain cannot grow without them. But here is the greatest spanner in the works: your body cannot produce these Essential Fatty Acids on its own. Bummer. They unequivocally have to be obtained from dietary sources. So listen up: Unless you are feeding your child foods that contain Essential Fatty Acids, your baby’s little growing and developing body will not make this chemical on its own. Luckily, breast milk and formula take care of this, but as babies gradually drink less milk, the foods they eat will need to step up to the plate. Literally. AND THAT MEANS BRAVING THE SARDINES… MAKE NO MISTAKE: IT IS REVOLTING I won’t even try to sugar coat this. I literally gag every time I open a tin. #babyjake on the other hand cannot swallow these little fishies fast enough (he sampled his first sardine around 8 months). I consider this to be my greatest act of motherly self-sacrifice, even more so than getting up at 3am or cleaning up projectile pools of puke. So brace yourself. Because the first time your baby burps sardine in your face, you may reconsider the whole thing. But feeding your baby sardines is just another one of your must-do mommy duties. BONES AND ALL The bones in sardines are very small and soft, and dissolve when crushed. The only part of the sardine that I discard for #babyjake is the tail (just typing those words makes me nauseous). From the bones, to the skin, and even the little egg sac (yes, I actually cried real tears the first time I discovered this lurking inside the inner cavities of the sardine carcass), it all gets mushed up. I panic if a fleck of sardine actually makes skin-to-skin- contact with me. So much so that I considered wearing gloves to prepare Jake’s lunch. But the calcium benefit of the bones cannot be overlooked, so just suck it up and brave it. THEY’RE CHEAP AND CONVENIENT While recommending Wild Alaskan Salmon as the ultimate source of Omega 3’s would be affordably unrealistic, you have no excuses to steer clear of sardines. R20 – R30 per can, and they last over 3 days. You don’t need to cook anything. Just open a tin (gag reflex will kick in), mash them up with some avo and cream cheese (2 of my other favourite no-cook ingredients that create a nutritious meal in seconds). NOT ALL CANNED SARDINES ARE CREATED EQUAL So opt for the more expensive brands. I like King Oscar, available at Pick n Pay. Also be sure to buy sardines in oil, not sauce. Don’t buy a boneless variety – remember you want the calcium from the bones. Opt for olive oil rather than soybean oil. And check the ingredients for added preservatives. Some tinned sardines do have added salt, so just rinse them off before mushing. DISGUISE THE SH*T OUT OF IT Babies don’t get bored of tastes, so once you find a way to get them to swallow the sardines, stick with it. And don’t give up if your baby doesn’t seem all that eager. Persevere! #babyjake’s best sardine concoction consists of sardines, avo and cream cheese (you could even mix them in with banana and yogurt, if your baby prefers their food on the sweeter side). You may want to add some pureed veggies or fruit, just to make it more baby friendly in terms of texture and taste. You can totally cheat here, and throw in some organic jar food rather than stressing about using freshly steamed stuff, or defrosting from the freezer. Opt for simple flavours like butternut, apple or sweet potato. The Olli range is completely free of preservatives, and is a great supplementary ingredient to add to your home-made meals. If I deem it fit for #babyjake, you too can use it rest assured. ONE CAN PER WEEK WILL MEET THE QUOTA Open a tin. Take out three or four little fishies. Rinse, mash and mix with other ingredients. Store the remaining sardines in their oil, in a Tupperware, in the fridge. Use over 2 -3 days. So I open one can per week, and use it within 2-3 days. #babyjake therefore eats sardines for 2 or 3 days in a row (per week). That takes care of his weekly Omega 3 quota. BEYOND THE BRAINY BENEFITS Sardines also contain Vitamin B and iron, and are very low in mercury (often a concern with other types of fish). And believe it or not, they’re a great immune booster. SARDINES VERSUS PILCHARDS FYI: Sardines and pilchards are the same thing. Sardines are the smaller fish, whereas the larger, older ones are referred to as Pilchards. SUFFICE IT TO SAY THAT SARDINES ARE GOOD FOR YOUR BABY. BUT FOR THE MOMS WHO ARE INTERESTED, HERE’S MORE TO THE SCIENCE BEHIND SARDINES (AND HOW CRUCIAL IT IS TO FEED YOUR BABY OMEGAS): Infant brain growth occurs most drastically during pregnancy and the first few years of

September 29, 2015

Getting your kids to move again… the fun way!

Global obesity is a growing problem and according to reports, childhood obesity in particular is at its worst levels ever. South African statistics show an alarming number of children are overweight or obese, similar to levels recorded in developed countries more than a decade ago. Parents record a worrying obsession with technology including cellphones, tablets, television and gaming as many of them are specifically designed for children, who seem to prefer them to being active. What’s to be done then? While overweight children are at risk of developing cardiovascular disease and other disorders in adulthood, this is not the only reason to take action and get children eating better and moving – in fact, the earlier, the better! Physical activity has a host of benefits – mental perception levels, social, physical and physiological. And to help busy families teach little ones to move like champs, Virgin Active has introduced a new fundamental movement skills programme for children aged 3 to 7 at their Club-V facilities. Called ‘Active Play’ the programme is a collaboration between the health club and Kinderkinetics at the Department of Sport Science, Stellenbosch University. Why this age group? “The phase between 2-7 years old is considered the fundamental movement phase of gross motor development, says Dr Eileen Africa, Lecturer and Head of Kinderkinetics, Department of Sport Science, Stellenbosch University Dr Africa says, “Fundamental movement skills (FMS) are important because they serve as the basis for what goes beyond. FMS are critical to establish the foundation for participation in more complex movements later in life. An active child is a happy child and a happy child becomes a healthy adult.” “The focus of Active Play is on the development of 10 fundamental movement skills,” says Catherine Coupar, National Junior Member Manager at Virgin Active. “These include running, jumping, hopping, galloping, throwing, catching, striking, kicking, static balance and dynamic balance. Each of these fundamental movement skills has two or more activities created for them. These activities are carried out in fun, short bursts, which we are calling ‘movement moments’, to kick start the children’s skills development with us.” How much ‘active is enough? The World Health Organisation (WHO) sets the guidelines for children in order to improve cardiorespiratory and muscular fitness and bone health. Children and youth aged between 5 and 17 should accumulate at least 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous-intensity physical activity daily. Dr Africa says, “This kind of activity used to be a normal part of childhood but the time children spend on active play is limited for the following reasons: safety issues, both parents employed, smaller gardens, toys that make a difference to activity (like bicycles) are expensive, busy lifestyles and of course technology. “Kinderkinetics,” she says, “decided to collaborate with Virgin Active on this project because it is the perfect platform to share our passion for children’s health and wellbeing. We have written the Active Play manual to help make activities in Club-V more structured and scientifically-based. We also want to make parents more aware of the type of activities that can be done to help their children.” How it works Club-V staff, who are qualified in early childhood development and paediatric first aid, have been fully trained and have their own equipment toolkit – including ladders, bean bags, cones, hula hoops and more as well as cue cards to effectively deliver the movement skills programme. The aim is to keep it fun, aspirational and interactive. Every child will get his or her own Active Play book (which stays at the club) and every time an activity is completed a tick goes onto the relevant page in their book. Once they have received all ticks for that activity, they receive a sticker for their book, as a sign of achievement of that movement skill. Once the whole book is filled up, they receive a certificate, which they take home, along with their finished book, in order to share their success with mum and dad. Rewarding progress “We will continue to add new activities every few months, which means the children start new books and continue to learn new activities to keep them stimulated and moving as well as becoming more proficient at these movement skills,” says Coupar. “In addition, we will also have extra movement and activity ideas for parents so that they can actively exercise and play at home with their children.” Active Play is now available at all Club-V facilities. Look out for the poster campaign which has as its pay off line: ‘Make friends with us. We’re learning to move, the fun way.’ So if your life is busy and time for exercise is tight but you have your child’s wellbeing at heart, make Active Play your kid’s ‘exercise companion’ to ensure your kids get moving and are active. And of course, stay happy.

September 28, 2015

Colic – Transient Lactase Deficiency

It can be incredibly distressing to hear your baby crying endlessly with colic, yet feel unable to stop it. Colic is defined as repeated episodes of excessive and inconsolable crying for at least 3 hours per day, at least 3 days per week. The condition can affect between 5 to 20% of babies typically starting in the first weeks of life and tends to resolve by three to four months. It is generally unknown what causes colic. One possible cause, which has been researched, is a transient lactase deficiency which may occur due to some babies being born with an immature digestive system. A deficiency of lactase enzyme in the small intestine results in the inability of the body to fully digest the milk-sugar lactose. This causes undigested lactose in milk to be broken down by bacterial activity in the bowel which can result in severe discomfort, bloatedness and wind. By the time the baby is 3 to 4 months old their digestive system usually develops sufficiently to produce adequate levels of lactase enzyme. Research at Cork University Hospital in the early 1990s demonstrated that a lactase-reduced feed was effective in reducing infant colic and the hours of crying. This was presented to the Royal College of Paediatricians and confirmed in a larger study completed at Guys Hospital, England and published in the Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics in October 2001. Essentially, drops containing lactase, an enzyme which occurs naturally within the body, are added to the feed and work by breaking down most of the lactose in the baby’s usual milk before the baby is fed, making the feed more digestible. The drops can be added either to some expressed breast milk or with infant formula. If the baby is lactase deficient a real benefit is that the colic symptoms are prevented rather than trying to treat the symptoms in a stressful situation. Colief infant drops, the lactase drops, used in these trials are available in South Africa. For some mothers these drops may help facilitate continued breastfeeding and save having to switch to special formula milks. The drops are used until the baby is approximately three to four months old, by which time their digestive system will be producing their own lactase enzyme and the symptoms of colic should have disappeared. For more information: http://www.skymedsa.co.za/colief-infant-drops-scalp-oil-vitamin-d-drops email: [email protected]

September 25, 2015

The Criticism Cycle

The competition starts before we are even aware. We begin the competition from the day we are born. Parents actually set up the first rivalry. Babies are judged by who is longer or bigger at birth. It continues with when a baby walks talk’s train’s counts and manipulates objects. Parents may refuse to believe they are remotely in any race but the reality of the matter is from babyhood through adulthood we are programmed to compete. When we compete we set the stage for a winner and so there must be at least one or more losers. Has anyone proven that there are rewards for keeping down whole food at the youngest possible age? Does walking at ten months make one more special than walking at eighteen months? Is bigger better really? If we answer no to theses questions but still discuss our child’s size then we are a hypocrite. Think for a minute. No one goes around saying my child is in the ten percent in height and weight. My child walked later than most children. Seriously, if we set parameters all the time, there will be those that surpass them and those that will simply fail. The question is if it is worth out time and effort. Jumping further into the future we struggle with school work and the best speakers, writers and math stars. If a child does poorly we begin stressing his or her sports ability. Suddenly we are giving up on school work and in the process brainwashing our child into believing they don’t have the ability to be successful in school. How detrimental it is to discover our realities manifesting due to our own making. The same is true of the scholar who is believed to be only good at school work. They come to believe they have no athletic capabilities. When this happens we are not allowing our children to be all that they can be and more. It boils down to competition. We forget the possibility that with training, the poor athlete may get better or the poor scholar may find his or her niche and discover the cure for a disease. This is not as crazy as it might sound. The superficial part believes we can peg any person into a certain hole and leave them there. Grandparents may add to this competition. They begin comparing grandchildren by saying this one will be great in school and this one will be getting an athletic scholarship. This sounds so silly. The children are perhaps toddlers. What happened to the goals of kindness and caring as well as empathy and selflessness? Maybe it is time to reflect on the altruistic attributes. Children will display what we expect of them. If we expect our child to mess up in high school because that is what teens do then that is what our kids will do. They return to us what we believe. Don’t expect your son or daughter to party through college and just possibly they won’t. Parents pit their children against each other every time they compare them. One year in time may find one child with more strength or endurance while another is lacking. It is not necessary to point this out. It is also not necessary to push the child in need to be the same. It is okay to be different. We are not all the same but we all are important and unique. Forcing everyone to love music, dance, sports, book learning or anything else is foolish. Yes we all need to learn and become educated but we can’t force a love of math or science. We can’t force the stamina to work out for an athletic endeavour. Siblings can be close friends if parents allow them to simply be themselves. Love your children. That is the only requirement of parenthood that will make all the difference in the world. Other people can and will influence your children along the way. At that point the parents should have created a firm foundation. It ought to maintain them and allow them to weather any questionable time in life. If siblings compete, their brother or sister becomes the enemy. Sometimes we might have the ability but not the interest to pursue certain athletic or educational goals. Other times the timing is not yet right for us. Being a good person first is what we should be striving for. In the end we will find our way. The uttermost person at the top with the best idea cannot always make it happen without those working with him or her to attain the goal. Without all of us the finest thoughts can be laid to rest. After all of our growing years are over, the end result is an adult ready to face the struggles of the real world competition. It is sad to find people pitted against each other rather than working together. The fastest worker gets the raise. The best personality befriends the boss. The schmoozer secures his job. The book learned person keeps ahead of the masses. One wonders about the true identity of anyone. We may want to ask the real person to stand up. Our importance does not depend on our pushing someone beneath us. It depends on how many people we manage to lift up to stand beside us. The baby test needs to be rewritten or dumped altogether. It is time to help each other rather than hurt each other. Children shouldn’t have to begin life believing they are less than others. We need to love them as they are and have faith and belief in them. When anyone receives love they have the ability to bounce it back to others. The more love received, the more love bounced and spread around to others. It will leave us all with only one goal. The goal will be to manifest as much love as we can so that wherever we look we will find it.

September 24, 2015

Netcells Biosciences releases its first cord blood unit for transplant

Netcells Biosciences, Africa’s leading stem cell laboratory and cryogenic biobank, has confirmed that it has released its first cord blood unit for transplant. Not only is this a first for the Johannesburg-based facility, it is also the first cord blood unit to be released by a private stem cell bank in South Africa. Netcells is the only bank in Africa to be accredited by the American Association of Blood Banks (AABB), which allowed the unit to be accepted by an American facility. In fact, all cord blood stem cells released by Netcells should be accepted by transplant centres across the world as they are processed, tested and stored according to validated international accreditation standards. The stem cells were released to treat an eight-month-old baby boy at Duke University in North Carolina, USA. The patient is being treated for an emerging therapy and the stem cells have already been successfully infused. More details regarding treatment, however, cannot be given in order to protect the family’s privacy. This milestone comes during Netcells’ tenth year of providing umbilical cord blood and tissue stem cell banking services, as well as a variety of related products and services. Umbilical cord blood and stem cell banking is still a relatively novel concept in South Africa. However, new parents are increasingly opting to have their newborn babies’ stem cells extracted from their umbilical cords in order to safeguard their children’s future health. Stem cells are already widely used in the treatment of blood-related diseases and research into their use in everything from skin regeneration and neurology, to cardiology and reconstructive surgery continues to uncover future treatment possibilities. More than 38 000 umbilical cord blood transplants have been carried out worldwide and this number is expected to grow exponentially as new treatments and therapies are developed and more parents become aware of the unique opportunity that umbilical cord blood preservation represents. Stem cells are available to be harvested from the adult body but this is often a more complicated procedure. Stem cells taken from umbilical cord blood, however, are abundant, healthy and have not yet developed an immune system, which makes them preferable for transplant. Since its establishment in 2005, Netcells has spearheaded the movement for cord blood stem cell banking in South Africa and has introduced numerous innovations to the local market. Besides being the only provider in Africa to obtain international accreditation, the company was the first and only to carry out highly specific NAT testing on maternal bloods, as well as the first to introduce automated processing of cord blood stem cells. In addition, Netcells is the only local stem cell bank in South Africa offering Adipose tissue stem cell banking, semen cryopreservation, human heart valve preservation, amniotic membrane biological dressing and cord blood serum eye drops. Besides its many medical innovations, Netcells Biosciences is leading the way when it comes to client service. Netcells was the first to offer its clients easy automated online registration and transparent all-inclusive pricing, plus interest free payment plans. Company policy demands that a Netcells representative meets with every client to ensure they are fully informed of the process – another unique first for the industry. Netcell’s commitment to innovation, excellence and its client service, combined with its track record in the biosciences arena, has resulted in the company becoming Discovery Health’s preferred partner of choice for umbilical cord stem cell storage. During the decade that Netcells has been in operation, the advances made in stem cell research have been astounding. “It’s an exciting time to be involved in the field of stem cell storage,” comments Dr Michelle Mason, Medical Officer at Netcells Biosciences. “All of us at Netcells are proud that a cord blood unit from our facility is being used for what we hope will be a life-changing treatment and we wish the family all the best.”

September 14, 2015

Appropriate Boundaries In Parenting

What do parents most want from children? Is it obedience – for children to do what parents think is best whether for the benefit of the child or for the parent? Could it be love – that parents want their children to love them unconditionally as parents try to love their children unconditionally? What about becoming good citizens who are responsible, pleasant to be around, non-offensive to others, and working toward success and independence? And, does love equal respect? So, how do parents get what they most want from their children? The answer is setting appropriate boundaries. These boundaries look and feel different depending on the chosen parenting style. There are typically three styles of parenting with some parents jumping from one style to the other depending on what point or convenience they believe is important to make at the time. The first boundary style is called “lines in the sand” as described here: 4-year old Jody and her mother are eating lunch at a local restaurant. Jody wants some gum out of the gum ball machine and asks her mom for some money. When mom says “Not now, sweetie”, Jody continues to ask and mom continues to deny the request. Mom decides to call a friend on her cell phone and while mom is distracted Jody goes into her mom’s wallet, gets a handful of change, puts the coins in the machine and comes back to the table with some gum in her mouth. After a bit, Mom finally notices Jody chewing gum and tells her friend the whole story as Jody listens. Mom expresses to her friend she just doesn’t understand why Jody doesn’t obey her. Jody is never personally scolded for her poor choice or instructed how to make a better choice. Although many parents want to have fun with their children, when a parent draws a line in the sand as the boundary for the child to follow, the relentless waves of the tide come in and wash the line away each time it is drawn. Therefore, what did Jody learn? If this parenting style is used often, Jody will relentlessly test her mom and other authority figures just to see where the boundaries actually are. Often, foster parents are unsure of where to place boundaries on foster children and may be overly lenient to compensate for the hurt foster children have experienced. “Lines in the sand” parenting tells foster children that 1) they are not good enough to have set or standard boundaries and will need to set their own, 2) the parent is incapable of setting appropriate boundaries, or 3) they are special and don’t need to follow the same boundaries as other family members. This parenting style leads birth and foster children toward rebellion breeding chaos, fighting, disrespect and a low sense of self- worth. The second style of parenting is described as a “brick wall”. Picture it … a tall, thick, red brick wall. Does it signify protection, strength, a sense of durability; or could it be described more cold, looming, harsh, and impenetrable? Children need the protection and strength from parents but never do they need parents to be unwelcoming, forbidding, rigid or unforgiving. Children also need the opportunity to learn to make good choices. A safe and comfortable home environment is where children can experience many opportunities to practice making choices. Being allowed to make choices encourages confidence. If children find the answer to their requests always being “no”, and / or a place where guilt and un-forgiveness is the rule of the day, then those children will seek acceptance elsewhere and usually in unfavourable settings. This parenting style also leads children to rebellion breeding chaos, fighting, disrespect and a low sense of self-worth. Often children run from rigidity because their inherent sense of free will or freedom of choice is being squelched. Foster children have often been reared in homes which have neglected their needs either through moving or non-existent boundaries, such as “lines in the sand”; or very strict boundaries described as “brick wall” parenting. The two extremes in parenting have been explained leaving the third parenting style of the “deep-rooted tree”. Picture a tall sturdy tree whose branches spread out over the yard giving shelter, shade, beauty, freedom, creativity, recreation and a feeling of being tested over time. One of the benefits of this parenting style is the manner in which life’s storms are weathered – with grace, flexibility and wisdom. There’s no room for arrogance, impatience or pity. A quiet strength is rooted in good soil rich with healthy nutrients expressing the importance of taking care of oneself and of others. There are no inappropriate expectations nor judgement but a joy when family members choose to spend time together under the tree. Delightful flowers and foliage often bring forth delicious fruit allowing others to share from the bounty and the beauty this style offers. When the storms come, deeply planted roots hold the tree upright with a strong trunk. The branches know just how far to bend without breaking from the wind. And so it is with this parenting style. As children need strength and wisdom from their parents, they also need flexibility. “Deep-rooted” parenting has a strong foundation supporting children to learn from their personal experiences through proper guidance in making effective choices. These teaching moments become life lessons which mould children’s character and prepare them to respond appropriately in future situations. As foster parents, strength with flexibility offered to all children shows parents care about children as individuals, that parents believe in children and trust their ability to make good choices for their level of development. Children experience freedom and peace when acting within appropriate boundaries. In return, through time parents will receive the love and respect that they demonstrate to others. Although flexibility is the key element in appropriate boundaries, determining how far a parent is willing to go and being consistent in not going beyond the boundary limit is crucial. A

September 10, 2015

Bully Proof Vests

The chances of your child being bullied or the bully at some point in their 13 years of formal schooling is quite high. The question for me is not necessarily how to stop them from being bullied (as much as we would all love to live in some utopian bully-free society), but how to increase their resilience so that if this does happen it isn’t detrimental to their sense of self or their enjoyment of school. Here are a couple of quick tips that can help… Everyone has all traits. Labelling someone as a bully or labelling yourself as a victim just exacerbates the problem. When we understand others, and can see ourselves in them, we have a much greater chance of tolerance and problem solving. While this is essential information for parents and teachers in solving the bullying in their environment, it can help the kids too to see more similarities than differences and to start to understand why someone bullies and what might be going on in their lives that has created this problem. If a child knows that the so called “bully” is being bullied themselves (perhaps by another child or a parent figure), or is having problems at home, this can help them to see it as the problem of the bully and not because there is something inherently wrong with them (and therefore labelling themselves as a victim or as flawed in some way). We need to model for and teach our children healthy self-talk. Correct your child (and yourself) when you catch them saying negative things about themselves. A simple exercise for this is to write positive self-affirming messages on your mirrors. Most people learn early on to look at themselves in the mirror and criticise. Turning this around can go a long way towards helping kids to develop a strong sense of self-worth. If you want children to learn to say “no” to peer pressure and in difficult situations you need to give them the opportunity to do this at home. So few parents respect the “no” of their children and then wonder why kids don’t respect their “no’s” or buckle under the pressure of their peers. So the next time your child says “no” to sharing their sweets with you, let their no mean no! Make sure your child’s needs are being met, particularly in times of change such as starting a new school. If their needs for certainty, significance, love, growth, variety or contribution are not being fulfilled in positive ways, they may unconsciously look to fulfil these in negative ways, which can include attracting bullies into their lives. Speak to your children often about how they are feeling, what their concerns are, and please take them seriously when they are feeling unhappy in a new situation and help them to find way to alleviate this distress. Make sure that your children are parent-oriented and not peer-oriented. One of the greatest determinants for whether a child will become a bully or become a victim of a bully is related to their level of parent vs peer-orientation. Are your children looking to you to decide what is right or wrong, where to go, what to do and how to behave or are they looking to their friends for this guidance? If a child is peer-oriented they are at a much greater risk for bullying and you are also less likely to find out about it. Peer-oriented kids try desperately to fit in and be liked and are therefore vulnerable to peer pressure. This does not only apply to teenagers, as even pre-school children can be peer-oriented. Children are more likely to be peer-oriented if they spend long hours at school and/or at play dates or extra murals where they are not properly supervised or where they do not have a good connection with the adult/s in charge. This does not mean that aftercare is out, but that you need to make a concerted effort to connect with your children deeply in the time that you do have with them – find things in common, speak to them with respect, be present for them on the weekends, etc. The more your children feel connected to you, the more resilient they are to bullying. The world is not perfect, and our playgrounds are unfortunately rife with bullying. There is simply no way we can guarantee our children a bully-free schooling experience. But, by being involved in our children’s lives, being open to honest, non-judgemental communication and by helping them to fulfil their needs and develop a healthy sense of self we can at least give them bully-proof vests!

September 10, 2015

Introducing The Down Syndrome Association

The Down Syndrome Association Western Cape (further referred to as DSAWC) was founded by Mike and Gloria Botha in 1976, after their daughter Cheré was born with Down Syndrome (DS). Down syndrome, the most frequent of all chromosomal abnormalities arising at the time of conception and it is not a disease. This purely random occurrence happens in 1 in 850 births in South Africa – traversing all nationalities and backgrounds. Down syndrome is the major cause of delayed intellectual and physical development As a non-profit organisation DSAWC offers a variety of services and support to people with Down syndrome and similar intellectual disabilities as well as their families. Our services and programs are aimed at improving the quality of life for people with DS, helping them find their purpose and taking their rightful place in society. We encourage people with DS to develop to their full potential, using their skills and abilities to contribute to their communities, prompting the idea that they have the right to live with independence, dignity, respect and security as valued adults and full citizens in our society. DSAWC endeavours to empower families through dissemination of information, training courses and establishing of support groups. We encourage a more inclusive environment in the education and employment arenas and our ongoing mission is to see that the rights of disabled adults and children are recognised and honoured in all spheres of life. We have various ongoing services such as counselling, social services, assistance with grant applications, social and fundraising events, awareness events and parent evenings etc. Apart from these ongoing activities we are running the following programs with a total of 482 beneficiaries in the Western Cape: Outreach Project Leisure Libraries Umthi Special Needs Class Early Intervention Masandé workshop Outreach Project: The Outreach Project is a service we render to communities in the respective community. This project serves previously disadvantaged communities and areas that have difficulty accessing our services and programs. Meetings are held regularly at set venues, some areas have weekly meetings, others monthly. We are currently running 7 outreaches serving 32 areas. The Outreach brings our early intervention program to those who cannot come to us, as well as create a platform for parents to get support from and give support to each other. We want to uplift families through stimulation, support and training. We also have a toy library to supply toys to these families to enable them to follow the intervention program and to help their child develop through play. Playing with age appropriate toys is essential for development because it contributes to the cognitive, physical, social and emotional wellbeing of children. Play also offers opportunities for parents and teachers to engage with their child. Leisure Library Our Leisure Library looks at the continuous stimulation in terms of the need for socialisation / emotional development and interaction between adults with Intellectual disabilities. We have 2 projects running under the banner of our Leisure Libraries. The Social Club is mainly for the development of social skills as interactions with other adults are very important. Once a month a dance is organised, and attended by our young adults. This is a good opportunity for the parents of these adults to get together to share their struggles and their joys – being able to support one another In the Arts Class we create beautiful shopping bags. The young people paint on cloth; this is then stitched onto shopping bags and sold at a monthly market and other events. All proceeds go back into the buy in of new materials. Umthi Special Needs Class Umthi is our special Needs Class done in collaboration with Sivuyile Children’s Home. All children have a right to develop to their full potential and the Umthi Special Needs Class looks at the child as an individual with individual needs and possibilities. We cater for children with severe and multiple disabilities that doesn’t fit the criteria in other special needs schools or groups. We firmly believe that every child has an ability in their disability. Early Intervention Programme Our Early Intervention programme provides emotional support and empowers parents with children with Down syndrome. We inform and equip parents to help their children to exceed and achieve the almost impossible with the right kind of help, support and education. This programme provides adequate provision of professional support services to those with special needs. Masandé Workshop The Masandé workshop is a pilot project and it will afford 5 young adults with DS the chance to continue to develop new skills, as well as maintain skills already learned. If any of the young adults can be integrated into a mainstream job and workplace that would be the ultimate goal. For more information please contact our offices at 021 919 8533 or send an email to our Office Manager, Tineke Ganz-Malan, on [email protected]

September 7, 2015

Can Our Actions Increase Or Lessen Fear?

Fear consumes our lives. We base all of our decisions on our fears. Fear is not a rich or poor man’s baggage. It is not an educated or uneducated man’s burden. Doubt has nothing to do with our upbringing, environment, the people we choose for friends, nor the people who are our relatives. It is not based on jobs, capabilities or personalities. Just as we all have to eat and rest for survival, we all share similar concerns. Strange to find nobody spends much time talking about our anxieties, unless we are going to a therapist. The concerns of others, as well as our own apprehensions, make us feel inadequate. Doubt brings us down. It appears smarter to ignore our trepidations as much as we can. But once in a while, they explode. At those few and far between times we deal with them, resolve them as best we can, and move on. Fear is perhaps viewed as a weakness, and vulnerability is not what society as a whole, admires. Our society values strength and independence. We function well in most situations. There are just those times daily, weekly monthly when we must encounter some forms of alarm, and resolve them for the moment. Instead of just solving them for the moment, it would be better to learn to understand them. so Logically they would either go away, or rarely show their faces. To strengthen muscles takes a long tedious time. To strengthen our understanding of fright is also a slow process. It will involve many setbacks. With understanding we will see fear as a natural strength that keeps us safe. At times, we spend so much time contemplating about terror that we forget to simply live our lives. We need to begin at the beginning to understand where anxiety comes from, why it controls us and dominates our lives, how it affects us, what effects it produces, why it is detrimental to us, how we can see it for what it is, and how we can stop it. We begin our lives in total fear. What’s happening? Why am I being launched out of my cozy comfortable environment? We are literally pushed away from our comfort zone. We struggle through a narrow tunnel and explode into a cold world. We then struggle to breathe. Getting jostled around, rubbed roughly, and invaded in our oral and nasal passages before finally managing to inhale a cold searing breath for the first time. Welcome into the human world. After being swiftly wrapped, we are placed by our mother’s side for love, warmth and nurturing. Doubts arise from the start of our lives. Right from the beginning we are consumed with fear and thus begins our long journey and inseparable attachment to worry. I’m not really suggesting that our birth is the reason we live our lives in fear. Our births may be slightly traumatic, but existence is much more stressful and traumatic in terms of daily survival. Babies cling to their moms and with good reason. They are aware that it is mom and dad who feed them and comfort them. Babies know that without mom and dad they can’t get to the food. Every moment they wait for mom or dad to be present and pick them up, and care for them. Their existence depends on their parents. The baby’s journey of a lifetime of fear has already begun. If we questioned how important parents are to a growing baby, we would see why the baby’s terrors are a genuine reality. No one can explain to a baby that they will get fed even if mom or dad is not present. Grandma or Papa or some other caring adult will step in. If the baby was alert to this, the fear might dissipate but babies are not aware of all that is happening around them. They want their mother. As a toddler matures, he or she begins to realise that other people are within his sphere and may help to satisfy his needs. It comforts a very young child, to know that they have more adults to rely upon in time of need. Our next journey through our childhood years begins with the realisation, that we are not the only ones in the universe. We are taught to wait our turn and share. This is no easy feat When mom and dad are mad at us, we feel queasy in our stomachs. We begin to think. What happens to us, if mom and dad stop loving us? If they get angry with us, they might go away, and where would we be then? Most young children acquiesce and do as their parents instructed. Children don’t outwardly say what they are feeling, but they experience a love hate relationship with their parents. They trust them and run to them but also push them away in anger. They are striving for independence, yet still rely on their parents for survival. When a new baby arrives, a tremendous anxiety takes root in the soul of its sibling. Now the child must contend with a rival. The young child views the parents gushing about the new arrival. He or she must now wait for the parents’ attention. Mom and dad have less patience, and time, since the baby arrived. At one time the parents would have laughed when he or she spilled the cereal. The child is not cute when they spill their cereal now. Nobody told the child the rules would change with the new arrival. There is a new playing field. The fear of losing mom and dad’s love turns into jealousy with the baby. The child’s attention focuses on the baby. Jealousy evolves into frustration and anger. The resulting build-up of anger, and doubts about his parents’ love, causes the young child to retaliate with physical force against the new intruder or sibling. Now if parents do not handle this properly, the anger and retribution will continue in an infinite cycle.

August 31, 2015

Going Beyond “Fine”

It’s a typical complaint that the majority of parents have – that their kids don’t tell them about what is going on in their lives; that very early on they stop communicating. You pick them up from school and ask how their day was, and all you get is “fine”. Have you ever wondered why that is, and how to go beyond just “fine”? We’re complaining about our kids lacking in communication skills, but who do they learn this from? Us, of course. And what could be a worse example of true communication than asking a child “How was your day?” If you really look at it, you’ll see that it is such a conditioned, automated question that it doesn’t even warrant an answer. We live most of our adult lives asking and answering automated questions: “Hi, how are you?” “Fine, thanks, and you?” Do you really care how the other person is? Do you want a true response or to get into a conversation about their current troubles and successes? Not really. We know this, and our kids watching us know this too, so when we ask them a similarly unconscious question they don’t feel the need to supply more than the typically automated response. We forget that kids are still fully engaged in the world, and we need to meet them where they’re at, not come at them with our adult switched-offness! If you want true communication with your kids, you need to start truly communicating with them. Start by asking a question that actually implies that you are interested in them and their lives. Instead of “How was your day?” try: “Is your best friend back at school today?” “Is the PT teacher still wearing those silly shorts?” “Who had the most delicious lunch today?” “What games did you play on the playground?” These are just some ideas to get you going, but if you follow the next part of true communication i.e. actually listening to what the other person is saying, I’m sure you’ll come up with some more of your own! So the trick to going beyond just “fine” is this: If you want a real answer, ask a real question!

August 28, 2015

Bullying Is Real

Bullying has been around for a long time, and has increased its area of ruin. Recently it has been placed in the spotlight. We become aware of it when a person hurts another. We miss it in ourselves. It possibly is promoted through our daily interactions. Bullying has surfaced into the daylight. It is ugly if we are honest about it. We should not be surprised at how rampant it has become. Many of us have been guilty of bullying or we have been the victims of bullies.. Maybe it’s time to reflect on those times we have been at fault, for bullying another. We need to have the confidence in ourselves so that we don’t feel the need to knock another down, in order for us to feel better, or get ahead. Carefully watching our actions and their consequences is vital. Society suffers with every bully action displayed towards another person. Recognising ourselves in these situations helps us to overcome it. Strive for tolerance of others, by disregarding their differences. We are obliged to support our children in their endeavour to become more empathetic, and accepting of others. Many of us are able to accept those who are different. It’s time to accept those who are similar to us, and pose a jealousy threat. Constant anger within a family triggers children to be fearful and upset. Parents are their children’s rocks of stability and survival. Every time parents are yelling and screaming at each other, children feel vulnerable regarding their own existence. Fighting and anger are part of human nature. When one crosses the line, and anger becomes out of control rage, children worry for their own lives, and their mom’s or dad’s life. Children most likely feel helpless to stop the turmoil and are caught in a web of love, hate and secrecy. With physical abuse, children’s worst nightmares become real. The people they love and trust the most in the world, have turned into monsters. Many children possibly begin having nightmares, or wetting the bed. Boys might be scarred from feelings of helplessness in their inability to protect their mothers. Many children become the victims themselves. If the family is in crises, they might seek the aid of others. It then brings the hope they can remain intact. If parents will not talk about it or seek support, eventually the marriage and the family dissolves, leaving only the children behind. Parents move on to a new life, but as stated before, the children remain forever caught in the original roots of home. One cannot be ashamed of anger. It is a human emotion. There is a tremendous amount of burdens placed on parents, so it is not a surprise to see parents full of turmoil. How one manages the irritations is a whole other situation. If we allow exasperation to take control of our life, we have given up command. Infuriation becomes the boss of us. Managing our fury is central. At work, if a co-worker bothers us or even the boss, we must accept and control our annoyance. We cope, keep our attitudes under wraps, or walk away. The alternative is a job loss or worse. Wrath appears to be devouring our society. It abounds everywhere. Our culture expects entitlement. When gains are not forthcoming, we thrash out in anger and resentment, at the nearest person. If we are the irritated store clerk at a food store, the buyer is the receiver of our ire. If we are the furious buyer, the seller shoulders the brunt of our maddening thoughts. Anger emerges when one is driving in a car. Dad gets upset at mom, or the children; the car is speeding and moving erratically. This is obviously not safe for the children, anyone else in our car, or the surrounding cars. When enraged we do not have the right to jeopardise the lives of our family, or possibly other peoples’ lives in cars near us. Children are great imitators and we will see our fury emerge, when our child punches their sibling or starts fighting at school. We cannot ask ourselves where it comes from when we already know the answer. Again, we all get angry, but how we handle rage is a completely subjective situation. One can begin with small steps, by attempting to eliminate some of the irritation. That alone would make things better. The more we talk about infuriating episodes with our child, the more beneficial it will be to resolving family problems. We are not fooling our children, even when they smile at us, after a tumultuous situation. Women are as guilty of ire as men. Modelling wrath, is teaching our children how to exhibit negative feelings, rather than positive ones. As parents, we choose to teach negatively or positively. Discuss fury, and attempt to explain why its impact is so far-reaching. It damages, and kids know this. Children are aware of our ire, especially if our child is the receiver of thrashings, when we are in a rage. Our admittance to an anger issue, perchance might lead to healing for the whole family. One thing we cannot do under any circumstance is to stop trying. If we do, It is over and we are admitting defeat, by our surrender. We must persevere even when we keep faltering. Realise that every time we do not weaken, we have improved our home life. In addition, the world is enriched. One small step at a time is what it required. Diligence and effort make our struggle important and valuable, even if we do not completely succeed. The small victories encourage us to continue forward. Wrath spills over into every relationship, within the family. Siblings may get into altercations with each other, and with their parents. This has resulted in police calls to the families, as well as detentions for the fights taking place at school. No member of the family is unscathed. Constant conflict with a step-parent, or parent, will bring many

August 26, 2015

Good Parenting Boosts Happiness

I have worked with children my entire life up to this point in time. I have raised four children, and at present, have seven grandchildren, I was a children’s librarian, worked at a day care facility, pre-schools, private school system, and many years at public school systems. I have a dual certification in special education and elementary education. I have been a witness to the upsets and stresses placed on our children. When so many children are hurting, it is time to ask ourselves why? Speaking for the children is important to me. Many educational books have been written. Many parenting books have been written. All of these books that give excellent advice have been ignored, because things are worse, not better. Words have not reached or penetrated anyone because the problems keep increasing. It is time to look at this dilemma with new eyes. We can’t fix it with the old way of thinking. Our challenge as parents is to look at the facts. The facts do not lie. Witnessing what is missing in our homes might promote an aggressive attempt at a new approach. It is essential that parents be included in this new endeavour. For too long society has left out these key ingredients: mother and father. Success comes from the love and nurturing at home. Teachers can’t teach without parental support. Society can’t reteach or rehabilitate broken children easily, or possibly ever, without parental involvement. Against all odds, some children grow up in poor circumstances but rise to become superstars. T he difference in their home environments was love, encouragement, and support from their parents, or another caring adult. The power of love has been greatly underestimated. Although we all love our children, demonstrating this with hard work is paramount. This means placing our children’s needs first, constant watchfulness, and guiding them with integrity and righteousness. Minds will be open to an alternative way of thinking and solving our academic problems. Functional problems at home result in most of the academic and behavioural problems at school. I am devastated and diminished from the hurts and emotional scars children endure daily I hope to reach parents, administrators, and authorities on an emotional level, by sharing my own experiences, and those of others. Stopping the unconscious mistreatment of children is my goal. By stopping some harmful choices we make, children improve emotionally and academically. It certainly is worth the determination for all of us to make an effort. We all make mistakes, but not all of us admit it to ourselves. We can all improve, but not all of us will attempt to correct what is wrong. Telling someone to improve, or encouraging someone to make progress does not usually work if that person cannot believe or see they are deficient. Most people worry about their own sense of importance. We constantly compare ourselves to others and fall short by our standards. I think it is because we are measuring the wrong things. Parenting has taken a back seat the length of a mile. It is not even considered something we should contemplate. Good Loving parenting promotes huge feelings of success. Parenting is fulfilling rewarding and happiness producing. It is a worthy goal to accomplish and the highest goal any of us can ever achieve. Again I say “don’t ask yourself if you are happy, instead ask yourself if your life has meaning and if you are a parent It most definitely does have tremendous meaning.

August 25, 2015

What Forms A Memory?

There are moments in time, that are imprinted in our minds, and often we replay them over and over. If we remember a time a parent brought comfort or support, then at a difficult moment in the present, we recall that thought, and it might bring tears to our eyes. It can be both good memories, and happy memories, but they have remained etched within our brains. We retrieve them when necessary. I think these are helpful crutches, but I believe we stretch the memories to fit our needs. When someone hurts us, by reflecting on a time when a parent soothed us, or a past love supported us, we ache for that time period and resent the present. When our mood changes for the better, we place the memory into the back of our minds, and keep it handy to summon it again when necessary. Perhaps the past wasn’t quite as tender, as we make it, and we leave out the bad pieces, only focusing on the good. That is fine, as long as we don’t confuse the reality of the situation. The past with its problems and emotions, should remain in the past. Recalling happy times is wonderful, but the poorer times in the present, may seem to get exaggerated, when compared to the past. It is helpful to use the comforting thoughts of the past, as a support for the present, but when the pain is subsiding, accept the embellishment we made of our past. No one from our earlier years, is as good or as bad as we portray them to be. They were humans with their vices and virtues. It is as harmful to forget their bad effects, as it is to forget the worth. When we fight with our husbands, a previous love appears awesome. We put their ill features out of our minds. Same is true with our parents. We sometimes recall everything good and block the meanness. Likewise we might remember the hurtful moments but delete any pleasant times. I think we can use the former joyful periods, as a security blanket, when we need it. I also believe we may recall the tough phases of our lives, as a reminder to be thankful for the pleasant present, we are currently enjoying. If we experienced a problematic childhood, use it to be a better parent and discipline with kindness. Try not to think of any negative occurrences, as wasteful stages. On reflection, as we reminisce, face the ghosts you have hidden, and realise they add dimension to your life in many ways. Embrace the heartache you endured, and accept the anxieties and fear. Turn them around in a way that helps you deal with the current problems in your life. Hiding our emotions doesn’t resolve anything. Facing them gives us the assertiveness we need to diminish them. What might have seemed terrorising as a child, when looked at it from an adult point of view, is manageable. Of course I am not talking about huge trauma issues, which may require professional help. I am concerned with the many small issues, that develop with people, due to unreasonable teachings and fears. To this day I do not take a nap, even if I was up half the night. It is totally due to the fact, my mother thought naps were terrible. She reasoned naps were for lazy people. It was drilled. Even during pregnancies it was a no no in my mind. I have resolved this to a point, but the engendering is hard to overcome. How simple this appears, but the power of our suggestion as a parent is amazing. Parents have far-reaching influence. Likely we must take the good of the learning, and leave behind the crazy notions. The peacefulness of recapturing blissful times is rejuvenating. After the time out, we can cope better with our glitches. I am left with answering what makes our memories, and I know it isn’t our major outings nor our expensive gifts. It is those times that are full of emotions of any kind. if we are full of high spirits when we are with our family, chances are it will set in cement. Unfortunately, anything forceful of a negative manner, such as anger, screaming, yelling, and intense threatening emotions, will also play back again and again in our recall system. I would suggest we watch what remembrances, we are embedding within our kids psych. We do not want to teach anger and revenge, with constant fighting. In a divorce situation, we must worry about revenge and hate, as well as distrust. What a child experiences becomes their memory bank. We should realise how much we underestimate our child’s ability, to observe more than we think. All we need to think about, is how much we remember from our own history. Secrets spurred our interest. Knowing the thoughts of our past, might help us to refrain from the same mistakes. Of course we will definitely make our own errors, but when parenting with thought, our mistakes should be lessened. How we make others feel, is what will be remembered. When I went through a trying situation, what I remember is anyone who said some needed words or gave me physical contact with a hug. At those moments some of my fear was diminished and released. I and all of us can’t explain the power of the emotions, to work miracles, but none of us can deny it. If you really want to be a good parent, discipline, teach, comfort, and even when you must get angry, always do it with love. That is what will sustain them years from the moment, and all of their memories will be positive.

August 24, 2015

Fewer Tears With Colief®

Colic is extremely common, affecting between one and three out of ten babies1, often causing excessive and inconsolable crying when your baby appears to be otherwise perfectly healthy. Although colic is temporary and doesn’t cause any harm to your baby, it can last until they are 3-4 months old, which can be exhausting and distressing for parents. Colief® Infant Drops is clinically proven to reduce colicky symptoms associated with temporary lactase deficiency. This is when some babies are temporarily unable to fully break down lactose, a complex sugar that is found in both breast and formula milk, causing wind, bloating and discomfort. The lactase in Colief® Infant Drops is a natural enzyme which breaks down the lactose in the milk by up to 70 percent, aiding digestion and helps reduce the hours of crying. Colief® Infant Drops have been formulated to be: Safe for use from birth 100% natural Clinically proven Effective with both breast and formula milk Gentle to wean off Trusted by mums and healthcare professionals for 15 years, Colief® Infant Drops can be used when breastfeeding or feeding with formula milk, allowing you to continue with your preferred feeding method. When your baby’s digestive system has matured and your baby has stopped showing signs of colic, the amount of Colief® Infant Drops being used can be gradually reduced for gentle ‘weaning off’ of the drops. New mum, Jemma Cornah, 23, said: “When my little one had colic, her screaming would start at 11pm and last right into the early hours of the morning. Sometimes, my partner and I would end up joining in, as we’d be so distressed. Eventually, a friend recommended Colief® Infant Drops – they were amazing! After just a few days we noticed a vast improvement. I wish I’d known about colic before, and how common it is. I’d assumed the crying was my fault, when it wasn’t at all.” Sister Rose from Manor Baby Clinic commented: “Coping with an inconsolable baby can be very distressing, or even traumatic, but it’s important to not blame yourself and make sure you take time out if you need to. If your baby has colic, there are things you can try such as a soothing hold, checking your feeding and winding technique, and avoiding over-stimulation such as bright lights and noise. Many mums also find that lactase drops can help to ease the colicky symptoms.” Colief® Infant Drops are available in 15ml/90 feeds (RRP R163 (Dis-Chem/Clicks)) at leading pharmacies. For more information visit http://www.skymedsa.co.za/colief-infant-drops-scalp-oil-vitamin-d-drops

August 20, 2015

Emotional Pain Of Bullying

Bullying takes root in children, who many times have been the victims of intimidation themselves. To soothe their own injured spirits, they appear to have the need to wound another person. It might have to do with gaining back some semblance of power into their lives. It might also stem from their desire to overcome their own fears, derived from victimisation. I am aware that when a child is intimidated by a parent, or a person they love, they are helpless to stop it or control it. Some children fear for their safety every day. They get back their control, by victimising another person. Most bullies, likely have been mistreated. The extent of their torment, might be measured in the amount of bullying they are guilty of. Actually bullies do not feel superior or impressive. They are angry and full of distrust and rage. They seek revenge because they live in fear. Their answer is to attack before you are hurt. Bullies simply do not comply with the rules, and in the process create hardships and troubles. We need to take a look at the way we interact with our children. Do we intimidate verbally, strike, or become aggressive with our child? Do we threaten, hurt, or torment the pets in our household? Once we correct it in ourselves it will be easier to amend it in our children. Watching or encouraging our child to aggressively interact with other children, promotes an acceptance of this behaviour. Infringing on the space or items of others, must be acted upon, through adult intervention. Those moments we observe our child take another child’s turn, or grab another child’s item, while we smile without interfering, we have condoned the actions. It really is demoralising for other kids, to be pushed aside or shoved out-of-the-way due to a gentler nature, or younger aged child. Might does not make it right. Stepping in to correct it a bit late, is also possibly giving a blessing to the actions. It is lame to always correct our child with the words, say you are sorry. If we make no effort to retrieve the toy from our child, we have made no point of instruction. Kids are capable of such kindness, but perhaps they believe parents expect them to behave aggressively. The parents may not strike their kids, but they expect roughness on the playing field, and in life in general. There are times to be aggressive, but there are more times we need to display an empathetic quality to our natures. Bullying in children is cutting a line, taking someone’s seat on the bus, threatening, hitting, and being aggressive verbally or physically. Bullying is also intimidation in the form of asking for part of another child’s snack at school, asking for snack money, or threatening another to refrain from telling on them. Bullying can also be deciding who will be in the club, who will be ignored, who will not get to hold a treasured item, or touch or handle a treasured toy. It can be when a child receives their paper last every time a certain child is the paper passer. Bullying can be the snarling looks one child gives to another child behind an adult back. It might be a refused request to join a game. It’s also when one is made to feel inferior. Bullying is making others do things or say things they likely do not want to say or do. When one student deliberately crashes into another student, but then states it was an accident, red flags should go up. It can be sitting on a swing so another child can’t use it. Children refrain from complaining because they fear the retaliation from a bully. Harassing is one child stepping on someone’s toes accidentally on purpose. Parents uphold a child’s persecuting of others when it is not dealt with at home, after a notification of such an incident. Home environments that encourage bullying, prevent it from being eradicated. Unless more consideration is given to these matters by parents, bullying will most likely increase. Parents must use the easiest answer of all, which is simply teaching children to stop terrorising and harassing others. By promoting kindness and respect, bullying will be wiped out. Simply following the rules teaches children how one engages respectfully with others. It is important in the scheme of life, to be aware of tolerating others. We are all required to refrain from illicit actions conducted on another person. The sooner we learn to relate to others, the quicker we have harmony. We perhaps should ask ourselves how it would feel to be in the other person’s shoes. Would we enjoy climbing aboard a bus, to be confronted with intimidation? Do we browbeat our own children, causing them to frighten others? If we do nothing to stop bullying as conscientious adults, then we have become enablers. We will continue to have and endure the difficulties we are creating. By refusing or ignoring to remedy the taunting, places an infringement on the freedom of others. In essence, kids must be saved from the tormenters they encounter in their lives. People form friendships which are wonderful. These friendships become less wonderful when they become a clique to the point of excluding others. When a chance arises, oppression will occur again. Harassment of others, perhaps stems from the degree of their own oppression. Teenagers face even more bullying with the improvement of technology. They may have no relief from these encounters with bullies. The saddest part is they will complain less because they are ashamed, demoralised and believe they are old enough to deal with it themselves. Parents may not even be aware of the extent of their child’s torments. It’s possible that adults may have started the epidemic by physically punishing their own children. Question our motives. Think about the bullying damage we do. We can’t take it back, any more than we can collect all of the feathers we dumped, from

August 20, 2015

Questions To Ask Your Prenatal Exercise Trainer

There is a lot of information out there on the benefits of exercising during pregnancy. Simply put; it increases mothers’ energy levels, decreases the amount of weight gained, keeps joints supple, helps prepare your body for labour and helps your body return to its pre pregnant shape. The benefits are countless. As a general rule whatever exercise you were doing before you fell pregnant is ok to continue during your pregnancy. However, it is important to always listen to your body and not to overdo any exercise. Many pregnant women look for trainers or group classes to join during their pregnancies which can be greatly beneficial to both mother and baby…if they have the right trainer. Here are a few questions to have in mind when looking for a Personal Trainer, Pilates or Yoga Instructor: Do they have a CPR certificate? Fitness professionals are required to update their CPR knowledge every 2 years. Are they familiar with pregnancy complications such as pre-eclampsia or gestational diabetes? They need to be aware of any complications which may arise during a pregnancy to know whether it is safe to continue training or not. Does the trainer know how to modify exercises? For example; it is not advised to lie on ones back after 20 weeks. Do they know how to work stomach muscles correctly? Traditional crunches or Pilates Stomach Series are a big no no! Also knowing how to get up and down correctly is important as well to avoid a separation of abdominal muscles. Are they familiar with pregnancy specific movements such as pregnancy squats and movements to reposition a baby? Knowing which muscles to strengthen or lengthen during pregnancy is very important as the needs of a pregnant woman differs for each trimester. How much experience do they have teaching pregnant women and if they feel comfortable with it? Some trainers may avoid training pregnant women all together. Just a few questions to your would be trainer could make all the difference in the quality of training that you receive. If you are not comfortable with one trainer then continue the search until you find one that is right for you. The safety of both you and your baby always come first.

August 18, 2015

Health Benefits Of Breastfeeding

Becoming a new mom is an exciting time, but can also be daunting as you make numerous decisions before the big arrival. Of course, one of these is breastfeeding! Advice comes from loved ones, doctors, strangers and, of course, Google. Ultimately however, you have to make the best decision for yourself and the new addition. With that, comes the need to understand the benefits of breastfeeding as well as how you can incorporate breastfeeding into your life so that… well, you still have one! Health and emotional benefits Breastfeeding is proven to provide many health benefits. In fact, benefits of breastfeeding extend well beyond basic nutrition. In addition to containing all the vitamins and nutrients your baby needs in the first 6 months of life, breast milk is packed with disease-fighting substances that provide defence against illnesses and allergies. In pre-term babies, breastfeeding can not only reduce the risk of inflammation and infection in the tummy, but also protect them from infection. For full-term babies, it reduces the risk of stomach bugs, coughs and colds as well as middle-ear infections. Additionally, breast milk may also help children avoid a host of diseases that strike later in life such as eczema, diabetes and childhood leukaemia. In addition to the nutritional advantages, breastfeeding also provides health and emotional benefits to you as it helps the womb return to its normal size, while reducing the risk of ovarian and breast cancer, as well as osteoporosis. From the emotional side, breastfeeding also helps you maintain the close relationship that you have built with your baby. In fact, especially when you return to work, breastfeeding can help you deal with the separation emotionally as you continue to nurture and provide for your child as only you can. Mothers who are unhappy about being separated from their baby have found that continuing to breastfeed has helped them to cope better emotionally. Being separated from your baby for any length of time can be traumatic. In many cases, working moms experience separation anxiety when they first returned to work. Getting back to ‘normal life’ Most mothers return to work simply because they feel they have to. Whether it is by choice or necessity, working mothers need any help they can get when trying to juggle work and being a full time mom. Some moms feel like they are pressured into breastfeeding and that their lives are on hold while this happens. The good news, though, is that there are options available today that ensure you can experience the true bond that breastfeeding offers while ‘sharing the responsibility’ with your spouse. There are many ways in which breastfeeding can occur alongside going back to work. If there is a workplace crèche or some form of child care nearby, you could visit your baby during the day. If you cannot visit your baby during the day or bring him/her into work with you, there are products such as breast pumps that can allow you to express milk, milk storage containers that enable you to store your milk for up to 5 days and milk warmers keeping the milk at the right temperature when needed. This gives you the freedom you want without the guilt – while involving the dads in this important task. Expressing for convenience Expressing breast milk ensures your baby always gets the very best in nutritional feeding while giving you more flexibility. You may be going back to work, your partner might like to be more involved in feeding your little one, or you may just want to treat yourself to a long overdue rest – or night out. Additionally, there may be times when your breasts feel full and uncomfortable, but your baby isn’t ready to feed yet. That’s when using a pump can give you some relief. Later, once you’re up and running with breastfeeding, expressing can help to build your milk supply, along with your baby suckling. You’ll then have a store of milk handy for when you need it. Expressing breast milk is really easy with practice, although it’s best to wait four to six weeks after the birth to let breastfeeding become established before you start – unless a healthcare professional recommends otherwise. However, just as breastfeeding is a skill that needs practice, so is expressing breast milk. It is worthwhile to practice at home before you actually go back to work. It is also a good idea to have a pump so that you can store up some milk before you go back to work so that you have supplies on hand before you start working – just in case. How often you should pump also depends on a few factors. Do you intend to pump enough during the day for the baby to have exclusive breast milk the following day? If you want your baby to drink breast milk alone then it is a good idea to empty your breasts about as often as your baby feeds. However if you can’t pump as often as your baby feeds, you shouldn’t stop nursing altogether. Some workplaces are just not conducive to pumping. This doesn’t automatically mean that you your milk will dry up. Pumping just once a day will give you some stimulation, stop you from becoming engorged, and help maintain your supply. Arm yourself with info Bringing a child into this world is certainly an exciting time, but it can also be daunting. Arming yourself with as much information as possible is critical at every point – including breastfeeding. A lack of information can lead to misguided views and choices – so never be too scared to ask! Equip yourself with the knowledge and know-how when it comes to breastfeeding, as well as the benefits and options that are available so that you can make the best decision for you and your family.

August 14, 2015

HYPERTENSION AND YOUR PREGNANCY

Embarking on the journey of motherhood should be a pleasurable and memorable experience. For many women though, pregnancy can be overshadowed by hypertension, also known as high blood pressure. Uncontrolled high blood pressure prior to pregnancy or high blood pressure developed during pregnancy poses a risk to both mother and unborn baby. I n this article we would like to make all future and expectant moms aware of these dangers and provide you with lifesaving tips on how to prevent high blood pressure from casting a shadow over this momentous time. High blood pressure can affect an expectant mother in two ways: She might have existing high blood pressure prior to becoming pregnant, or …. High blood pressure may develop in the second half of pregnancy. When high blood pressure is accompanied by protein in the urine, and swollen ankles, fingers and face; it is particularly serious and is called pre-eclampsia. F or both types of high blood pressure in pregnancy, if it is not detected and then controlled, it can cause low birth weight or require early delivery of the baby. High blood pressure and especially pre-eclampsia can furthermore be very harmful to the mother as well, by causing seizures, damaging the kidneys, liver and brain and increasing the risk of stroke. The good news is that early detection and control of high blood pressure and close monitoring of the mom and baby can ensure a safe and happy pregnancy. There are certain factors that can put one at an increased risk of high blood pressure during pregnancy. Factors include high blood pressure during a previous pregnancy, obesity, being under the age of 20 years and over the age of 40 years, having diabetes and other chronic illnesses, and being pregnant with more than one baby. Women with any of these factors should be especially vigilant. Severe headaches and visual disturbances are warning signs that require an urgent visit to your doctor or clinic. How can women with existing high blood pressure prevent problems during pregnancy? Firstly, it is important to control your blood pressure, and speak to your doctor or nurse when thinking about falling pregnant. Discuss with your doctor how high blood pressure might affect you or your baby and how to adapt or change any current blood pressure medication. Continue to monitor blood pressure regularly throughout your pregnancy as advised by your doctor or clinic. Ensure that you are eating healthily, limiting salt intake, being active and avoiding alcohol or tobacco products. In addition, taking calcium supplementation can prevent pre-eclampsia. How can women be sure not to get high blood pressure or pre-eclampsia during pregnancy? Regular visits to the doctor or clinic are important to ensure a safe pregnancy. For a healthy pregnancy one should: First and foremost ensure that you are in the best possible health before thinking of falling pregnant; including managing a healthy weight, being physically active and not smoking. Get early and regular care from a doctor. Follow all the doctor’s recommendations. Do what you can to help manage blood pressure. Eat a healthy diet including plenty of fruit and vegetable, daily dairy, and limit intake of salt and salty foods. Take a calcium supplement as advised and directed by your doctor. High blood pressure has no symptoms or warning signs, therefore checking blood pressure regularly throughout pregnancy and beyond is important to monitor the health and well-being of mom and baby. We would therefore like to encourage all women to know their numbers by visiting their nearest clinic, GP practice, nearest pharmacy or obstetrician to get their blood pressure checked.

August 10, 2015

Bullying Ends When Adults Stop Bullying

I am not surprised, when adults and the media go on and on about futile attempts at stopping the increase of bullying. Everyone is jumping on the wagon, trying to come up with ways of ending it. Clever people are involved, and meetings with intelligent people are held. The simple truth is, that it is easy to stop the bullying. All we need to do is stop it within ourselves, the adult population. It must be human nature to always want to blame outside influences, and to fix other people or things. The reality is the amount of forcefulness we use within our own environments, influences our entire lives, as well as the lives of our kids. This might hit home, but if we are honestly working for answers, we should dare to inspect all angles. When angry or upset we roughly grab a baby or child. Our tone is harsher when we have reached our limit in patience. Our voice is louder. The harsh loud voice is intimidating to a young child. The intensity of a grab of the arm tells the child who is mightier. Our screams, or yelling in their faces, or even close in proximity, tells a child be quiet, or else. The parent likely does not have to resort to anything further, because believe it or not, their control has already been enforced. What has the child learned? They have learned FEAR. I accept the fact that we all get angry and perhaps lose our patience. Crossing the line is where it is wrong. If we do cross that line it is important to apologise quickly, explain how we erred and ask for forgiveness and talk it out. The less aggressive tactics we use the better. Many kids silently sit on buses, or other public places. Perhaps some are quiet out of fear of retaliation, from their parents or peers who are bullies. Respect out of fear is equivalent to no respect. Respect cannot be forced. If respect is forced, at some point in time, when the child is big enough, you will be challenged. Disciplining with care, attention, and love is harder, but the learning remains strong. The child begins to judge for themselves, the amount of time required to wait, or the days or minutes necessary. They learn self-control. Some parents ridicule kids who don’t always have the stamina. Whining, overtired, or timid children, are afraid to challenge at times, out of fear of the parents. Some parents hate to observe a nervous child which sometimes they have created. Unless we look at honesty, we will fix an area that does not contain the wound. We shouldn’t have to sugar coat truth. We are big enough to face it and remedy it. If we are honest, the answers come swiftly, and solutions to our problems are found. Rough handling or forceful talking to children is demeaning. It defeats them and causes anxiety issues, as well as insecurity dilemmas. In order to gain back some semblance of power, kids bully other kids. The strange thing is we don’t see how many times in the course of a day, we bully other adults. Even in conferences people speak over others, interrupt them, or speak out of turn. The people overseeing the conference tend to overlook the more dominant contenders. They have no problem telling the weaker individuals to remain silent and wait. Adults cut people off in traffic, steal parking spaces, race to the front of a line, pretending they didn’t know where the beginning of the line was. People grab for the last item, push their way through a crowd, use carriages or other devices to bully others out of their way. People yell demand, or speak gruffly, so as to be taken first. Everyone around them backs off due to their forceful nature. We never stop to look at this as bullying. Intimidating those working in stores, or offices, or even when talking on a phone, is harassing or bullying others. When we scream at store clerks, or yell at teachers because we don’t like hearing what they have to say, we are pushing others around. People yell at doctors, lawyers or anyone else providing a service. The power struggle starts, if a disagreement ensues. No one negotiates or questions to understand, any point of view, other than their own. It amounts to blaming the speaker when we don’t like the answers. Parents all want the supposed “best” teacher but someone must take the left overs. Parents want special schools but some kids are left behind. Let’s face it, the squeaky wheel has always gotten the attention, and so it is true with the bullying parent. We just hate to call it bullying, when we want to win our way. Those parents who are more aware of choice openings, or who speak up in advance of an announcement, are rewarded with the prize. Those who politely follow the guidelines are left at the start. We all want instant service and we expect it from our kids. Children are not machines. Have you visited a sports game where kids are playing? Parents yell at coaches, yell at the other team parents, and scream at the refs. Nobody holds back anymore. So why do we think our kids will refrain from hurting other kids who are in their way? If we show no patience, why would we expect to see our kids act in a different manner? Our problem is not to find answers about why kids bully. Our dilemma is to find solutions for adult bullying. If we stop it in ourselves, we won’t see it in our kids. Children are impressionable, that is the simplest truth you will get. Some of the most educated people are bullies. They feel above others with their degrees and ideas. One is not allowed to enter their realm, or offer advice, to those who know everything already. The air about them keeps others in their place and almost afraid to

August 6, 2015

Top Tips For Healthy Kids Parties

Growing up in the 80’s, parties typically involved red frankfurters with tomato sauce, sugary fizzy cool drinks such as Coke, Cream Soda, Fanta as well as multi-coloured jelly and chips loaded with colourings, preservatives, bad fats and sugar. Parents didn’t seem to be nearly as conscious of party food as they are now. We all love the memory of those retro party treats but it is a cause of concern that our children are being filled with such nutrient-poor foods – particularly when a birthday party seems to be a weekly event for many children. Children parties however, is an occasion to celebrate and to have fun. Parties unfortunately very often involve excessive amounts of sweets, treats, snacks and drinks that contain too much sugar and poor quality fats. If children have more than one party over one weekend, this is more than likely what they’ll be filling up on. We all know too well what the consequences are… uncontrolled blood sugar levels with adverse effects and healthy, nourishing food are replaced by those foods with very little nutritional benefit. So how can parents ensure that kids enjoy parties but do not overload on second-rate food? Read on for some handy tips. The offenders at Kids Parties Salt Many of the snacks found at kids parties are high in salt. A high salt diet during childhood could increase the risk of other conditions later in life. Like anything there is place for a small amount of salt in a child’s diet. If your child is healthy and have a healthy weight, or on cheat days. What’s more, in small amounts, salt can even encourage nutritious eating. Some kids might love homemade popcorn if it had a little salt on it – which is a much healthier snack than commercially produced crisps or savoury biscuits which is loaded with salt and hydrogenated fats. Always remember, moderation is key! The daily recommended maximum amount of salt children should eat depends on age: •1 to 3 years – 2g salt a day (0.8g sodium) •4 to 6 years – 3g salt a day (1.2g sodium) •7 to 10 years – 5g salt a day (2g sodium) •11 years and over – 6g salt a day (2.4g sodium) Sugar: Sugar intake escalates very quickly if a child eats or drinks lots of processed foods or beverages – foods usually found at kid’s parties. The problem with sugar is that it provides empty calories (energy of no nutritional value) that rob the body of nutrition to strengthen the immune system. Too much sugar also causes cold-like symptoms e.g. runny noses, excessive mucus, cough and symptoms of sinus infections. It contributes to tooth decay and behavioural problems. The sudden glucose spike & subsequent glucose drop below normal blood glucose levels contribute to an increased adrenaline production and this causes hyperactivity in children. Excess sugar may lead to stomach ache in children and subsequently they will eat poorly when healthy nutritious food is offered. Large amounts of sugar put children at risk of health problems that can show up as early as adolescence e.g. overweight, obesity, insulin resistance, pre-diabetes and type 2 diabetes. The average primary school child should not consume more than six teaspoons of added sugar per day. The American Heart Association recommends limiting children’s sugar intake to 3-4 teaspoons per day. Added sugar includes sugar that you add to tea, cereal and other food, but also the sugar added to refined or processed food. Sugar content of some processed food: Product Equivalent amount of sugar Fizzy cool drink (Coke, Fanta etc.) – 340ml can 10 teaspoons Oros – 300ml 6 teaspoons Ice tea – 340ml 6 teaspoons Flavoured water – 500ml 5 teaspoons Jelly sweets – 75g (small packet) 14 teaspoons Bite-size chocolate bar 2 teaspoons Plain chocolate – 4 squares 3 teaspoons Tomato sauce – 2 tablespoons 5 teaspoons From this table you can clearly see that consuming party foods with hidden sugar, a child can very easily exceed their daily recommendation for the next few days just by going to one party in a week. Fat: Fat comes in different forms and has different qualities, thus are some better than others. Although it is recommended that fat should be limited in the daily diet – children are still growing and developing and need a certain amount of fat, especially the beneficial ones. The problem with children’s parties is that most of the typical party foods are very high in Trans-fats or Hydrogenated fats. Trans-Fats or Hydrogenated (man-made) fat are the worst fats and are found typically in processed foods such as hard brick margarine, biscuits, chips, crackers, cakes, commercially baked goods e.g. pastries, doughnuts. It is usually listed as “partially hydrogenated” or “vegetable oil shortening” in the ingredients list. These fats increase the risk of disease (e.g. cancer, heart disease). In large amounts trans-fatty acids can also affect brain function as it interferes with the role of omega-3 fatty acids in the brain. Another problem with the fatty party foods such as boerewors, ‘slap chips’, chips and melted cheese is that it contributes to constipation. The type of fat present in these foods slows down the movement of food through the digestive track increasing the risk of constipation, especially if your child is prone to constipation. Top Tips For Kids Parties Before the party Make sure your child has eaten a healthy well-balanced meal or snack before the party starts. Children’s eating behaviour is usually driven by hunger. A hungry child will spend most of the party time around the sweets table eating whatever is available but generally children prefer to spend their party time playing if they’re not hungry. At the party Children will eat what is served at the party. If healthier food is offered at the party – that’s what they will eat. If healthy foods are served together with unhealthy options, chances are that the children will choose the unhealthier options. Therefore it is better to

August 4, 2015

Understanding Your Child’s Hyperactive Behaviour

Jamie has always been an extremely ‘hyperactive’ child. At only a few months old I knew I was in for an undoubtedly rough time. When he was approaching the two year old mark, there were expectations of the dreaded “terrible twos” . Waiting for those moments, it never happened. There were uncontrollable outbursts of energy, but never tantrums and all of the undeniably terrifying moments that you await when dealing with a toddler. When reaching 3 years old, it hit me! Hard. Jamie had realised that he was able to take full control of me. I had never felt so vulnerable. He knew no boundaries and testing my patience was becoming habitual. Running away from me and throwing tantrums were the norm. I had difficultly comprehending the idea that I was unable to control my 3 year old child. I doubted my skills and authority as his Mother. I would become angry and reprimanded him for everything he was doing ‘wrong’. It was very hard to determine the difference between the typical mischievous behaviour of a “boy” and that of a child with an intense overdrive. I started researching and comparing his behavioural characteristics and came to realise that he was unable to help himself cope with the activity transpiring in his innocent little mind. I would take Jamie to a party, and he would get extremely anxious upon arrival, clinging on to me, grinding his teeth or sucking/biting on his thumb in hope of finding a self –soothing method that worked for him, he would only jump on the jumping castle if there were no other kids jumping. He would be visually and audibly stimulated and find it difficult to process what he had seen and heard through-out his day. Resulting in a karate-kicking, bungee-jumping (off the couch), dinosaur-dragon-roaring monster (it’s possible) most nights just before bed time. Any particular sound, smell or sight would awaken his senses. It would take us no less than an hour to get him to sleep. After many nights of fighting I became extremely tired of the struggle, I realised that he was not in full control of his reactions, and I had to find a way to help him. Upon intensive research, my Mom found some information on something called Sensory processing disorder (SPD) also previously referred to as Sensory Integration (SI) . Every characteristic described Jamie. Luckily for us, we caught it relatively soon and I began further research to gain some knowledge on how to assist him. I took him to an occupational therapist at Polka Spot Early Intervention Centre earlier this year and have received an incredible amount of support and knowledge in regard to the condition. I am currently in the process of practicing routines and methods to guide him and make our lives easier. So far I have seen a remarkable difference in his behaviour. In the interim, I would like to share some information with you in hope that it will give you some peace of mind that you have not done something wrong, nor have you eaten something of poor quality while pregnant that may have harmed your child and caused him/her to be this way (yes, we as moms ask ourselves these questions at times). Sadly, this condition is often overlooked and misdiagnosed. There may not be a cure, however, there are many ways to guide and help you and, more importantly, support and assist your child to cope with it. What is SPD? Sensory Processing Disorder refers to the way the nervous system receives messages from the senses and turns them into appropriate motor and behavioural responses. In order to successfully complete an activity (whether it be riding a bike or reading a book) it requires the co-ordination and processing abilities of your senses. It is a condition that occurs when sensory signals are unable to process into appropriate responses. A child with SPD will find it difficult to process and act upon information received through the senses, which creates challenges in performing everyday tasks if not treated correctly. Motor Clumsiness Behavioural problems Anxiety Depression SPD can affect children in one sense on its own – for example, touch, sight, or movement – or in multiple senses. There are two different types of Sensory disorders; Over Responsive This suggests that a child will over-respond to stimulation such as the feeling of clothing (for example, doesn’t like to get dressed), physical contact, light, sound, food (fussy with food textures) or any other sensory input that will be unbearable. Under-Responsive This suggests that a child will show little or no reaction to stimulation such as pain, extreme hot or cold. Stats One study suggests that 1 in 20 children’s daily lives are affected by SPD. Another research study suggests that 1 in every 6 children experiences sensory symptoms that may be significant enough to affect aspects of everyday life functions. While most of us have occasional difficulties processing sensory information, for children with SPD, these difficulties can be chronic, and they disrupt everyday life. SPD is most commonly diagnosed in children, but adults without treatment can also experience symptoms and be affected. If SPD is not treated, this may result in them reaching their adulthood with the inability to appropriately interpret sensory messages. Subsequently this may result in difficulties performing routines and activities and in severe cases; they may experience depression and social isolation. If you are in any way uncertain of your child’s behaviour, I encourage you to consider meeting with a professional Occupational Therapist, you could save your child’s social abilities. It is important to educate yourself about the difference between the possible diagnoses of your child’s behaviour and treat them accordingly.

July 23, 2015

Stop The Flu, Before It Stops You!

There’s nothing worse than having the whole family down with a cold or the flu, so here’s some helpful tips from Clicks Pharmacist Waheed Abdurahman to help you get through this winter hassle-free. Get the flu jab – The flu vaccination can be effective even administered as late as July. It’s really a case of better late than never! Avoidance – Try to stay away from those who are sick. If you are the sick one, rather take the day off work and stay at home until you are better. Keep it clean – Wash your hands with soap and water and cover up when you cough or sneeze. If you do get the flu, it’s best to treat systematically: Remember to drink plenty of fluids; Cover your nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing, and keep your hands clean with a waterless hand sanitiser; Use a humidifier to thin the air and improve breathing; Gargling with salt water may soothe a sore throat; and Get plenty of rest to give your body the best chance of recovery. Stock up on the following flu relief essentials: Decongestants or a nasal inhaler may provide comforting relief for congested nasal passages. Antihistamines are helpful for sneezing and a runny nose. Throat lozenges to soothe a sore throat. Pain relievers to help reduce severity of pain and fever. Cough medicines to combat a dry or wet cough. Probiotics if your doctor has put you on antibiotics, should you get a secondary infection.

July 10, 2015

How To Help Your Child Form Healthy Habits

“Good discipline requires time. When we have no time to give our children, or no time we are willing to give, we don’t even observe them closely enough to become aware of when their need for our disciplinary assistance is expressed subtly.” M. Scott Peck Disciplining with love, time and effort is the most crucial thing we can learn if we want compassionate empathetic and loving children. It takes stamina to explain how spiteful their behaviours were. Making analogies to past events, allows the child to comprehend why their deeds were unacceptable. It also allows them to appreciate situations, and reasons parents are upset in the first place. By observing what is unworthy, they learn what is vital. I don’t think it is relevant to criticize a child in front of others. We might take a child aside or into a quiet private area and resolve the issue. We must be good observers, and pay attention to our child’s actions, well before an issue arises. What transpires before a skirmish is important to know. Kids can’t always explain in words, how things happened. An earlier conflict they suffered might make them retaliate at a later time. As parents, we may only be privy to the current upsetting conduct. By treating kids with respect, we give them the chance of explaining why they did something cruel. We teach by explaining how they might have handled it. Nobody needs to be destroyed physically or emotionally. I remember one parent always stating it hurt her ears when her child screamed. Her child was quick to stop when she’d mention this during a screaming match. Another parent softly spoke to her child and stated, “When the yelling stops we can talk.” She always made it a priority when the child was ready. The child had the power to dictate the time, but the parent had the control to dictate the terms which the child had to follow. This gave the child ownership of the situation, and the next step. When the child has ownership of their actions, they take the responsibility of accepting the consequences. The last thing parents want to do is be on opposite sides regarding discipline. We need to compromise. Agree to the rules and then do not argue with each other in front of the children. The children will pounce on a weak link as far as a certain rule is concerned. This will promote unruly children who are making the rules, and parents who spend more time in discussing what should be done instead of acting on it. We can’t preach how to behave one minute and then make disobedience acceptable the next minute. If we don’t want children jumping on beds, then that’s the regulation. If we allow it to happen when our children have friends over for a visit, then we have broken the rules. Our instructions are no longer valid. What we sow we reap. Teaching a peaceful way of living is important. Let them know that you will always love them unconditionally, regardless of any mistakes they make. Model a peaceful way of living by your actions. Being a good parent requires diligence attentiveness and love. When love is always at the forefront of discipline we will not hurt our children emotionally or physically. We will be attuned to their feelings. They understand so much more than we give them credit. Talking and explaining is best.

July 9, 2015

How To Raise Healthier Kids On A Budget

There are over 80 000 artificial chemicals in the market today (and growing), which includes cosmetics, medicine, household cleaning products, pesticides and food. Considering that sixty percent of the substances we put in our body are absorbed by our skin, we are exposing ourselves and our families to toxins everyday. Read more facts about your synthetic products. While many parents are aware that organic and natural products are indeed healthier, the cost of these retail products is not an option with a tight household budget. However, there is another option that won’t leave you compromising your family’s health due to the expense of healthy living. Make your own natural products The organic and natural route can be affordable if you start making your own products, which are easier to make than you think. They’re as easy as pie. Scratch that, making pie is difficult. They’re easier than making a sandwich! On top of that, making these recipes together with your kids and teens is an incredibly fun activity. You can learn how to make your own natural skin, hair, cosmetic and household products by visiting the Natural Nerd website which provides free access to these simple and affordable recipes. When you sign up, you will also receive a FREE starter kit, which includes beautifully designed labels for your products among other beginner recipes and tips. Benefits of making your own products Healthier – Using natural and organic ingredients means that you are not exposing yourself to any harmful toxins. Cheaper – Buying the ingredients themselves, opposed to the ready made retail products works out far cheaper, even more so if you buy in bulk. Eco-friendly – All recipes on the Natural Nerd website contain natural, biodegradebale ingredients so that our beautiful blue planet is cared for too. Customisable – Making your own products allows you to customise products to your specific needs and preferences, or the needs and preferences of the people you will be making the products for. They make wonderful gifts – Who wouldn’t love a homemade gift basket of natural goodies? Simple – Sourcing the ingredients locally can sometimes be difficult, especially if you’re starting out. The Natural Nerd website includes a helpful shopping guide and online store, which makes life that much easier. You can be assured that every product recommended and every recipe posted has been personally tried and tested. Every week, you can also look forward to new recipes such as: Skin care recipes: face wash, shampoo, body wash, lip balm, moisturiser, baby powder, baby bum cream, roll-on, conditioner, toothpaste, mouthwash, toner/ astringent, face masks, anti-ageing remedies, hair dye, soap bars, perfume, body spray, mosquito repellent etc. Make up recipes: blush, foundation, tinted lip balm, eye shadow, mascara etc. Cleaning & other home recipes: dish washing liquid, toilet cleaner, window cleaner, linen & room sprays, laundry detergent, fabric softener, mosquito repellent etc. Health remedies: cough syrup, throat lozenges, natural cold & flu remedies etc. AND MUCH MORE! You’ll learn how to make it all.

July 3, 2015

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