Advice Column - Parenting Hub

Advice from the experts

5 Ways to beat the toddler bath time issues

While a bath at the end of the day is a luxurious treat for adults, it’s often a warzone for parents of toddlers and young children who actively and loudly protest at the very thought of getting into the bath, never mind staying there. Navigating your way through this ‘crazy hour’ after a long day can be daunting, but these insights, tips, and tricks could help make bath-time a much happier experience for you and your little one – it could even be the highlight of your day! Understand the senses Just as a bath is a sensory experience for adults, it’s also a sensory experience for children – and it’s possible that they may not like the sensations they experience in the bath. It may be that the noise of the running water is too loud, or the water is a little too warm, or they’re daunted by their unsteadiness in the water when they slip or start to float. There are a few ways to address these issues. You could run the bath before they’re in the bathroom, so that they come into a quieter room if noise is an issue, or you could put an older toddler into an empty bath before you turn the taps on and let them tell you when they’re happy with how much water there is. This also gives them a sense of control over their environment, which could help reduce tantrums. Little people don’t like change Little people love getting deeply involved in their play and being suddenly removed from their game to head to the bath is very frustrating for them. You could create a transition between play time and bath time by letting them know that bath time is next, once the current activity is complete, or you could implement an audio cue like a bath time song – and another one for when bath time is over. Kids’ fears aren’t funny When you’re young and the world is throwing new experiences at you all the time, some things might seem scary, like the little black dust floaties in the bath, or the thought of the water going down the drain – ‘where does it go, and will it take me with it?’ If the thought of fishing out each little dust mote is too much for you, then try hiding them with bubble bath, which is a whole treat on its own. You can avoid the fear of the drain simply by having the bath run before your little one gets in and coming back after bath time to let the water out. Make bath time fun! If your little one doesn’t want to bath because they don’t want to stop playing, then let their playtime continue in the bath – but with toys that are for bath time only! You could use bath toys from LEGO® DUPLO ® that make bath time fun through the sheer joy of play. The buildable animal characters help children understand construction and the simple physics of flotation, and they can spend ages playing with the characters and imagining personalities and scenarios for them. Choose from Bath Time Fun Floating Red Panda (10964), Bath Time Fun Floating Animal Train (10965), or Bath Time Fun: Floating Animal Island (10966). Set up a reward system Children love to be recognized for their achievements, and many a behavioural issue can be positively addressed with a rewards system, rather than through punishment. That goes for the bath time blues too – set up a rewards system with a token awarded for every time your little one doesn’t protest about going to bath, and another one for when they get out of the bath without any hassles too. Bath time need not be the most stressful time of the day if parents dreading ‘suicide hour’ consider these strategies. Bath time is a great space for little ones to relax, use their imaginations, and even strengthen their emotional and social skills through play and storytelling. Most importantly, it’s a great time for parents and their little ones to toss the cares of the day aside, and spend some uninterrupted play time together, followed by cuddles and snuggles before the bedtime routine.

March 2, 2022

Help your kids avoid eye strain

Are carrots a lunchtime snack you’ve thought about packing into your child’s lunchbox in-between all the back-to-school craziness? If not, it’s a healthy snack to consider! You’ve probably heard that carrots promote healthy eyes and good vision, and it’s true. Carrots are high in the antioxidant’s beta-carotene—and that’s a start, but it takes a whole lot more to protect your growing child’s irreplaceable vision. Now more than ever, eye strain is becoming increasingly common among children, particularly as many young people spend more time in front of screens for everything from learning to entertainment purposes. While children experiencing ‘digital eye strain’ is becoming more prevalent, it’s important to remember that there are other causes of eye strain. Pre-existing vision problems such as myopia or astigmatism could be the reason why a child struggles visually, as can lighting conditions (too bright or too dim), stress, fatigue, dry air, and even extended periods of reading. It is important for parents to help children set boundaries so they can balance time spent on their screens, reading, learning, and play time. Eye strain can be an uncomfortable and sometimes even debilitating experience for children, affecting their mental and physical wellbeing, as well as their ability to learn and focus in the classroom. However, children don’t have to suffer from eye strain, and there are ways that you as a parent or guardian can help. Start by looking out for these symptoms: your child complains of their eyes feeling tired, dry and sore burning or itchy, watery eyes blurred or double vision sensitivity to light headaches difficulty concentrating or keeping their eyes open a sore neck, shoulders and/or back You can also try the following exercises to help relieve some of their symptoms: Encourage them to blink It may sound strange, but we tend to blink less while we’re staring at a screen or focusing intently on a task. Observe your child’s behaviour while they engage in screen time or any other task and remind them to blink more to encourage moisture in the eyes. Do this with them every day: close the eyes tightly for three seconds. Then, open the eyes wide and blink normally a few times. Repeat this process for one minute. Shift their focus Hold your finger about 15cm away from your child’s face and get them to focus on it. Slowly move your finger away, but your child must still focus on it. Now, ask them to look away from your finger at an object that is a few metres behind you for a few seconds and then back at your finger. Slowly bring your finger towards their face again. Repeat this exercise at least three times. Figure eight This simple exercise should help to keep eye muscles flexible. Get your child to sit down in a chair or on the couch. While seated, ask them to pick a point on the floor or on a blank wall about 3m away. Tell them to ‘draw’ an imaginary sideways figure ‘8’ with their eyes without moving their head. Do this for 30 seconds and then repeat for another 30 seconds in the opposite direction. Step away Take screen breaks or limit the amount of time your child spends engaged in an all-encompassing task, opting for playtime outdoors or any other activity that allows them to rest their eyes. It’s also very important for children to get enough sleep every night to give their eyes a good, long rest. Regular eye care can now ensure your child has healthy vision for life. It’s important to schedule routine eye examinations for your children to ensure that their eyes are healthy and developing as they should. Check with your medical aid to confirm optometry benefits offered. Bestmed Medical Scheme was voted #1 by its members for customer satisfaction in the SA-csi survey 2021. With value for money and preventative care on all of its medical aid plans, it is a Personally Yours choice designed to suit various needs and budgets.

March 2, 2022

THREE THINGS TO DO WHEN YOUR KID GETS BENCHED

I remember the day my son lost first chair on the school marching band. He came home and declared that he hated the trumpet and he never wanted to play it again. When I asked him what happened, he did not want to talk about it. My initial parental impulse was to go down to the school, find out what happened and defend my son in whatever the incident was. But I knew that racing in to potentially rescue my son was not the right thing to do. If I wanted to raise a resilient young man, I had to do two things; trust in the “law of allowing” by giving him room to deal with the situation on his own, and to stand back just far enough to be available to coach him through the issue, if he needed me. He obviously didn’t want to talk about what happened so I had to wait until he was ready to share. Some parents don’t wait it out. They allow the protective momma or papa bear in them to quickly race down to the school or confront the coach to protect their child. We’ve seen all the cell phone video footage of the dads who end up physically attacking the coach or worse, another child. Yes, we must protect our child from danger and harm, but responsible parents must assess each situation to determine how much they should really get involved. Getting benched from a team is a very valuable life lesson for a child or teen. It could offer a wakeup call that will keep the ego in check and also remind our children that rules, boundaries and procedures are in place to be followed. I’m sure that some coaches put children on the sidelines unfairly, but I would be willing to bet that most do it responsibly and for good reason. Here are three things to keep in mind If your child is ever benched while a part of a team. Avoid complaining to the coach to rescue your child, even if the coach wasn’t fair. Life itself isn’t always fair so sheltering your children from real-world situations robs them of the opportunity to learn and grow. Bad mouthing the coach, dance instructor or team manager behind their back also teaches children that back biting is acceptable. If you want your child to become a young person of integrity, the training begins with modeling appropriate behavior for them to witness first hand. Don’t argue with your child if she begins to unfairly blame her predicament on others. It may just be an automatic defensiveness to protect her feelings and suppressing them could cause her to move deeper into a false sense of denial. Let her express her feelings about it without judgment and be ready to listen. There will be plenty of time later on to help her understand what really happened. Creating emotional space by encouraging her to talk about it is likely to lead her to draw her own realistic conclusions, when she’s ready. Finally, make it mandatory that he is to attend every game and practice, regardless of whether he is able to play or not. Being there to support his teammates is paramount to teaching teamwork, and having him in attendance on the sideline may lead to a quicker resolution of the problem. This could also move the coach to bring him back on the playing field or court. Once the wounds heal, then it’s time for deeper parental discussion with your child on what happened and what he or she can do the next time.

February 28, 2022

DON’T KILL YOUR CHILD’S CREATIVITY FOR PERFECTION

Have you or anyone you know ever created something strange? As reported by weirdunivers.net, Dutch artist Olaf Mooij created a vehicle called the Braincar. This strange looking car has what looks like a giant brain on top of it and sports a video camera that captures video as he travels around during the day. Olaf apparently uses the inside of the brain as a movie screen and projects the video captured during the day on the inside of the brain. While this might all sound weird and have no purpose for many, I’m guessing that Olaf is a very creative person and may have been allowed to develop that creativity during his childhood. Parents have the power to make or break a child’s ability to be creative. It requires remaining calm and relaxed when the child comes up with preposterous ideas and to avoid attempting to keep her grounded out of fear. It also requires minimizing entertainment electronics and creating plenty of time and space to dream and create. When I was a child, I would spend hours writing ghost stories on an old yard sale typewriter that I bought with money I earned on my newspaper delivery route. When I first started creating these stories of fantasy, I remember being so excited to show my creations to my mother, grandparents, and my teachers. But immediately, they would give me the “that’s nice BUT…” phrase and then follow it with all the things that were wrong with my story, such as the grammar, spelling, story structure, or even whether it could really happen or not. With that continuous discouragement, I eventually stopped writing. My adult caregivers meant well, but were so concerned about making sure I did it all just right, that they ended up killing my motivation to create. I have a video that I sometimes show in my training classes that depicts a Dad reading a newspaper. His young son approaches him to show him a drawing he created with crayons. As the boy hands the picture to his father, his beaming pride is quickly destroyed when the father gives him the “that’s nice David, but…” parental statement. Dad quickly points out to this son that the wheels on an airplane belong on the bottom and not on the roof. Discouragement instantly appears on the boys face and he slowly walks away. Why did the Dad in the video correct his son’s drawing? Perhaps he was motivated by the fear that his son will get laughed at by his peers for not knowing how to draw airplanes. Let your kids be creative. Don’t worry about how it will turn out; stop controlling the outcome all the time. I can’t help but wonder what might have become of my ghost story writing when I was 10 if the adults in my life knew how to relax and just let me create. Perhaps I could I have become the next Stephen King? What will you do today to foster creativity in your child? Start by letting him draw wheels on the roof so he can create his braincar?

February 28, 2022

KOA ACADEMY INTRODUCES KIDS TO PHDs

School years are all about preparing our kids for the real world, where one day, they will work and hopefully, thrive. With rapid rate of continual tech advancements, it’s become harder to feel certain about the shape and substance of the ‘real-world’ that our kids will soon inhabit. There are already multitudes of new career options, as well as dramatic changes to long-established career paths. High engagement online school, Koa Academy has introduced a monthly session, ‘The doctor will explain you now’ that brings together the entire school and a working PHD graduate. The doctor is challenged to explain their doctoral studies to the kids in 15 minutes, and then participates in a Q&A that enables Koa learners to learn more about their work and field of study. The latest session of ‘The doctor will explain you now’ featured Dr Malebogo Ngoepe, a Biomedical Engineer working in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Cape Town (UCT). Mark Anderson, Principal of Koa Academy, says, “Dr Ngoepe does fascinating work in the computational modelling of blood clots, and this was a rare opportunity for Koa learners and educators to get insights into the ways that technology and engineering are being used in the medical field to understand diseases and improve treatments.” Dr Ngoepe, who graduated with a degree in Mechanical Engineering and then completed her PhD in Biomedical Engineering explained how she and her team developed a model of blood clotting, set up computational experiments and then verified the computer data with simple real-life experiments. Mark says, “The aim of these sessions is to activate learners’ curiosity and give them a glimpse into the world of work, and the study paths that professionals such as Dr Ngoepe have taken to become leaders in their field. From her straightforward presentation they could see how she and her team are working to benefit society and make a difference to health and well-being. Dr Ngoepe also highlighted the importance of teamwork and collaboration, which are such important 21st Century skills that we are cultivating at Koa Academy.” For parents of kids aged 8-18, the next ‘The Doctor Will Explain You Now’ is on Tuesday, 22nd March from 8:15 to 9:00am. Dr. Michelle Blanckenberg, a Conservation Biologist who investigated the effects of land-use change, from small livestock farming to protected area, on vegetation and mammal communities in the SKA region of the Karoo, South Africa, will be talking to us about her PHD. Come join us: Online | Tues 22 March | 08:15-09:00 | Ages 8-18 | Free | Register at https://forms.gle/um5wMcZwQq5pZui29

February 28, 2022

HOW TO HELP YOUR CHILD BE A GREAT TEAM PLAYER

Team sports start pretty early these days, with children as young as four and five enrolling in soccer leagues. For most children, that’s just the beginning. They’ll go on to participate in team sports throughout their school years and sometimes into their college ones. Besides sports, being part of a team will also be a requirement in the classroom and on the playground, and the same skills your child needs on the field can help him throughout life. Here are some key things to teach your child about being a great team player. Teach him that there is no I in TEAM. This saying is still popular among coaches because it’s so true. Children, by nature, are self-focused. It’s natural, especially at a young age, for them to think about themselves more than their teammates. They want to be the one to kick the ball in for a goal or hit the home run and win the game. Teach your child that no matter how great he is, he’s part of a team, and everyone on that team is a valuable player. Talk about how each person has something to contribute and should be given the chance to play. These ideas can be especially hard to get across to your child if he’s skilled and is considered a star of the team. When others set him apart because of his talent, it’s easy for him to fall into the trap of feeling like he can get things done all by himself. But he can’t. Even the star needs the support and help of his teammates to shine. Let him know mistakes are a part of everything in life. No one is perfect, and mistakes are just part of the game in sports. That’s easy to say, but often children don’t take mistakes with a great attitude. A missed ball or an out of bounds throw can cause anything from a few minutes of pouting to a full-blown meltdown. Take those opportunities to talk with your child about his feelings about the mistake. Remind him that no one on the team, not even the star player, gets it right every time. Help him remember a time when other team members made mistakes and it turned out OK. Helping him realize that his mistake isn’t fatal will help put things in perspective. Off the field or court, give your child lots of opportunities to try new things. Learning how to bounce back from mistakes in everyday life will help him do the same in the game. Show her how to win. One of the hardest things to teach your child is the lesson of humility. It’s her natural instinct to enthusiastically celebrate her team’s wins, and there’s nothing wrong with that. She and her teammates worked hard and they deserve to celebrate! They should be proud of themselves and enjoy the payoff of all their hard work and dedication. The key is to show kindness and respect to the other team while enjoying the win. That balance is hard to achieve, even for some adults. Remind your child what’s it’s like to be on the losing team. How would she like the winning team to treat her in those situations? What could they do or say that would make the loss easier to handle? By helping her see things from the losing team’s perspective, she’ll be much better prepared to show humility when she wins. Show him how to lose. The old adage “there’s nothing worse than a sore loser” still rings true today. Teaching your child to show humility when he wins is hard. Teaching him to show grace when he loses is even harder. His natural reaction is more likely to be anger and resentment towards the other team. Use these opportunities to talk about the importance of being proud of his efforts, even when they don’t result in a win. Books and films are filled with examples of good sportsmanship and can be discussion starters for you. Give her practice in being part of a team outside of sports. There are lots of opportunities in your child’s everyday life for her to learn and practice good team skills. Anytime she has to work with another person to accomplish a task will help her build up the skill set she needs to be a great team player. This can happen in free play with neighborhood kids when they come together to build a backyard fort or develop a new game. It can happen when she’s working with her siblings to get the Saturday chores done. Allow your child to learn from those situations and she’ll reap the rewards both on and off the field.

February 25, 2022

NHI – more questions than answers

In July 2019, the Minister of Health published a draft ‘National Health Insurance Bill’, which attracted a great deal of attention and the scrutiny hasn’t stopped. Despite several engagements, the Department of Health (DoH) has failed to provide clarity or explanations on several key issues within the ‘Bill’, which are of major concern to all stakeholders. ‘That fact that universal healthcare is desperately needed in South Africa is not being debated. Having only around 16% of the population on private medical aid, with the rest relying on public health, is unsustainable,’ says Lee Callakoppen, Principal Officer of Bonitas Medical Fund. ‘What is worrying is the lack of detail around the implementation of this national health blueprint. Before discussing concerns about the implementation of NHI, we should discuss the ramifications of curtailing the role of medical aids. Medical aids and associated services make an enormous contribution to the annual fiscus. The industry also contributes significantly to employment and, in turn, to the economy of the country. Healthcare administration is a massive undertaking that requires, skills, experience and expertise. State of the art technology is needed to comply with international best practices. South Africa’s medical administrators are world class, it is simply not feasible to consider having one administrator in charge of the healthcare of millions of South Africans. Private healthcare is also a source of excellence in terms of innovation and development, which benefits the public sector. This essential role of private healthcare will be strangled if it is not able to continue in a private setting. A few additional concerning NHI issues include: Funding of the NHI There is a proposed health financing system – designed to pool funds – but nowhere has detail been provided on this funding model. When first presented, the estimated cost of NHI was R256 billion, with it due to be rolled out in 2026. It is not known how this figure was reached. The Institute of Race Relations (IRR) recently stated that NHI is likely to cost around R700 billion a year when fully operational in 2026, as the government now envisages. According to the IRR, ‘The increased tax burden will fall particularly heavily on the 700 000-odd individual taxpayers who currently pay about two thirds of all personal income tax and a hefty chunk of VAT’. What will NHI offer? The Bill defines ‘comprehensive health care services’ as: Healthcare services that are managed to ensure a continuum of health promotion, disease prevention, diagnosis, treatment and management, rehabilitation and palliative care services across the different levels and sites of care within the health system in accordance with the needs of users. However, no further indication of the details of these services / benefits is provided except to indicate that medical schemes will offer what is referred to as ‘complementary cover’. This is defined as third party payment for personal healthcare service benefits, not reimbursed by the Fund, including any top up cover offered by medical schemes or any other private health insurance fund. Single purchaser, single payer? The Bill states that the NHI will serve as the single purchaser and single payer of healthcare services, ie., that there can be no other legal entity that can purchase and pay for healthcare services. This doesn’t distinguish between complementary and duplicative services. Which means it would be illegal for medical schemes (or health insurance firms) to exist, even in a complementary form which contradicts other sections of the Bill. Constitutional rights Bonitas does not agree or support the proposed amendments to the Medical Schemes Act (MSA) as set out in the Bill, we believe allowing medical schemes to provide only complementary cover is unconstitutional. Bonitas does, however, support the healthcare reforms as recommended by the Health Market Inquiry. The Constitution requires the State to protect, respect, promote and fulfil the rights in the Bill of Rights. The State must protect the rights to access that people already have. The right of access to healthcare is much wider than the right to obtain healthcare through the public sector. It includes the right to purchase healthcare from the private sector, if one can afford it. The purchasing power of the consumer is a legitimate means of access to healthcare. Consumers must have the right to apply their purchasing power as they deem fit. The Bill, in its current form, makes it unlawful for people to purchase healthcare services not covered by NHI. The proposed Bill is fraught with illegalities and is in direct conflict with the Medical Schemes Act 31 of 1998 (MSA) and prevailing regulations. The administration of the proposed central system of healthcare will need strict governance as existing medical aids are strictly regulated. Sound corporate governance is of critical importance in preventing mismanagement of assets, corruption, inefficiency, illegality, unethical conduct, abuse of the Fund’s resources and the collapse of the Fund. The way forward The notion of NHI is commendable, but it’s a case of the ‘devil is in the detail’. Detail which is yet to be unpacked and specified. The only way for the healthcare system to evolve is through inter-dependent relationships. Medical schemes should be allowed to assist the NHI administratively and take over some of the risk and burden which would lie with the NHI in respect of members of medical schemes. This would ensure that the funds deployed in the procurement of healthcare services are not unnecessarily exploited through duplication of services and functions. Lee Callakoppen, Principal Officer, Bonitas Medical Fund

February 25, 2022

WHAT TO DO WITH KIDS WHO ALWAYS WANT, PLEAD, BEG OR DEMAND

I was shopping for a child relative’s gift and was looking at items in the toy section of a large department store. Near me were a mother and her son who appeared to be about seven. He was pleading with her to buy him a toy he really wanted and the begging began to escalate in intensity. In response to each request, her responses also increased in intensity as she would reply NO and the offer a reason. Some of this mother’s reasons included: “we have no money,” “your father is on a business trip and he needed to take our extra money with him,” “you already have that kind of toy laying on your bedroom floor,” “you don’t play with what you have,” “I’m tired of buying you toys,” “you don’t appreciate what you have,” “your birthday is coming,” “stop asking for things,” and on and on and on. Standing next to this drama and hearing it all play out was excruciating. But deep inside of me was the natural urge to want to stop his pleading by doing exactly what this mother did next… she bought him the toy! When kids keep demanding something and the parent is already stressed and tired, the natural urge is to yell and get angry, or give in to the child’s demands to stop the noise. Here are two things you can do to curb the “I want that” demands. SET UP A MONEY MANAGEMENT PROCESS. Taking a look at this problem from the child’s perspective; they have little or no control over spending money and you have given in to their requests in the past. The solution is to set up a money saving/spending plan that they can control. See how to do this by typing the following link into your Internet browser window and watching a short video http://bit.ly/teachingaboutmoney. Whenever you take your child shopping with you, allow him/her to take whatever they have in the ‘spending’ envelope to buy something. Your responsibilities are to help them set up this system, ensure that it is maintained (supervise it in the beginning) and to approve what they spend it on. HELP YOUR CHILD CREATE A DREAM BOOK. Buy your child a composition book (black and white cover and what we used in school) that you can find in the office supply isle of most department or convenience stores. Tell your child that this is going to be his/her ‘dream book’ where he/she can record all of the things he/she desires. Encourage your child to draw pictures of what they want or cut out pictures from magazines and fliers to paste into the new dream book. When your child sees something a friend has or in a television commercial, you simply say “put it in your dream book.” You are not responsible for fulfilling their dreams, your job is to teach them HOW to dream. With the holidays upon us, now is a good time to implement some changes to keep the “I WANT IT” demands from overwhelming you. Finally, avoid arguing with your child and certainly don’t give in. Doing so reinforces the behaviour (demanding) that drives you crazy. When they ask for something you’re not willing to provide, tell them that and don’t use the word NO. Simply say one time, “I’m not willing to buy that today,” and nothing more. Avoid giving excuses if you know they aren’t going to accept them. Saying NO seems to move them to demand even more.

February 24, 2022

How to teach your child to take care of the things they love

A common reaction to seeing your child behave in a manner you do not agree with is to reprimand them. It often ends up leading to a more-than-once conversation. However, there is a much more successful solution. Kindness…. When you react in a calm manner, you are leaving room to teach and have a conversation of understanding. I would suggest explaining to them, not just that what they are doing is not okay, but to create an environment where you take the opportunity to teach them why it’s not acceptable. Once you have explained this to them, demonstrate what you would like them to do instead. Children grow up mimicking their parents, so if you’re able to show them how to take care of something and why it was wrong in the first place, you should have a positive outcome. Another solution is to teach them to treat their things like their friends. If they would not hit and hurt their friends or the people they love, they should not do it to the things they love. Whether it is dishes, toys, or clothes. They should be taught to treat them like they would a person, with respect and kindness. This will continue on and develop by teaching them to take care of people. Although, I would not encourage a mix up in teaching them to treat people like objects. And again, I would recommend showing them how to take care of their things. I would also advise to speak about the toy or object as if it had human emotions. For a child, a big part of learning is through actions. Opening more opportunities for them to interact with their things or even your things helps develop a sense of responsibility. Allow your children to help you with whatever you have decided to take care of. Not only when they are teens, but I suggest starting all these steps from a young age. Allowing them to do something by themselves is an excellent and small way to encourage their growth in responsibility. I would not suggest enforcing this, but more so encouraging their them to take this step. Not only does teaching your child to be kind to their things is a good way to achieve this responsibility, but teaching them how to clean up or even clean their things is a great skill to achieve this goal, too. After an activity is completed, encouraging tidying up helps teach the children that once things are put away, it is then ready for when they decide to play with it again. This can be achieved by creating and organised routine. For example, establishing a toy policy is a helpful way to create an organised environment or space to put their toys. To practice daily consistency can aid in this routine. I would encourage not to use labels. Labels or name calling such as; lazy, forgetful, irresponsible — discourages your child to be responsible and in turn, creates a negative environment. Instead, take a view steps back to kindness and creating understanding for them to grow in a positive environment. When your child is acting out kindness on their own, acknowledge what they are doing. Acknowledgement and praise will encourage them to continue what they were doing and to repeat their kindness in the future. I’d like to point out that praise and acknowledgement should not involve rewards or be based off of them. This concept will teach children to act out of kindness in turn for something. Many children lose understanding when rewards are given, in turn, creating fuss and bad behaviour. Teaching your child this will also include them feeling entitled or owed something, leaving them to forget the bigger picture behind your life lesson. Without reprimanding or creating a discouraging space, if your child is not responding well to what you have explained to them, create consequences for when your child does not take care of things within the home. Some children need a little more help than others when it comes to taking care of things. I suggest to continue with the kindness, the acknowledgement, the honest explanations of why things are to be done in a certain way. Consequences discourages them from their bad behaviour, but your behaviour will encourage them to better how things are to be treated. Now, if you think a potential issue will occur, speak to them about their consequences. Have another honest conversation as to why you would be giving them these consequences. Once you have had this conversation, and it still continues then only proceed with the consequences that you had discussed with them. Keep in mind to be patient because with everything good, comes practice. Another very important thing to discuss is the importance of self-love and how it works hand-in-hand with treating their things and people with kindness. When children practice this, they are able to learn and understand their physical and personal needs, leading them to be able to give and take care of all things and people around them. This too will take time, however, if you are open to self love from early on in their lives, they are able to develop everything I have previously mentioned, respect for themselves and their things, and many more benefits going further.

February 24, 2022

12 Baby Games for New Parents

Let the baby giggles begin! So you’ve got your feeding pattern down, know what to expect with naps, and can hold your baby like a pro. You have some confidence and you are ready for more. While there’s plenty more that will come your way, it’s never too early to start playing. Here are 12 baby games that double as great learning activities for babies under 12 months old: 1.Copy-cat Once your baby starts vocalising, it’s a great time to have “conversations.” Even if she only says “caw-caw,” then you say it back in a different tone. It may seem silly, but this game is a great way to interact with your baby and show her that what she has to say matters to you. Try to make eye contact as you play. Even better: This early vocalisation is how babies learn to talk, so when you “converse” with them, you help them develop both social and mental skills. 2. Hide the ball This game is best for older babies who can sit but can’t crawl yet. One of the things babies are learning is object permanence. By taking a ball and hiding it behind your back and letting baby choose with hand has the ball, they are learning that the ball exists, even when it is out of sight. Delight, laughter, and gummy smiles will ensue. 3. Freeze dance Press play on a fun song and start rocking out. Then stop. Let the baby start to ask for the music. Then play, dance, and stop it and freeze again. When it comes to baby games, remember that babies delight in the thrill of anticipation. The bonus is that it teaches them to value movement and how being active can be fun. 4. Fun with textures Babies like to feel different textures, and this can also help enhance their fine motor skills. What to do: Cut up pieces of fabric and cardboard and paper and all different objects. Let baby feel them and hold them between her fingers. Make them rather large and sit with baby while she explores. 5. Rattler Take a baby rattle and shake it until baby looks. Once you have the hang of that, start moving the rattle around so she needs to turn her head in the direction again and again. This easy, interactive game helps baby start to develop her neck muscles and also helps with hearing. 6. ‘Catch’ the ball Okay, so baby can’t quite play catch yet. But she can roll a ball back and forth with mummy or daddy. She can explore different kinds of balls made of fabric, plastic, and rubber. She may just hold and explore them at first, but as she grows, there will be plenty of rolling and new ways to coordinate. 7. Point it out As you read to baby, ask him to point to the things he sees. “Do you see the ball? Where is the chicken? Is there a sun?” Depending on age, he may or may not be able to respond, but this gets him used to the concept of interactive reading. A great product to help promote recognition of new things is the Fisher-Price® Laugh & Learn® Counting And Colors UNO™ Baby can join in on the family game night fun with the Laugh & Learn® Counting and Colors UNO™ toy from Fisher-Price®! This baby-sized UNO™ ‘game’ comes with 5 cards for little players to slot into the reader to see it light up with fun music, sounds and phrases introducing the numbers, colors and objects on each card. And with a convenient ring to link the cards together, you can easily take baby’s favorite ‘game’ along wherever you go! Baby-sized UNO™ electronic learning toy with multi-color lights, music and phrases Insert a card into the slot to see the reader light up and offer fun songs and phrases about the items on each card 30+ songs, sounds and phrases teach counting, colors, familiar objects and Spanish words Includes light-up card reader, 5 UNO™ toy cards, and a convenient ring for take-along play For infants and toddlers ages 6-36 months 8. Pony, pony Children love interacting with mum and dad, cuddles, and rhymes or songs. Combine these three by sitting on a cushy couch and bouncing baby on your lap to a song like “Pony, pony trot to town, pony, pony don’t fall down!” When you say “down,” let baby drops between your knees as you hold her. It’s a perfect interactive game, full of anticipation and fun. 9. Stuffie peek-a-boo You can change up the classic baby game when your child can sit unassisted. Have her sit facing the couch and you hide behind it with a variety of stuffed toys. Pop them up and yell “Peek-a-boo!” Babies love the anticipation of this and the more they do it, the more likely they are to start to call for certain animals by name, thus developing their vocabulary. 10. Pop the cheeks Babies think it is hilarious when you puff your cheeks and “pop” them. Each time make a different noise. Whoosh! Zoom! Brrr! Then have baby blow her cheeks up and see what she does. It’s a great interaction and helps her grow her baby “vocabulary,” too. 11. Clap along songs Sing a song all the way through with the words. Then replace one word with a clap. Do it again and again and get baby clapping along. This helps him learn rhythm and will make him think since it’s a little tricky. 12. Baby yoga games Once baby is mobile, it’s a great time to introduce her to “yoga.” This is off the mat, loud animal yoga. Be an elephant and make a trunk with your arms. Be a monkey and goal post your arms. Be pig and snort. All these animals will get baby giggling, moving, and enjoying all she can do with her voice and with her body. A great product to help encourage your baby to

February 22, 2022

Is your teen struggling with spots? Lamelle Clarity and Acnevelle Plus stops them in their tracks

Just the other day they were enthralled by Peppa Pig. Then, before you can say “TikTok”, you’re dealing with a social media-obsessed teen. Something else you’re likely to be facing is a struggle with is acne. After all, around 85% of people will develop it in their lifetime and it usually starts around puberty going into the teen years. However, pre-teen acne and adult acne is becoming more common too thanks to drug-resistance. (The fall-out of having created so many antibacterial products is the evolution of new strains of drug-resistant bacteria!) Still, regardless of which age you get them, spotty skin is always a confidence killer. Having to battle with pimples as an adult is awful. But having to endure acne in high school as an insecure teen is a nightmare. Fortunately, there’s a lot you can do to help your child beat breakouts and enjoy clear, healthy skin. Say no to spots When it comes to beating breakouts, you’ve got a bit of a checklist. First, you’ll want to keep oil production in check. Next, you have to ensure skin is exfoliating properly, then zap pimple-forming bacteria while calming inflammation. Happily, Clarity by Lamelle is a stream-lined, fuss-free skincare collection that can do all that, starting with Clarity Active Cleanse – a soap-free cleanser formulated with updated antibacterial and anti-inflammatory ingredients including a more gentle form of pore-exfoliating salicylic acid. Next up, your teen can apply Clarity Corrective AM in the morning and Clarity Correctives PM Plus at night. Again, both of these products contain proven pimple-busting ingredients as well as super soothing anti-inflammatories. The night cream, however, is especially important as it contains a very gentle, form of retinoid that can help speed up the skin’s cellular turnover, blitz bacteria and even reduce the likelihood of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH). (These are the dark marks that can set up camp in the aftermath of a pimple – something that’s especially common in those with a darker skin tone.) As far as active breakouts go, your child has a brilliant weapon in Clarity Active Spot Control. A targeted treatment that rapidly stop a spot in its tracks, it also contains salicylic acid to gently exfoliate deep inside the pores, keeping them clean and clear. It also boasts a trio of super soothers – panthenol, niacinamide and azelaic acid to calm inflammation and reduce redness – and a form of vitamin C that kills bacteria and prevents congestion. Beating acne inside-out Your teen might be glad to hear that there’s absolutely no truth to the rumour that chocolate causes pimples. However, eating a healthy balanced diet is important for great-looking skin. You can also take our supplement – Acnevelle Plus by Lamelle Research Laboratories. It contains zinc glycinate – a very easy to digest form of zinc – and nicotinamide, a water-soluble form of vitamin B. Together, they’ve been proven to help treat inflammatory skin conditions like acne. The supplement has also been reformulated to include an effective dose of copper to mitigate the potential to become copper deficient due to the long-term intake of zinc. When used in conjunction with our Clarity skincare collection, it can improve inflammatory, problematic skin by up to 88% in just 8 weeks! Ultimately, if your child is struggling with spots, it’s time to take action with Lamelle Clarity and Acnevelle Plus. Together, they can help create a clear, radiant-looking complexion, giving them the confidence they need to face the world head-on. Suddenly, taking a family selfie can be fun again! (Can we get a “thanks mom!”?)

February 22, 2022

Sleep and Solids

As a sleep consultant, one thing I am aware of, is how desperate moms are to get their little ones to sleep. I have seen moms who constantly dose with pain medication in the hopes that their sleep disruptions are caused by teething, or who switch from breastfeeding to formula feeding because ‘surely their baby is hungry,’ and they have heard how formula digests slower. I have seen moms push their children in the pram to sleep multiple times during the day and night, and some who have spent a small fortune on paediatrician appointments because ‘certainly there must be something medically wrong with their baby. “Feed your baby to fill him up” is another commonly used practice that some mothers will resort to out of desperation. So, lets delve a little deeper into the relationship between sleep and solids and what we know as sleep consultants. 1. Can starting solids really help your baby sleep better and longer? The short answer is probably not. There was a study completed in 2010 that showed starting solids before the age of 4 months essentially caused sleep disruptions. Those babies slept on average an hour less per night than the babies who received milk exclusively. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends starting solids at 6 months. Researchers have found that waiting to begin solids can protect babies from a whole host of complications, including food allergies and future obesity. Hoping that solids will help your baby to sleep better does make sense. A baby with a full tummy will not need to wake up to feed right? Which is true in a sense, except that as parents we forget that hunger is only one of the reasons a baby will wake up throughout the night. Often, we assume it is hunger and we use a feed to put our baby back to sleep. This seems to work every-single-time and by doing this we are reinforcing the idea in our mind that our baby is hungry. This may encourage you to begin with solids sooner rather than later. 2. How do I know if it is hunger affecting my baby’s sleep? Firstly, you can have a look at what is age appropriate for your baby at night. A 4-month-old could be waking for 1–3-night feeds, which drops to 1-2 feeds by 6 months and all feeds tend to fall away by the end of their 9th month. If your baby falls within this range, then there is nothing to be concerned about. If your 5 – 6 month old baby has always slept well, they are able to fall asleep independently in their cot without support from a milk feed, dummy or rocking and they begin to wake up more frequently, or they begin to wake up before midnight which is unusual for them, then hunger may well be the cause. Provided of course that they are also showing other signs of readiness. If your baby has never slept well and you were hoping that solids would solve your sleep problems, then rather first evaluate how your baby is falling asleep at bedtime and how much assistance they require from you during this process. You may want to embark on sleep coaching to establish independent sleep skills. This will usually have the biggest impact on their overall sleep. 3. Can solids cause poor sleep? Solid foods can be a bit of a “shock” to the gastrointestinal tract as it is still accustomed to digesting breastmilk or formula up to this point. Once solids are introduced, the GI system starts releasing new enzymes for digestion. The tummy is made for this, but with any new and drastic change, it can cause sleep disruptions for a few days. This may be attributed to an increase in gas, pooping and general tummy discomfort. Some babies are extremely sensitive to this, whereas some show no discomfort at all. Thus, the recommendation stands to introduce all new foods it the morning to prevent potential overnight sleep disruptions. If your baby has any sensitivities or reactions to the foods introduced, one can expect that their baby would sleep poorly. This poor sleep will be short lived and should resolve itself once the food is no longer offered or being digested. This would seldom be the cause of many days or months of poor sleep. Another less commonly discussed point to note, is that some babies prefer solids to their milk. Under the age of 12 months their milk is more important than any solids. Any solids given should be considered complementary to their milk intake. The shift occurs at 12 months where solids then take priority over their milk intake. If you find that your 6–9-month-old baby is taking in substantial amounts of solids in a short amount of time and their milk intake is decreasing as a result, this can attribute to new overnight awakenings. Offer any solid foods only after they have consumed their milk and ensure that your baby’s daily milk consumption is age appropriate. Unfortunately, when it comes to sleep there is no magic formula that will make a dramatic difference if your baby has never been a good sleeper. If your baby does not have the skills necessary to sleep, solids will not make much of a difference. Good quality sleep is determined by how much assistance your baby needs to fall asleep. If they are fed to sleep at bedtime then the chances of them requiring a night feed increases as that is the only way they know how to go back to sleep, its quite possible they are not hungry at all, you should then begin exploring ways to help them fall asleep that does not include feeding to sleep. Once you do embark on this exciting chapter in your parenting journey, make sure to follow sound guidelines. Invest in good quality food, spark their curiosity with flavours and keep their meal sizes age appropriate. By Tammy Buitendach – Good Night

February 21, 2022

Chicco Microwave Sterilizer and Silicone Bottle Cleaning Brush

Keeping germs at bay is vital when you have a newborn in the house – and Chicco is there with you every step of the way, adding convenience to essential household items. When it’s time to wash milk or juice bottles, ordinary dish washing won’t necessarily kill all germs. Opt for a sterilizer that is small, economical and so easy to use. The Chicco Microwave Sterilizer takes all makes of Chicco bottles, teats and pacifiers and with a few centimetres of water placed at the bottom, uses the properties of steam to neutralise all germs in just a few minutes, avoiding long waits between bottle cleans. If you would like to keep bottles stored in the sterilizer they remain germ-free for up to 24-hours with a closed lid. If you’re looking for a quick scrub up, the Chicco Silicone Bottle Brush gives you deep cleaning with silicone bristles to remove all sorts of milk or juice build-up. with an ergonomic handle, it’s non-slip and the perfect addition to your bottle cleaning regime. Pick the sterilizer up at select Clicks stores, Babyclub by Clicks, Baby City, Takealot, Loot, The Kid Zone and Loot. The Silicone Brush is available at Takealot, loot, The Kid Zone and others.

February 21, 2022

THE BENEFITS OF INDIVIDUALIZED LEARNING FOR MATHS

Conventional classroom teaching is based on the teacher as content provider directed at the middle. However, because there are so few kids that ever truly ‘fit the average’, most of us parents have experienced worries and frustrations when our kids are either out ahead on their own and bored, or left behind. As Maths learning builds along clear learning trajectories, there’s probably no subject that causes us more anxiety if our kid is losing interest or falling by the wayside. Individualized learning is a concept that has developed as an antidote to traditional ‘teaching to the middle’ but it is still hard to implement in a typical classroom setting. It’s an area where online learning has much potential. Mark Anderson, Principal of Koa Academy, a high-engagement online school says, “Done well, there’s significant scope for individualized learning online across all subject areas; and it is highly effective when it comes to Maths education. At Koa, we use a mastery-based approach that ensures that each learner only moves on when they have a comprehensive grasp of concepts and have mastered their Maths practice sessions. Working in a small, well-connected 8-person Pod means that their teacher is keeping close track on their progress and if a kid gets stuck, then they get lesson time with our dedicated Maths teacher.” When it comes to Maths at Koa, the online school provides a number of key benefits of individualized learning: Collaborating with their Pod teacher, each child sets their weekly Maths targets based on their own pace Learners, teachers and parents can track daily progress for each child Bookable one-on-one or small group Teacher Time sessions provide Maths specialist support There’s a range of additional Maths platforms that are available for learners to boost skills, so they can access a mode of learning that suits them best If any learner requires more than the in-house support, then the school partners with parents to help them access that assistance for their child Mark advises parents: “Remember that Maths requires patience, practice and confidence. Message that consistently and gently with your kids rather than the more common message that ‘Maths is hard’. If you are looking to supplement what your school is doing in Maths, there are lots of Maths platforms and programmes out there – many of them free – which you can tap into to help boost your child’s Maths. This is the beauty of individualized learning in the online space.” Discover Koa Acadamy here

February 21, 2022

All you need to know about complementary feeding for your baby

Breastfeeding exclusively for the first six months of a baby’s life is the most natural way to feed your baby. However, what comes next is also important because of the extraordinary growth and development that takes place in the first 1000 days of an infant’s life. After six months of age, breastmilk is no longer sufficient as the only food source. For example, there’s not enough iron and zinc in breastmilk to meet a baby’s growing needs for these micro-nutrients after the age of six months. Mothers are definitely encouraged to continue breastfeeding, but also advised to introduce small amounts of soft, nutrient-dense foods as complementary feeding. Estelle Strydom, registered dietitian and ADSA spokesperson (The Association for Dietetics in South Africa) says, “A 2018 review of complementary feeding practices in South Africa revealed that the diets of many older infants do not meet the criteria for a minimally acceptable diet. In addition, it was reported that many babies between six months and one year are regularly given processed meats, soft drinks, sweets and salty crisps, which are all nutrient-poor foods that are not suitable for babies.” Furthermore, Professor Lize Havemann-Nel, registered dietitian and researcher in the Centre of Excellence for Nutrition at North-West University, also points out that your baby’s nutrition is a vital part of a foundation for a healthy life. There’s no other time when a child grows and develops faster; it’s both a window of opportunity to set your child on the path to good health, and a time of great vulnerability. Malnutrition, in all its forms, from underweight and overweight to the nutritional deficiencies that cause lasting damage, can be avoided through optimal complementary feeding. Professor Havemann-Nel says, “It’s important to get the timing right by introducing complementary foods from six months onwards. It’s also vital to know what foods are appropriate so that you are providing your little one with a variety of nutrient-dense meals and avoiding harmful practices. The other goal of complementary feeding is to set your baby up to try new foods so that as they grow they transition to eating nutrient-dense family foods, which makes life much easier for parents and caregivers.” Registered Dietitian, Mbali Mapholi emphasises the importance of parents’ awareness of the accepted complementary feeding guidelines. She says, “Parents and caregivers need to understand what nutrient-dense foods are suitable for their babies. The transition from only breastmilk to suitable complementary foods, along with continued breastfeeding, works well if the food offered to baby is soft and easy to digest, which is why the first solid foods are usually pureed and mashed. We start out with mashed, soft foods, and as they develop, the food becomes more textured and soft finger foods can be offered.” An important guideline is that meat, fish, chicken and eggs should be offered daily. Mbali says, “These foods are high in protein which is essential for growth and development. They also contain important vitamins and minerals that support the immune system and healthy body functioning. Eating these foods every day prevents deficiencies of important nutrients such as iron. Plant protein sources such as soya, beans, peas and lentils are affordable and are also important to include in the diet regularly.” Another important nutrition guideline is making dark green leafy vegetables and orange-coloured fruit and veg available daily to your baby. Mbali says, “Spinach is easy for us to grow in our gardens or in pots so that we can harvest the leaves we need each day, while the plant keeps on growing and providing more. Vegetables such as butternut and carrots, and fruits such as citrus, paw-paw and mangoes are good sources of vitamins A and C that help to maintain your baby’s good health. It works out well to buy seasonal fruit and veg because it’s more economical.” For a toddler between 12 and 36 months, you need to provide five small meals per day with starchy foods in most meals. Dairy such as milk, maas and yoghurt should be consumed every day – 500ml is recommended so that your child gets sufficient calcium intake for strong bones and healthy teeth. There’s also a list of nutrient-poor foods that parents and caregivers need to stay clear of: Avoid tea and coffee as these drinks contain caffeine Avoid sugary drinks and juices which are high in sugar Avoid highly processed and high fat foods Avoid salty foods Registered dietitian Carey Haupt says, “Under 12 months of age, a baby’s kidneys are not yet fully developed. These types of unsuitable foods can put strain on the kidneys. Foods that are high in sugar and fat can lead to overweight and childhood obesity, which is an increasing problem in South Africa. Use herbs for flavour instead of adding salt. Substitute clean water in place of juices and soft drinks that are high in sugar and can damage new teeth.” Throughout this introduction of complementary foods, mothers should be supported in continuing to breastfeed. Parents can start with offering their child a pureed meal (traditional complementary feeding) or soft finger foods (baby led weaning). Carey says, “It makes good sense at this very young age to let your baby play with their food. Picking up a stem of broccoli enables them to look, feel, smell and taste. By letting them explore and interact with new foods, you may avoid picky eating later on.” ADSA has released a series of three short, informative videos about complementary feeding for South African parents and caregivers. Join the ADSA dietitian team to learn more about the nutrients that babies require after six months of age; get tips on how to make complementary feeding easy for you, and for baby. Each episode also features a recipe for a simple yet nutrient-dense complementary baby meal that is quick and convenient for busy moms and caregivers.

February 18, 2022

THE SINGLE MOM’S SURVIVAL GUIDE ON DISCIPLINE

Other than parents of multiples, I’m not sure there is anyone with a tougher parenting job than a single mother, and there are plenty of them. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, there were 13.6 million single parents in 2007 raising 21.2 million children. To provide perspective, that is nearly 26% of children under 21 in the U.S. today. And the Web site, About.com reports that 84% of custodial parents are mothers. Single moms fill my parenting classes looking for help and I’ve spent many hours discussing their frustrations with them about their role as the sole caretaker. One particularly huge mistake they make that leads to discipline problems is using their children to fill their relationship needs. For example, labelling the oldest male child to be “the man of the house” or being in great need of friendships and treating the female children more as girlfriends rather than children. Being a single parent requires the courage to be firm and in control without creating more chaos for the kids. Here are 8 tips on discipline for the single mom. Hold Family Meetings. Children need to feel a part of the team and when they do, they are more likely to cooperate and will misbehave less often. Schedule a consistent day and time each week to sit down with the children to connect with them. The activities that work best for these sessions are any that encourage dialogue and sharing. You may also use this time to go over family rules but don’t make this the highlight of the meeting. Once you have demonstrated what the role of the facilitator looks like, allow the kids to take turns being the facilitator themselves, determining the discussion topics and agendas. Create Structure, Routines, and Boundaries. Children need sameness and routine in daily life, especially at a time when the structure of the family has suddenly changed due to death, separation, or divorce. The more structure they have in their world, the more secure they feel and again, the less likely they are to feel compelled to misbehave. Some single moms are afraid to step up and create order and limits because they fear hearing their children say the dreaded words, “I want to live with Daddy, he doesn’t have so many rules.” But it is these rules that will help them become the young adults you want them to be. Establish New Traditions. Take the opportunity to create new traditions and rituals as a family to create special moments and new closeness with the children. Doing so will allow for new bonding but will also help past and hurtful memories fade away. If the children’s’ other parent is in the picture and visitation is a new norm around the holidays, see the complex scheduling as something positive and not stressful, and an opportunity to create new activities or routines. Boyfriends Should Not Discipline. Children sometimes see the new boyfriend as a threat and experience jealousy. They don’t like sharing their mother with other siblings, let alone a stranger. The boyfriend is there for mom and not for the children, so I encourage dating single moms to set up rules from the start that the boyfriends should not have any role in administering discipline. It is perfectly fine for him to find special ways to connect with the kids with fun, play, and games, but the discipline should be left to mom. Engage Male Family Members For Boys. It is a fact that boys who have male role models in their lives mature in healthy emotional ways. Boys need men to learn from and have as mentors. If there is not an active and present father in a boy’s life, I suggest that single moms find ways of setting up extra time for him using her father, brothers, uncles, and other male relatives. Reach out to them and let them know how valuable they are and encourage them to spend time with her boys to help them grow into young men. Speak Respectfully About Their Father. Regardless of mom’s feeling toward her ex-husband, to the children he is still their father and still someone they may look up to. The children may not truly understand what the breakup was all about and certainly don’t see the world the way their mother does. It is important that mom always speaks respectfully about him to the children. If she doesn’t, they may feel angry toward her for doing it and become more sympathetic toward their father as an act of defence. This kind of inappropriate behaviour on mom’s part also models backbiting and sabotage for the children. Mom should keep her negative emotions about the children’s father to herself and not confide in the kids. Close friends and therapists are best for this. Take Care of Yourself. One parent raising the children alone may feel drained and pass it on to the kids emotionally. Even if mom doesn’t pass it on in obvious ways by yelling and snapping at them, the children will feel it and sense it. When the flight attendant on a passenger aircraft demonstrates the oxygen mask, she always instructs us to put it on us first and then to put it on our children. This illustration demonstrates that we must first take the measures to take care of ourselves so that we can effectively take care of our children. With an already over extended schedule, it may seem impossible for a single mom to take time out to take care of herself. But if she truly wants to be the best single mom for her kids, she must find a way to make it happen. Bill Corbett is a syndicated writer for numerous parenting publications nationwide and is the author of several books. Liz and Bill Corbett own the parent/teacher education organization, Cooperative Kids. They have six children between them and two grandchildren. Get free parenting advice at their Web site www.CooperativeKids.com.

February 18, 2022

Wingu iAS Level Laboratory Kits – pioneering the way to give learners real-life experience

After months of planning and development, Wingu Academy is proud to introduce our iAS level learners to Wingu’s own unique laboratory kits. As per the requirements to pass Chemistry, Biology, or Physics on iAS level; learners are required to write a practical exam where they need to perform several laboratory experiments under supervision. “To ensure that our students receive the absolute best quality education from the comfort of their home or educational center, Wingu; with the assistance of specialists in the respective courses, designed unique laboratory kits that contain everything learners need to gain real-life experience working with laboratory equipment,” says Ian Strydom, Managing Director of Wingu Academy. All the kits are designed with the safety of learners in mind, without impeding on the skills they require to pass their final practical exam. Under the guidance of our Lab Masters the learners will explore the exciting practical world, having fun while learning as is synonymous with Wingu. In Biology the learners will explore the tiny world of plant and animal materials through their very own microscope; learn how to identify different biological molecules and discover the wondrous mechanisms of enzymes. Our Physics kits will transform our learners into real life physicists by teaching them how to use the scientific method to control electrons through building electric circuits and how to bend forces to their will using springs. But the most exciting kit of all is our one-of-a-kind Chemistry kit. This kit will have learners feeling like mad scientists, giving them the opportunity to experience chemical reactions firsthand in their own miniature laboratory. With the guidance of our skilled Lab Master, the learners will learn how to perform titrations; identify specific chemical molecules and what the effect of temperature is on the rate of a chemical reaction, and a whole lot more. Our first practical sessions started in February, and we are super excited to hear the feedback from our young scientists!

February 18, 2022

Routines for Special Needs Children

How little steps guarantee great results Many children with special needs feel overwhelmed by daily activities such as brushing teeth or getting dressed. A daily schedule of activities with predictable routines for each activity can make the world seem less chaotic and frightening to them. Understanding Schedules and Routines A schedule represents the main activities that happen across your child’s day. Routines are the activities that happen within your schedule. They are repetitive and usually involve a series of little steps. One example of a daily routine is your child’s morning routine and all the steps involved: getting up, going to the bathroom, brushing teeth, getting dressed, having breakfast, packing a school bag, and getting in the car. Children who understand the steps in routines quickly accomplish tasks with little or no adult assistance. Essentially, once taught, routines are daily activities that your child will be able to complete with no assistance. Bear in mind that ‘no assistance’ does not mean ‘no support’. It is important to note that your child’s preferred mode of learning is visual over verbal. Therefore, support can be in the form of a visual schedule or checklist that uses simple language and pictures/symbols. Pictures and symbols make the schedule more real and serve as reminders for your child. The rule of thumb for routines is that visual support must be provided at your child’s level of understanding. How schedules and routines help A consistent daily schedule combined with step-by-step routines helps create a predictable day. Children with special needs feel more confident and secure when their daily activities are predictable and familiar. Everyday activities and routines can provide comfort during challenging and uncertain times. Routines can help them understand what is expected of them in specific environments and life situations. As they can predict what will happen next, how people around them will behave, and what they will need to do, anxiety, as well as maladaptive behaviours, are reduced. Essentially, schedules and routines at home/ school help children with special needs: Feel in control of their environment Feel safe, secure, and comfortable Know what is happening now and what comes next Know how to do an activity or task Engage in learning The positive effect of routines on maladaptive behaviours Both research and experience tell us that it is more effective to build positive behaviour than control negative behaviour. Routines can positively affect your child’s ability to complete routine tasks. At school, routines positively affect their academic performance as well as their behaviour. One proactive strategy I use as a teacher is to adopt consistent classroom routines. Establishing a consistent and predictable routine helps my students complete tasks without my assistance. By doing this, I accomplish two objectives: my students have the opportunity to learn and I can devote more time to actual teaching. I also make use of interactive routines to teach functional communication such as getting the teacher’s attention, appropriate group behaviour, and how to participate in discussions. Using routines at home As a parent, using routines will free up time for you to devote to other things. For example, a routine will help simplify a complex environment like your home and inform your child exactly what to expect, what is expected of them, and what behaviour is acceptable. Routines will allow your child to quickly accomplish day-to-day tasks. Routines will also help create smoother transitions between activities, allowing for fewer opportunities for disruptions to occur. Fewer disruptions result in fewer outbursts and meltdowns. In addition, when your child is expected to complete routine tasks, they have the opportunity to learn greater responsibility and self-management. Routines can also help you teach your child the following: Appropriate social skills Communication skills Self-regulation Your core values and beliefs Establishing Routines To identify potential routines for teaching, all team members who live with and/or work with your child should analyse a typical day and list all the tasks your child has to do. The next step is to perform a task analysis. This involves analysing a specific activity and breaking it down into its individual steps. I suggest that parents and teachers select sequences of activities according to the time of day. For example, a common sequence on a school day morning may be to take off pyjamas, get dressed, eat breakfast, wash up, brush teeth, pack a school bag and get in the car. During school, routines would be related to school activities. It is very helpful for parents and teachers to work together to establish routines. Implementing Routines Your child has to be taught the routine steps systematically until they have mastered the routine. Mastery of a routine means your child can perform all the steps in the routine without adult assistance or prompts. The more systematic and consistent your routines are, the faster your child will learn them. Once taught, these steps should be reviewed and retaught frequently to ensure your child does not deviate from the routine. Children with special needs perform better if there is consistency between your expectations, their responses and your feedback. If you find that your child has made changes to the routine, it may be necessary to review your expectations, then model and provide them further opportunity to practice their performance, to restore a sense of consistency and order. Too many changes will make the routine unpredictable. This could result in your child becoming confused and anxious. Change must be communicated before it happens, using simple language /pictures/symbols. Make sure there is enough time for your child to complete tasks without feeling rushed. Make time to relax into the routine. This will further reduce any anxiety. Using rewards to reinforce routines Providing a reward for completing a routine helps make it a positive experience. Rewards can be anything your child enjoys such as praise, time doing a favourite activity, or attention. Keep in mind that rewards must be earned and not used as bribery. Rewards must also be age-appropriate. Before a routine becomes familiar and

February 17, 2022

WHAT MOMS SHOULD KNOW ABOUT RAISING BOYS

Discipline for both boys and girls is not a one-size-fits-all solution. There are innate differences that must be addressed to help each gender develop appropriately. Since moms do a lot of the discipline, here are 7 suggestions for raising boys. Allow Appropriate Rough-Housing I raised two girls and one boy and it was common to see my girls sitting contently, playing together with their tea set or dolls for long periods of time. This is how girls engage in learning development. My son however, would be banging his trucks together or setting up lines of army men to shoot at each other, all while making loud explosion noises and occasionally flipping upside down as a way of physically acting out the violence he seemed to be creating with his toys. Communicate with Them Directly Two little girls can sit side by side, talking away and hear every word the other is saying without making eye contact. Because this style of communication is innate in mothers, they get frustrated when they issue a command to their son while washing dishes or shout an order from the next room and don’t get the results they are looking for. Successful communication with boys requires getting to their eye level, speaking in a calm tone, and even placing your hands on their arms or shoulders to make a physical connection. Teach Them to Express Their Emotions Boys who are able to feel their own emotions and know how to react to them with appropriate behaviour are more likely to be understanding and respectful of others and their feelings. These boys develop a higher level of emotional intelligence and are less likely to be driven by their anger when things don’t go their way or when someone makes them mad. They also turn out to be great husbands and fathers. Helping your son feel his emotion requires him to feel comfortable expressing what he feels and avoid telling him that “big boys don’t cry.” Provide Them with Positive Male Role Models Boys learn a great deal through what psychologists call observational learning. My grandmother use to call it monkey see, monkey do. A boy learns how to act like a man through the examples set by other men around him. A single mother raising sons needs to find positive role models for them to watch and emulate from, such as her father, brothers, or uncles. Women are nurturers by nature. Once a boy reaches the age of 8, it is not nurturing he needs more, but examples to learn from as he grows into his adolescent years.

February 16, 2022

Taking your young child out of school could cost you more in the long run

Over the past 18 months we have noticed a worrying trend of parents choosing to take their young preschool children out of school, thinking that they can slot back into formal education once things return to normal. As educators and specialists in Early Childhood Development (ECD), we know that the stimulation and consequent growth of the brain, the body and the emotional heart, has an influence on every aspect of your child’s future life. Our advice to parents is to think carefully about what educational building blocks are necessary for their child’s overall development and how best to ensure that your child is in a stimulating environment where the young child’s needs are prioritized. There are no shortcuts when it comes to growth and development, and prioritising early childhood education now (from Grade 000) will set a solid foundation that will significantly impact your child’s success in Primary School, High School and later in life. Why is early childhood education so important? It is well documented that the first 2000 days (or 5 to 6 years) of a child’s life are critical to a child’s development: emotional, cognitive, social and physical. During this time the brain’s architecture is forming and the child’s physical environment has a huge impact on brain development. In the Foundation Phase of a school, we lay the foundations for future learning and for life. This begins with our little preschoolers in the ECD section of the school. The educators are experts on the various childhood development stages and their training and experience means that they can specifically provide what the child needs at crucial moments for their development. How do young children actually learn? Young children learn with their senses: sight, touch, sound, smell, movement and taste. Preschoolers learn through play and it’s important that they have the opportunity to play in a variety of ways all day, every day. Sometimes they learn with their hands, sometimes with their heads, and sometimes with their hearts. In order for brain development to occur, children need certain types of stimulation to create synapses or connections between neurons in the brain. As educators, we want to create plenty of opportunities for those synapses to be created because it helps children to fully understand and process the world around them. According to research by Dr Karyn Purvis, scientists have discovered that it takes around 400 repetitions to create a new synapse in the brain, unless it is done in play, in which case it only takes 10 to 20 repetitions. Let them make a mess. The messier the better! For further cognitive learning to take place, the development of the child’s sensory system is vital. ‘Sensory play’ gives the child the opportunity to see, touch, feel, smell, hear and taste different things. Sensory play is often called messy play. Things used for messy play can be sand, water, mud, sawdust, grains, paint, dough etc. This play should be creative, explorative and experimental. When your child is interacting with these materials through messy play, disorganised information going into the brain throughout the play is then stored in an orderly manner within the child’s brain. In other words, letting children play in the mud literally helps their brains grow, and has a great influence on life-long learning. “The messier a child is when she goes home, the happier I am as I know that her brain is being developed through the creation of new synapses in the brain.” ~ Lynne Elfick, Principal of the Junior Primary, St Teresa’s School. Imagination, fantasy play and emotional development Imaginative and fantasy play give children the opportunity for self-expression and to develop life skills to control impulses, to problem-solve and to make plans. By interacting and engaging with other children, in an environment where caring educators explain and unpack emotions, the child learns to understand different emotions and starts to have an understanding of her own emotions. This then leads to an understanding of others’ emotions, which allows her to respond in an empathetic manner. The young child learns to express her needs in an acceptable manner, to work collaboratively together, to listen to opinions, and to form her own opinion. Debating and negotiating, which are essential life skills, starts at a young age and needs to be guided by caring educators with good values and morals. A happy child is a learning child The child needs to form positive relationships, in a nurturing environment where the educators actively seek a positive connection with each child, allowing her the freedom to feel safe, loved and accepted. This influences the developing brain, and lays important foundations for emotional well-being. This in turn forms a stable and calm state for the brain, which is vital for learning to take place. Put simply, a happy child is a learning child. A sound early childhood education gives your child a solid foundation for life Right from our little ones in Grade 000, we encourage a love of learning by stimulating the child’s natural curiosity. The ‘what’ questions of the toddler are replaced by the ‘why’ questions of the preschooler. A good educator plans well, but then follows the curiosity of the children in her care. There are days where you look back at the end of the day and perhaps not much of what you had planned has taken place, but then when you reflect on what learning has taken place, you cannot help but be content that the children have been engaging with one another and have grown in wonder, curiosity and knowledge. We consider it a privilege to be the custodians of your child’s early childhood education and learning. By Lynne Elfick Principal of the Junior Primary St Teresa’s School in Craighall Park, Johannesburg

February 15, 2022

Acne myths busted with Lamelle Research Laboratories 

Despite being one of the most common inflammatory skin conditions in the world, acne is still very misunderstood. So much so, that myths still abound. Fortunately, at Lamelle Research Laboratories, we’re acne experts that can help you sort the facts from the fiction. Myth 1: Only teenagers get acne Nope, not true! It would be great if acne was a problem you could simply outgrow, but this isn’t the case for everyone. Four main triggers that contribute to acne – skin that doesn’t naturally exfoliate the way it should, leading to a build-up of dead skin cells that can clog the pores; an excess of oil that also gets trapped in pores; infection and inflammation. These triggers can affect both adults and teens, but it’s true, teens are often most affected. This is due to their body’s creating more androgens during puberty, a hormone that can increase the production of oil. You should also know that, regardless of your age, the active ingredients proven to help clear up acne remain the same. This is why Clarity by Lamelle, our incredibly effective acne treatment range, is suitable for acne sufferers of any age. Myth 2: Chocolate causes pimples Chocoholics, you can breathe a sigh of relief! The idea that your favourite chocolate bar could be the baddie behind your breakout has persisted for decades, so much so that multiple studies have been performed to find out. The conclusion is now an extremely mixed bag with some saying that yes, eating chocolate could worsen acne and others saying it had no effect. What we do know, however, is that some research has found a correlation between low zinc levels and acne. To be clear, this doesn’t mean that acne is a sign of a zinc deficiency, but it does mean that, if you have acne, you’re more likely to not be getting enough zinc. Interestingly, the zinc-acne connection makes sense because zinc helps regulate our immune cell response in a way that helps control inflammation, one of the big triggers for a breakout. For this reason, we’ve created Lamelle Acnevelle Plus, an oral supplement that includes zinc glycinate and nicotinamide, a combination proven to help reduce the redness and sensitivity associated with inflammatory acne. Myth 3: You can scrub your way to clear skin Yes, a pimple is the result of a blocked pore, but the idea that you can “empty” these with a scrub is misguided. In fact, harsh, grainy scrubs are one of the worst things you can do to treat a breakout. More often than not, the particle is too big to get inside the pore and, worse yet, the friction will irritate your already inflamed skin, causing it to get even angrier. So, while acne sufferers will definitely want to up your exfoliation, they need to choose their weapons wisely. In this case, gentle chemical exfoliators will do a much better job of gently ridding your skin of the excess skin cells that can clog up your pores. This is why our Clarity collection doesn’t contain a scrub. Instead, it contains a mix of alpha hydroxy acids, non-irritating forms of retinol and salicylic acid to gently increase your skin’s cellular turnover. Myth 4: Getting a tan will help clear up my skin Yes, getting a tan may help temporarily minimise the look of redness associated with acne and, at first, it might feel like it’s helping to dry it up. Alas, all you’re doing is dehydrating and burning your skin causing it to produce even more oil and become inflamed. And guess what that leads to? Yep, a worsening of acne. If you want a golden glow, you might be better off using a self-tanning product. But something all acne sufferers definitely need in their artillery is a good sunscreen, especially since many of the active ingredients proven to help clear up acne, things like exfoliating acids and retinoids, will increase their skin’s sensitivity to the sun. Also, it’s not true that sunscreen will make acne worse – you just have to find one that’s lightweight and non-greasy. The bottom line Ultimately, the more you know about what really causes acne, the better equipped you’ll be to treat it. To learn more, chat with an experienced Lamelle skincare therapist who can help you create a skincare regime that’ll put you on the path to clear, healthy-looking skin.

February 15, 2022

Chicco Bottle Warmer

Keep their meals ready with a handy kitchen appliance that will become your greatest ally in your babies feeding routine, the Chicco Bottle Warmer. In stylish grey and pastel blue, this perfect cooking companion for new parents allows you to plug in and conveniently heat up bottles and small jars without the dangers of boiling pots of water like our parents used to do. Be guaranteed no scalding when you slow heat bottles and preserve the nutritional properties of milk at the same time. With an automatic off switch you will prevent over-heating or kitchen mishaps. The Chicco Bottle Warmer is suitable for all Chicco bottles on the market including the best-selling Natural Feeling range, in glass or plastic. Grab one today and get convenience at your fingertips at participating retailers such as Baby City, Babanino, The Kid Zone, Takealot, Loot and others.

February 14, 2022

Pregnancy: Your body is amazing

So, you have a bun in the oven, what excitement and changes to come. Being pregnant is something to celebrate. Pregnancy is such an amazing miracle of life and is a time of learning. You learn so much about what your body can do. Can you imagine growing your own little human? It that not totally amazing? Pregnancy gives you time to get ready for the birthing and beyond that? Pregnancy is a fantastic time to learn, this way you can make informed choices about your pregnancy care, birth experience and afterwards. There are important things that you need to know about to have a safe and healthy pregnancy. You need to go for regular check ups with your health care provider to monitor you for hypertension, diabetes, infections, and anaemia. You will also then know how your baby is growing. One of the most special times is hearing your baby’s heartbeat for the first time. You can also learn more about healthy eating and what supplements to take while you are pregnant, how to exercise safely, the different ways that your baby can be delivered and how you will look after your baby once she is born. This is the perfect time to learn more about breast feeding. The more you know about feeding before you give birth the easier it will be. If you understand about how breast milk is made you will be mor confidant in your body’s ability to make milk. If you know different ways to latch and what a deep latch it is will make the actual feeding so much easier. Understanding what to expect and normal baby behaviour really helps when you are learning to breast feed. Did you know that a newborn can drink between 8 to 12 times in 24 hours? Include your partner in all the baby related discussions because the both of you can learn and attend classes together. Did you know that your partner plays such an important role in breast feeding? Yes this is true, they can be so helpful with making you comfortable, getting baby in the correct positions for feeding, keeping you hydrated and fed. Not to mention all the other practical things that they can help with like dishes, cooking, bathing siblings and shopping. My Breastpump is so passionate about breastfeeding, education and pumping. Here are a few reasons why, but there are so many more. Breast feeding has positive effects for both mom and baby. Lets start with mom; breast feeding helps to reduce the risk of a variety of cancers, can reduce the risk of developing Diabetes by half if you breast feed for longer than 6 months, you burn between 300-500 calories a day, helps to return your womb to its original size (yes that means it helps to reduce the size of your tummy after birth), the hormones of breast feeding also helps to reduce stress and depression. Now for some of the benefits for baby. It reduces the risk of illness including flu, COVID, diarrhoea, childhood cancers, eczema and ear infections. Breast milk helps to teach the baby’s immune system how to fight infections by passing on the information from the mother’s immune system. Therefore, if a mother is sick, she can continue to breast feed her baby. This is just so amazing! Other benefits are that the muscles used to breast feed help your baby to learn to eat and speak. There are so many different places that you can learn about birthing. It is a good idea to learn more about the difference between a natural birth, c-section and v-bac? Why would you need a Pilates ball, is walking good in labour, what should I pack or even how to choose a good health care provider? What are the pro and cons with each and why would you prefer one birthing type over the other? These are all important and common questions that moms have. My Breastpump have been working closely with Origin Mother and Baby clinic and love the free and paid for classes that they offer to pregnant mothers. You have the option of online or face to face workshops. The Origin antenatal classes give you valuable information about creating your birthing plan, the role of Doula’s, Midwives, pro and cons about midwife lead or hospital lead birthing. They have great interactive conversations with qualified health care professionals. For more information about their pregnancy workshops have a look at their website . Another great pregnancy and mommy classes are BuB Hub as they also have baby classes to help you bond and stimulate your baby as they get older. It is so lovely to join a mommy group and find your tribe. As an extra service to you, My Breastpump provides an hour online personalised breastfeeding workshop for you and your partner. To book the workshop for yourself follow this www.mybreastpump.co.za. You can also find out who your local South African Certified Breastfeeding Consultants or IBCLC is. This way if you need assistance, you will know who to call and how to set up an appointment with them. Why not follow the “My Breastpump” social media pages on Facebook and Instagram where we share great information around breast feeding and pumping? We give information on positioning and good latching, positive stories about breast feeding and also guidelines on how to choose a breast pump, when and how to pump and pumping while back at work. Our page on Facebook is @mybreastpumpsa and @my_breastpumpsa on Instagram. You are welcome to DM us if you are needing more information around pumps and pumping. Enjoy your pregnancy, embrace it and learn about all the weird and wonderful things that you body is doing. You will be amazed at how strong your body is and how prepared you can be for birthing. Your little baby is growing and becoming stronger each day.

February 11, 2022

How to become a super organised Wingulian

At Wingu Academy we encourage our Wingulians to develop good study habits and get organised from the word go. According to daniel-wong.com here are some of the top tips to get organised, focused and avoid falling behind. 1. Develop a routine Consistency is the key to student success. So write down your general weekly schedule and create a routine. Include things like when you’ll do your homework, when you’ll review the things you’ve learned, when you’ll exercise, and so on. It’s not possible to stick to a routine 100% of the time, but at least set up the framework to keep you focused and on track. 2. Set rules for yourself Set some very specific rules for yourself. These could be things like “complete all projects and assignments at least two days before they are due” or “start studying for tests at least one week in advance”. Review your rules once a month and adjust them if necessary. 3. Work on one task at a time; don’t multitask One of the most important organisational tips for students is to focus on one task at a time. Multitasking seems like a good idea because you can pretend that you’re working twice as hard. We all get bored of the tasks we’re working on, so jumping about seems more fun. The problem is that it doesn’t result in the best outcomes. Here’s what I recommend: Take a scrap piece of paper and write down the task you’re working on right now, e.g. Math assignment, questions 1 to 5. Put that scrap piece of paper on your study table, to serve as a reminder for you to stay focused on the task at hand. 4. Keep one notebook and one binder for each subject Take all your notes for one subject in one notebook. When you run out of space, start a new notebook. Label each notebook clearly, e.g. History Notebook 1, History Notebook 2. This will make it easy for you to find the information you need in the future. Don’t take notes on loose sheets of paper you may lose. Also, don’t just use only one notebook, in which you take notes across all your different subjects. 5. Do five minutes of daily planning each day Before you start doing your homework or studying for a test, look at your planner first. Take note of all upcoming deadlines, and think about your schedule for the rest of the day. Then you can decide what specific tasks to work on for the day. Doing daily planning will ensure that you’re always working on the most important tasks, and that you don’t leave anything out. 6. Block out time in your schedule for the things that matter most Blocking out time in your schedule is a critical time management strategy for students. If you don’t do this, other things which are less important will fill your schedule. 7. Break down big tasks into smaller tasks Breaking down big tasks and projects makes them seem less overwhelming and more manageable. Doing this also makes it clearer what your specific next step is, so you’ll be less likely to procrastinate on your assignments. 8. If a task takes two minutes or less to do, do it immediately The “two-minute rule” was popularised by productivity expert David Allen. When you follow this rule, small tasks don’t pile up and become overwhelming. Things like texting a friend, sending your classmate some information via email, or asking your parents to sign a consent form are all quick tasks that take less than two minutes to complete. When you do these tasks immediately, you’ll feel a sense of achievement too. 9. Create a conducive environment at home for studying You need to have the right environment to work. You need all the necessary materials, stationery, paper and study tools. You also need a suitable table and lamp. And if you want to be productive, you definitely shouldn’t study on your bed! 10. Before you start work, eliminate all distractions Take a moment and think about the distractions you typically face when you’re trying to study. Common ones include text messages, notifications on your phone, social media and YouTube. 11. Every day, review all the new information you learned in school earlier that day A quick review of the key concepts should only take you about 20 minutes. Doing this helps to ensure understanding, so you stay on top of the material. If you really can’t do this review on the same day, do it the following day while the information is still fresh in your mind. 12. Keep an ongoing list of the questions you have about the class material As you read your notes and the textbook, keep a list of the things you don’t understand and the questions you have. As soon as you’re able to, ask your teachers about the items on your list. If you do this consistently, you won’t need to spend so much time studying for tests and exams, because you already understand the information. These are only some of Daniel Wong’s tips. He has lots more in his article: https://www.daniel-wong.com/2017/04/10/students-get-organised-for-school/ It may seem overwhelming, but adopting one new habit at a time will take you further then you know until you’re comfortable to tackle the next one. Remember that your journey as a student is about progress and not perfection.

February 11, 2022

CAN YOUR CHILD MASTER MATHS AT ONLINE SCHOOL? 

It’s not just kids, many parents have ‘Maths anxiety’. While, the importance of Maths education is all but universally recognized, if you’re a parent who is not confident about your own Maths abilities, you’re likely to be feeling some stress around how you support your child in mastering Maths. You may even doubt whether it is likely that your offspring can master Maths. When parents were at school, the dominant thought about Maths proficiency was that some kids would be naturally inclined – ‘gifted’ in Maths, most though would struggle along to get average results and there would be others, who would have no hope. Maths education was the process of sorting out who was lucky, not-so-lucky and downright unlucky. Thankfully, this erroneous and harmful idea no longer underpins Maths education, and it’s not an attitude our children should ever encounter in the Maths classrooms of today. Reams of research has attested to the fact that everyone can learn Maths and become proficient. It’s also shown that ‘Maths anxiety’ can be a real roadblock to any child’s potential in mastering Maths. However, for some parents, worries around their child’s Maths abilities may cause them to pour the family’s resources into extra Maths lessons, and also impact on their school choices. Mark Anderson, Principal of Koa Academy, a high-engagement online school says, “I’m really passionate about how we approach Maths at Koa. In fact, more than any other subject, we have seen kids grow in confidence and skill in this area. Last year, for example, we had a boy, who had failed Grade 8 Maths at his local school in 2020, go on to complete two years’ worth of Maths with us in 2021. He wrote his final Grade 9 Maths exams and passed confidently, effectively catching up with his grade age. With a different approach, there are remedies available within the school environment.” That ‘different approach’ includes mastery-based learning which is ideally suited to Maths education where the meaning of numbers and number concepts need to be understood rather than trying to rely on memorizing rules. Maths practice teaches kids how to apply principles to different problems rather than replicating calculations; and, importantly, mistakes are opportunities for reflective learning and doing it again until you get it – rather than never getting a second chance to master a Maths operation and trying to move on with a fundamental Maths learning deficit. It turns out that digital platforms are adept at providing mastery-based learning in Maths. Anderson explains, “When you harness the real strengths of the digital space, Maths can really come alive! We use platforms which are designed specifically to teach Maths online. Content is broken up into focused ‘bite size’ chunks, which are immediately followed by checkpoints which help a learner to know whether they have grasped the concepts or need to revisit them. A learner progresses as they master each concept, rather than learning for 6 weeks only to write a test and find out that they have major gaps in their understanding. It means that you can try something, fail, learn and try it again. This builds confidence – and Maths is such a confidence subject! The platforms are also wrapped up in a gamified environment which is engaging and feels native to the online space. On top of that, at Koa, we know that every learner needs person-to-person academic support at times in Maths. So, we have daily bookable Teacher Time where a learner can book a session with their Pod Teacher or a Maths Subject Specialist to work together on their platform. They’re never alone, and their parents can monitor their kid’s progress daily but do not need to get involved in teaching their kids Maths.” Discover Koa Academy here

February 11, 2022

FYI play it safe TO SCREEN AWARD-WINNING GLOBAL YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH FILM IN SA

Connecting the Dots by award-winning director/producer Noemi Weis will be showing at The Labia Theatre Featuring young people from across the world, documentary film, Connecting the Dots, will be brought to South Africans virtually and on big screens by FYI play it safe, innovator of the parental app that is changing how parents keep their children safer online. Directed by Noemi Weis, Connecting the Dots, which was released in 2020, has been screened at a host of international film festivals, receiving widespread acclaim from critics and viewers. First of its kind, Connecting the Dots offers a no-frills, authentic look at youth mental health around the world. By exclusively showcasing the voices of young people, the film invites educators, parents, families, friends, communities and leaders into a safe space to listen to the lived experiences of this generation of teens and youth. Weis, a mother and a grandmother, has made an esteemed film career focusing mainly on social issues important to women and children. She says, “There is a youth mental health crisis around the globe. Suicide is the number one health-related cause of death for youth. Mental health is the health issue of this generation. There is an urgent call to action being heard globally asking for an elimination of the stigma and shame surrounding youth mental health struggles and demanding an increase in open dialogue and more accessible, relevant and timely support.” Cassey Chambers, Operations Manager at The South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG) says, “There’s significant value in FYI play it safe screening Connecting the Dots for South African audiences. As a nation, we too experience high levels of youth mental health challenges, which is surrounded still by stigma that stifles conversations and inhibits finding solutions. Young people in South Africa who are facing challenges are under-served in their communities when it comes to mental health services. It’s hard to open up and it’s hard to find the help you need. This is an important platform to invite conversation; to inspire us to listen to the voices of our South African youth and to find solutions for what is an increasing problem in our country, that has only been exacerbated by the pandemic over the past two years.” For FYI play it safe founder and CEO, Rachelle Best, who is also mother of a teen daughter, facilitating the first screenings of Connecting the Dots is personal. She says, “Sadly, in 2021, we experienced a significant number of teenage suicides all around us in Cape Town. This happened over a short time and mostly in the same age group as my daughter. I realised that we, as parents, don’t talk enough about youth mental health and we certainly don’t talk to our children about it enough. FYI play it safe is helping parents keep their children safer online by alerting parents if there is any online activity that can indicate depression, self-harm or suicidal ideation. When I first watched the film, I could feel it on my skin. What stood out for me was a scene where a young girl said that she retreated into her room more, because the people who she chatted to online understood her better than the people around her. This was the moment I realised that every parent and every child in South Africa should see this film, and that FYI play it safe can help! We should be part of this global conversation. I got introduced to Noemi Weis, who is the director and producer of Connecting the Dots, and she shared the excitement of FYI play it safe bringing the film to South Africa.” Best sees the upcoming screenings of Connecting the Dots in South Africa as an opportunity to improve teen mental health in the country. “The documentary exposes us to the current global conversation about youth mental health. It creates a bigger awareness that firstly, for our tweens and teenagers, it is healthy to talk about mental health. It is also ‘okay to not be okay’. And it is wise to reach out for help. Secondly, it helps parents and teachers to understand that our tweens and teenagers are actually not okay. They need help and they need us to open up conversations about their mental health to make it easier. We are really hoping for every parent, educator and youth in South Africa to see this film, to raise their hands and to become part of the conversation.” FYI play it safe screenings of Connecting the Dots will take place at The Labia Theatre in Cape Town on 22 February 2022 at 10:00 and 18:00. Tickets cost R120 per person and are available through Webtickets now. The film is recommended for an audience of 12 years + Groups, schools and organisations can also book a bespoke screening of Connecting the Dots, virtually or at their own venues. Contact [email protected] for further information. In partnership with UNICEF, the film offers Facilitators Guides for different target groups to help them guide their screening. Plus a tool kit to help them promote their own screening. https://connectingthedotsfilm.com/resources

February 10, 2022

MOTIVATE YOUR CHILD FOR ACADEMIC SUCCESS

Getting children motivated to learn is a challenge for many parents. Many factors can cause a lack of motivation, including seeing no purpose or value in studying, boring teaching methods, a lack of relevance, inappropriate levels of challenge and an uncomfortable, unsafe or unsupportive learning environment, amongst others. Parents know the importance of their children being motivated to learn and to achieve; however, they often do not know how to get them motivated. As we reflect on our students’ outstanding results in the recent Cambridge International examinations, and on their emotional well-being, we would like to share some ideas to help you motivate and empower your child to achieve academic success. Whilst we believe that Cambridge International is an excellent qualification and it offers an international standard, choice, and flexibility, the guidelines provided here can be applied in general to any qualification. Start with the end in mind It is important for your child to know why they are learning and what their end goal is. Explore future careers Would they like to pursue a professional career? Do they wish to run their own business one day? Would they like to learn a trade? They should start considering these questions as they progress on their academic pathway and it is essential that they do so before they need to choose subjects. Once they have an idea of possible career options, they should start finding out about career paths, and what is required to qualify for possible career choices. They should start researching different careers and qualification requirements, speak to people in the workplace about their careers and how to qualify, find job-shadowing opportunies, and contact professional associations and further education institutions. Consider further study options Once they have an idea of possible career options, they should start contacting further education institutions to find out about the qualifications offered and the entry requirements. Would they like to attend a college or university? Would they like to study in South Africa or at an international institution? Encourage your child to search the internet to find career and qualification information and contact the different institutions to start finding out about possible courses and admission requirements. Choose the right subjects For admission into South African public universities, specific USAF minimum admission requirements apply for exemption for Bachelor degree purposes. Each educational institution also has their own admission requirements for their different courses. Make sure your child chooses subjects which will enable them to meet these requirements. Individualise learning Every child is unique. They have their own interests, strengths and preferred way of learning. Help them design their unique academic plan to meet the admission requirements and to achieve the best possible result in each subject. This plan can be adapted, so that your child enrols for an examination when they are fully prepared and has the best chances of meeting the requirements. Assist your child to plan their study timetable and schedule according to their pace and when they learn best. Some students prefer to focus on one or two subjects a day, whilst others prefer to work on all their subjects every day. They might prefer to start and finish early, or to start and end their academic day later. Provide a structure A sound academic framework helps children to study effectively to achieve their goals. Ensure that realistic timeframes are set to prepare for their planned examinations and that they complete each section of work within these timeframes. Make sure they maintain a regular study routine. Utilise quality resources Ensure that your child makes full use of the syllabus documents, endorsed resources and past examination papers to prepare well for their examinations. Select qualified, experienced subject specialist tutors to guide and support their learning and to inspire them. Encourage active learning Research shows that children learn better if they are actively involved in finding something out, rather than listening and trying to memorise the information and being given the answers. In our experience, an adaption of the “flipped classroom” approach is extremely effective. Using this approach, learners work through the material independently. They then utilise their tutoring time for instruction only in those topics or with problems which they do not understand. Tutors also check learners’ understanding so that they know which areas or topics to revisit. Delegate responsibility for learning Whilst it is important to guide children and to check that they are on track, it is very motivating for children to have control of their learning experience. Allow them to have direct input into their learning and to set their own pace. We find that children learn more effectively and they achieve better results as they are gradually empowered with the responsibility to determine the pace and quality of their learning. Guide and support Parents should gauge the guidance and support each child needs and keep providing this according to their needs as they progress on their academic pathway. Whilst children like to feel in control of their learning, they also need to know that they are not on this journey on their own. Share and celebrate in their successes, continue to keep an eye on their progress, and bring them back on course when necessary. Enjoy the journey with your child.

February 10, 2022

Postpartum recovery – How long does it take and what can you expect?

As a new mom, or a potential new mom, you are probably wondering how long your body will take to recover post birth and pregnancy. The postpartum period is generally regarded as the first six weeks after childbirth. This is an important time for both you and your baby, as you there are lots of emotional and physical adjustments that happen in this period. Recovering from having a baby can be a long process, especially considering that you now have a new baby to look after as well. What can I expect postpartum? Postpartum recovery will differ between moms and pregnancies. If you have opted for a vaginal birth, your vagina will hurt postpartum, and recovery can take 3 to 6 weeks depending on if you had an episiotomy or your perineum tore. C-section incisions can be painful and you can expect a recovery period of 4 to 6 weeks. Initially you may find moving difficult, but it’s important to move a little bit to avoid blood clots. Some new moms can experience difficulty urinating, perineal discomfort or soreness, vaginal bleeding, contractions, constipation and breast tenderness post birth. During the postpartum period you may also feel irritable, anxious or have sudden mood swings, this is also known as the ‘baby blues’ and is caused by hormonal changes in the first few weeks. However, if this period is extended you could be suffering from postpartum depression, and should speak to your doctor about this. How can I help my postpartum recovery? Be aware of pushing yourself to return to ‘normal’ as soon as possible, even if you have had an easy pregnancy and birth, your body has still been through an ordeal and you will need time to recover. Avoid over exercising (even if it’s tempting to get straight back into it!) and trying to socialise too much with friends and family eager to meet the new baby. Don’t be afraid to ask people for space and to limit your baby’s visitors.

February 10, 2022

A Valentine-A-Day for your children

Just in time for Valentines Day, here are 8 tips you can use, one each day leading up to the big day, for demonstrating love to your children. Using a family meeting, have everyone create a craft project that represents love to them.Provide a wide selection of construction paper and craft supplies and allow your children to create whatever comes to mind.Put the creations on display for everyone to see and enjoy, and photograph them to look at for many years to come. Compose a poem about your child or describing how much you love her. Print it off on special preprinted paper with a border that can be purchased at office supply stores. Frame it and hang it on your child’s bedroom wall. You could even include the child’s picture or her foot or handprints if you had them done earlier. Sign it and read it to her nightly Have a movie night with your kids, complete with big pillows to snuggle up with and a big bowl of popcorn. The one difference in making this night special is that the movie being featured will be the home movies you have of your children! Help your child plan a V-Day party with all of her friends. For one activity at the party, provide a personalised mailbox (or bag) for each child. On blank slips of paper, have each child write down words that describe what they like about each of the other kids, one child per slip of paper. They will deposit them in each others mailboxes. Every Sunday night, schedule a date with each of your children for the week to come. Put it on your calendar and tell your child so they will have something to look forward to. Scheduling in these dates ahead of time ensures they will happen. Then everything else that is less important can fill in around them. Why not schedule a date with your significant other as well? Take a picture of you and your child, frame it, and then give it to your child to put in his or her room on the dresser or night table.If you have more than one child, create one for each of them.For an older child, put a picture of the two of you in a locket that the child can wear.This will also help calm a child who feels anxious when being away from the parent. Find a child’s illustrated book that sends a message of love and commit to reading it to your children every night, leading up to Valentines Day. My favourite is the book LOVE YOU FOREVER by Robert Munsch and illustrated by Sheila McGraw.It sends the message that I’ll always love you unconditionally, no matter how you behave and well into your adult years. Toddlers to teens love to be surprised. Hide a small valentine, an encouraging note, or a small valentine chocolate somewhere for them to find each day leading up to Valentines Day. Get creative and mix it up.You could also leave a note each day in one place that contains clues to helping them find what you’ve hidden.

February 9, 2022

Hi Baby nappies’ super absorbent core

The Super Absorbent Core of Hi Baby nappies are the heart and soul of our nappies. When it comes to caring for your little human, other than a parent’s loving arms, it is the surface area of the nappy that holds the most responsibility. The inner surface of the nappy you put on your baby’s bottom will be in contact with your baby’s skin for prolonged periods of time so why would you want to put anything other than an AAA grade Hi Baby Premium Nappy on that bum? Excess moisture in a nappy causes maceration of the skin surface (where skin gets lighter in colour and goes all wrinkly… such as when you have been sitting in the bath for too long) and ultimately leads to skin breakdown which may result in secondary fungal, yeast and bacterial infections which thrive in a warm moist environment … especially in this summer heat! Prolonged skin contact with urine and feces irritates the skin, leading to inflammation and further skin breakdown. Contact dermatitis is especially common when babies have diarrhea, often paired with illness or teething. A super absorbent nappy core ensures a dry nappy surface protecting baby’s sensitive skin from nappy rash. How do Hi Baby nappies absorb and retain so much moisture? Along with the incredibly soft top inside layer, the nappy’s inner core is made up of Super Absorbent Polymers (SAPs). SAPs look like little crystals when they are dry, but when exposed to moisture they swell up and turn into a gel-like substance. SAPs can absorb up to 30 times their own weight in fluid (kind of like a pregnant woman… or at least it feels that way) ensuring that the nappy absorbs moisture and locks it away. SAPs cannot dissolve in water and can tolerate weight/pressure so that, even with a baby bouncing on the nappy, moisture does not get released back to the nappy surface, keeping your little one’s skin safe and dry. An added bonus is that Hi Baby Premium Nappies and Pull Up’s are free from Oxymethylene, Flourescer and Brightener, making them gentle and safe on baby’s skin without chemical smells. The outer layer of the nappy is just as soft – it does not have a plastic feel to it, and it breathes, eliminating excess ‘humidity’ on the inside of the nappy. When thinking about it, one could easily compare a mother to a Hi Baby Nappy or Pull Up. Like the outside of our nappies, a mother brings that soft and gentle element into a home … and she is beautiful too (just like our nappies). The inner soft layer is like a mother’s gentle touch; that loving hug, that gentle hand wiping away tears. She is that protective barrier between her little human and the big bad world, protecting her little one to the best of her ability, regardless of the circumstances. A mother is absorbent, just like the core of a Hi Baby Nappy or Pull up. Her heart is full of Super Absorbent Polymers … taking in each moment of her little one’s fleeting childhood, and sealing it in, not releasing it from her heart again. From the moment you found out that you were pregnant, coming to terms with the fact that this little person is yours, and embracing it. Feeling your unborn baby kick for the first time. Sealing in the moment you looked at your newborn for the first time … vowing that you would protect him/her against all odds. Just like the nappy takes a few blows when a baby is bouncing all over it; so too does a mother’s heart. Sometimes your little one will get, sometimes it feels like they are hurting you on purpose … but it does not change the fact that you would do anything to protect them from harm and keep them safe. From now on, every time you change your little one’s Hi Baby Premium Nappy or Pull up, take a moment to hold that full dry-surfaced nappy in your hand (yes, regardless of what is in the nappy) and remind yourself to absorb every moment, every phase, and every stage. Seal it in your heart where not even the toughest situations in life can take that from you because you are a mother: with a heart full of Super Absorbent Polymers! Until Next Month, Sr Jessica Bredenkamp (Registered Midwife (BCur) & Mom)

February 9, 2022

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