Advice Column - Parenting Hub

Advice from the experts

Chicco Ultra Soft Baby Carrier

Now in South Africa on an even bigger scale, the world-famous Italian baby products Chicco bring you the fantastic Ultra Soft Baby Carrier. A 2-in1 system, the carrier allows your child to face inwards towards the parent for comfort, or outward to face the wide world and explore. Made with a soft, mini-vented lining, mesh side panels and adjustable side straps, the Ultra-Soft is also machine-washable. With an added bib and two mesh storage pockets, the design is slick yet generic enough to match any occasion or outfit. An added cuddle pocket helps create a sense of closeness to the parent during sleepy time. The Chicco Ultra Soft Baby Carrier is available from December at Baby City, Babies R Us, Hamleys, www.takealot.com, www.loot.com and other retailers. Grab one now for R799.99.

December 12, 2018

Global Trends of Education Influencing Education of the Future

Nelson Mandela once said, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” At Capriccio! Arts Powered Pre-school and Preparatory we have taken this to heart and designed a unique, innovative curriculum which focuses on equipping our learners for the future by integrating global education trends into the framework of our learning offering. To equip our learners with the skills necessary to conquer the future we place emphasis on the following key elements: → CRITICAL THINKING AND PROBLEM SOLVING We focus on teaching our children to ask questions and think for themselves, fostering their ability to reason and creatively solve problems. → COLLABORATION AND LEADING BY INFLUENCE We endeavour to instil in each child the value of being a good team player, to know their own strengths and talents – this enhances the learning environment and encourages co-operative and independent learning. → INITIATIVE AND ENTREPRENEURIALISM We inspire our learners to become creators and change-makers. We provide them with the tools necessary to utilize their individual abilities and foster their ability to use them to meet economic opportunities in their future. → GOOD ORAL AND WRITTEN COMMUNICATION We aim to provide our children with a platform to convey their ideas and emotions clearly and concisely, empowering and encouraging global awareness, and confidence for public speaking. We believe all of these skills are essential to ensure our learners are prepared to succeed in life and reach their full potential. For more information on our innovative approach to pre-primary and primary education visit www.artspreshool.co.za.

December 12, 2018

Routines – are they really necessary?

We know that having a routine is important for children in their early developmental years, but let’s unpack why it is so beneficial to their overall level of well-being. Young children do not have a concept of time and thus they cannot judge the passing of minutes, hours and days. The only way they can understand the passing of time is through events e.g. nap time, dinner time, bath time, bed-time, play-time, story-time etc. This understanding of the sequence of different events in their day gives them a sense of predictability and structure which makes them feel more secure in that they know what to expect. Just as routine and predictability are vital, experiencing change is also an important step in a child’s development. Having a set routine and a strong sense of security in that routine allows children to be able to approach any changes calmly and with confidence. Coping well with a change then helps them to develop a sense of mastery in dealing with the unexpected and as this sense of mastery is strengthened, they can then feel confident to tackle larger changes. However, without the foundation of structure and routine, they are likely to experience fear and anxiety when faced with the unknown and this will reinforce that they are not able to cope and can result in avoidance of anything unknown or unfamiliar. Here are some of the benefits of having a routine at home: Children are likely to be better sleepers if they have a regular routine for nap-times and bed-times. Their body clock can adjust to their routine making it easier for them to regulate themselves. The same is true for having regular mealtimes and they are likely to be better eaters. Having a consistent time for meals will result in better bowel routines. Children who have a set routine are less likely to have meltdowns and display extreme emotional reactions to things. This is because of the sense of predictability and safety that goes along with knowing what to expect and reduces feelings of stress and anxiety. Routines help with establishing expectations e.g. children begin to expect and complete activities without issue e.g. “after play-time we need to pack away all the toys”. This then reduces the need for parents having to nag and repeat themselves as children know exactly what is expected of them. Having a routine can help with developing healthy habits e.g. the knowledge that every day after breakfast and before bed, teeth need to be brushed! A routine at home makes it easier to adapt to a routine at school. If your child attends extra-mural activities for e.g. Toptots, it is important to stick to the weekly routine as it helps children to feel comfortable with the environment, the other people (parents and children) and with the activities. It is important to remember that programmes like Toptots (and other extra-murals) often follow a particular sequence of steps and each week builds on the skills of the previous week.

December 11, 2018

Former Springboks to offer up their expertise to schools

OPPORTUNITY TO SPEND THE HOLIDAYS WITH RUGBY ROLE-MODELS Former Springboks, professional coaches and provincial players are offering parents a solution to the dilemma of keeping the kids entertained during the school holidays with fun, educational courses. Taking place from 13 to 19 December at St Charles College, players aged 7 to 17 and coaches of all levels will have the opportunity to learn from these role models as part of the Investec International Rugby Academy’s December holiday courses. Grounded in the belief that a solid knowledge of the basic elements of rugby are essential components to the development, safety and success of the game, the Academy will include former Springboks Bryan Habana, Braam van Straaten, John Smit, André Pretorius and Ian MacDonald, as well as iconic international coaches’ Ian McIntosh, Dick Muir and many more. “Together we all have a great deal of specialisation and by bringing this sort of expertise together sets a certain standard. We aim to give players the right knowledge for the right start,” says former All Black Captain and Academy mental toughness coach, Murray Mexted. Regardless of team, school or level of the game, these greats hope to inspire a passion for the game in young players and teach them valuable life skills, while fast-tracking their abilities by transferring an understanding of what it takes mentally, behind-the-scenes and on field to become a professional. “We put players in pressure situations to learn to make decisions and, also, not to be scared when they make mistakes. A platform like the Academy is a great way to enhance yourself as an individual and as a player or coach, and to be able to be taught by players who have experienced the professional game – you can’t get a better area to learn from,” says current Sharks consultant coach and former Springbok Assistant Coach, Dick Muir. Understanding that school coaching goes hand-in-hand with developing future talent, the Investec International Rugby Academy also focuses on keeping coaches up-to-date with the latest, international coaching methods to maintain the professional standard from an early age. “Knowledge-sharing, especially amongst coaches, is one of the most important things in the game. If we can introduce an environment or culture of knowledge-sharing by creating a network amongst players and coaches, it makes everyone comfortable to, not only learn something new, but to be able to impart something that has worked for them,” says former Springbok Captain, John Smit. Position-specific coaching, skills work and mental toughness are high on the learning agenda for all age groups. High school players (ages 13 to 17) are offered two options – a 5-Day Players Course and an Advanced Players’ Course (seven days), while primary school players (ages 10 to 12) spend four days in the Intermediate Players’ Course, and junior primary players (ages seven to 9), three days focusing on the building blocks of playing a safe game in the Prestige Players’ Course. “There’s always a feeling of character on the Academy’s courses; character players and coaches that you meet here,” says former Springbok, André Pretorius. For more information about The Investec International Rugby Academy’s Courses, taking place during the school holidays from 13 to 19 December at St Charles College in Pietermaritzburg, visit www.investecacademy.com or contact Greg or Bernadine Miller on (031) 940 5565.

December 10, 2018

Chicco Cosmos Car Seat

Chicco car seats are known for being some of the most high quality, yet affordable car seats in the world. As from January 2019, Chicco will now have a range of car seats, baby nursery furniture, strollers, travel systems and other indoor necessities never before seen in SA. One of the best priced car seats in the Chicco range is the Cosmos – the car seat that will take care of your child on a 4 year journey. Cosmos is the Chicco Group 0 + / 1 car seat designed for transporting children up to 18 kg in weight in cars, approved according to ECE R44 / 04. The reducer cushion is great for little ones to be held snug and can be removed as the child grows and the seat becomes wider and more welcoming. The reclining nature of the seat and the exceptional comfort make the Cosmos great for younger babies. The cover is removable and washable. The Chicco Cosmo is available from January at Baby City, Babies R Us, Hamleys, www.takealot.com, www.loot.com and other retailers for R2499.99.

December 10, 2018

Review: Chicco Boppy Pillow

I was recently offered the chance to test one of the best selling feeding pillows – the Boppy – and it was just what I needed. I recently gave birth to twins and while the one is still in hospital (twin A), this provided me with the opportunity to bond with twin b at home. While twin B is at home, I thought this would be the perfect opportunity for us to bond and for me to feel like a mom. It has been really hard not having both twins at home so the Boppy came at the perfect time. I had breastfed my eldest son exclusively for 6 months and this time round I had planned to do the same with the twins! Turns out, life has other things planned but the Boppy Pillow made life easier. The Boppy was launched in South Africa this year by Chicco and is stocked through the following retailers from December: Baby City, Babies R Us, Hamleys, www.takealot.com, www.loot.com at R799.99. This multi-purpose feeding and support pillow has been scientifically studied and ergonomically shaped to ensure that mother and baby breastfeed in exactly the right position. This helps to relieve stress and tension (you can only imagine how stressed I am with my little one in hospital still) It makes for peaceful feeding for both parent and baby aiding in bonding with my baby. When baby and I are in the right position, he just seems to latch on easier making sure that we have a nice and easy feed. After feeding, I was able to prop baby up to reduce the risk of reflux…. Its like my little has their very own baby nest! I did not know that this Boppy Pillow would become such a big part of my daily routine! I certainly like that when the littles get a little older that we can use the amazing supportive pillow as a prop cushion to help the twins learn how to sit. All in all it’s a fantastic product. A good investment if you’re planning to breast feed for a good few months! When twin A is home, we will be able to prop baby up and dad can get in on the feeding as well! The covers are removable so this make it easy to keep clean. It is noted that you can use the Boppy Pillow up until around 6+ months… certainly a great investment.

December 7, 2018

Chicco Boppy Nursing Pillow

The Boppy Pillow from Chicco is a revolutionary product that has taken the world by storm – not just for its innovation, but for the outstanding quality that sets it apart from its many copycats. The Boppy is the ideal support for mum and baby during breastfeeding. Thanks to its unique features and the special padding, it helps mums to have a comfortable position, avoiding painful, achy arms, shoulders and neck whilst nursing. The fibre grants the correct and comfortable position for the baby during breastfeeding and cuddles. The “Miracle Middle™” make the pillow flexible in order to fit to most waists. And that’s just the benefits for mom! When baby starts to grow and sit, the pillow acts as a sturdy support, guaranteed to not let them fall as they lean against it during relaxing time. It’s also a fantastic support for tummy time play. The Boppy pillow is available in a number of different patterns, with removable, washable covers and is available from December at Baby City, Babies R Us, Hamleys, www.takealot.com, www.loot.com and other retailers for R799.99.

December 6, 2018

Individualism and learning synergy

The traditional educational system generally expects students to all act, think and talk the same. This challenges individualism. School’s need to understand what being an individual means to students and their learning. Creating a learning environment that allows students to embrace their individualistic views and interests is a platform provided to create self-confident citizens that think outside the box and make connections beyond content alone. Allowing a student to express their individualism provides opportunities for self-realisation. This assists with decision making when students are choosing subjects and career paths. As lifelong learners, students should not only be encouraged to study subjects offered in schools but also consider authentic, real life learning related to the changing world we are apart of. Students need to be challenged with self-discipline; a simple school tradition that challenges this are school bells that indicate time allocated to classes. Teaching students to keep track of their own time creates a sense of autonomy, time and self-management. Life after school does not include bells that help guide time allocated to tasks. A school like Abbotts College provides a variety of situations students manage and are responsible for their own time-management. A typical day at school is very structured and time bound where generally students only have access to teachers during school time. This means that if students have queries about their studies, it will often have to wait for the next day. This creates frustration and loss of interest by students. Abbotts College students have the unique privilege of engaging with their teachers till 7pm every evening during the week. This gives students extended time to consult. Another factor that enhances individualism is social independence which teenagers find challenging to practice. Students continuously feel the pressure to conform to social norms and are often searching for a sense of acceptance. Policies are implemented to conduct the successful operation of a school however some of the rules and regulations that form part of these policies challenge individualism which could limit a student’s potential as a balanced individual. Students want to be accepted as unique individuals and this should be encouraged in schools. Every student has their own way of interacting, connecting, understanding and learning, and this should be integrated into the teaching and learning experiences taking place at schools. Individualism and learning are two complimentary factors that encourage self-actualisation and allow a student to flourish academically, socially, mentally and physically through more confidently expressing and accepting themselves as evolving and unique young adults. Written by: Kumari Lewis, Public Relations assistant at ADvTECH Schools

December 6, 2018

The conversations we need to be having with our school-leavers

The face of parenting changes year by year, as our children grow and develop their own personalities, interests and expectations of life! Cindy Glass, Director and Co-founder of Step Up Education Centres elaborates by explaining “We have been there from the new-born phase – supporting, encouraging, nurturing and guiding them as best we can – in a world that is rapidly changing and in communities that have challenges all of their own. Many parents are entering yet another phase of their children’s development – the excited, anxious, energised, slightly stressed school-leaver! Life, as we know it, can be a cruel adventure!” So what conversations should we be having with our children as they prepare to face life as ‘new-born’ adults? You can only give to others how you feel about yourself. Negative behavioural choices are rooted in fear and a lack of self confidence and self-esteem! Self-awareness and self-respect are key elements in ensuring that you treat others as you wish to be treated! Honour yourself and never stop trying to be the very best version of who you are! Mistakes and failures are inevitable! USE these experiences as learning opportunities to grow in confidence and skill! OWN your mistakes and look for ways to find positive solutions! Choices have a buddy called Consequences! Life is about making choices-every second of every day and facing the consequences of those choices. Don’t blame others for the choices that you have made! Seek to learn from negative choices and use the opportunity to find ways to lift yourself up again. As you learn to honour and respect yourself, aim to pour this into the world. Use every opportunity to be kind to others-remembering that we are all on this earth to learn and grow. Kindness, gentleness and friendliness don’t cost a cent, but they have immeasurable value! It is ok to say NO! You do not have to get involved in anything that does not feel right and good to you. Protect your energy and happiness by saying no to circumstances and pressures that do not add value to your life! Again, saying no in a respectful manner costs nothing. It will show others the strength of character that you have and that is valuable! Think big! Be determined! Be courageous! BUT, allow yourself to be vulnerable and human as well. You may feel sad, angry, despondent, frustrated or lonely from time to time. That is ok. Just do not let these moments define who you are! Feel them, own them and then rise again! Cindy concludes up by saying “Life is a woven tapestry of experiences, adventures, hurts and joys! Embrace every opportunity and choose to LIVE the best life possible, no matter what challenges may come your way! Happiness comes from within and there IS a solution for every challenge!”

December 5, 2018

Dealing with first year failure- temporary setback, not lifelong failure

Thousands of first year students receiving their end of year results are having to face up to the fact that their dreams for the future are not materialising quite as they expected when they walked through the doors of higher learning at the start of the year. And while many of these students may consider throwing in the towel, that would be a mistake, an education expert says. “First-year dropout rates are sky-high in South Africa,” says Peter Kriel, General Manager at The Independent Institute of Education, SA’s largest private higher education provider, “but students who don’t successfully make the transition from school to university on their first attempt shouldn’t be discouraged. Instead, they should re-assess their situation and continue on their higher learning path with a new strategy.” While statistics vary, it is estimated that more than 40% of students quit their studies after their first year. Some put the figure as high as 60%. “If you failed or performed badly in your first year, you should not view this as an eternal pronouncement on your ability (or lack thereof) to make a success of your studies and ultimately earn a degree,” says Kriel. “There are many, many young people who don’t achieve optimally right from the start, and by asking yourself a few questions about your direction and looking clearly at your options, you can still go forth confidently and make a success of higher learning,” he says. Kriel says while there are many underlying issues which contribute to first year failure, including factors such as difficulty adapting to the new environment and workload, as well as socio-economic or personal factors, a major contributor to first-year dropout is the fact that many students didn’t thoroughly do their homework before deciding what to study and where. Too often, prospective students simply go the traditional and some would say outdated route of signing up for a generic degree at their nearest public university, and then find themselves having to burn the midnight oil trying to digest information in which they have little interest, and which doesn’t seem to correlate closely to anything practical that can be applied in the workplace. “As a result, there is this disconnect between what the student is required to engage in day in and day out, and what they envision will be necessary to get their foot in the door in the ‘real world’ of work. “So the first step for students who either failed their first year, or who passed but just can’t see themselves continuing on their current path, is to take a step back and re-assess what they want and where they are going.” Importantly, they need to approach this with the commitment that they will continue and see through their studies, even if it means finding a different approach that makes more sense for them personally, Kriel says. Then they should do one (or a combination of) the following: WORK HARDER The volume and complexity of the workload increases exponentially between school and higher education. If it is simply a case of you having misjudged what is required of you, undertake to start afresh next year and put in the effort consistently, from day one. WORK SMARTER Sometimes too much time and attention are given to one or two areas of work, while others are neglected. Sometimes the way you approach certain tasks is not as efficient as it could be. Here is it helpful to ask your institution’s career centre or student advisors (a good institution must offer these services), for help and guidance with your study strategy. FIND WHAT WORKS FOR YOU If a student isn’t pursuing a field that makes them excited about their learning and ultimately their future career, they are bound to lose momentum and interest in completing their studies. If it is clear at this stage that a first year’s chosen qualification isn’t working out, it is better to pursue a new path, rather than spending time and money trying to make the wrong one work. But very importantly, when considering a different qualification, students must ensure they properly research all available offerings. There are many new and exciting fields with work-focused qualifications that students may not even have been aware of in the past. FIND AN INSTITUTION THAT WORKS FOR YOU Higher education is no walk in the park, and making the transition from being assisted by teachers who know your name at school, to being a number sitting in front of a lecturer who needs to get hundreds of students through the year’s curriculum, can be daunting. That is why it makes sense to find a higher education institution which is able to offer smaller class sizes and individual attention, which makes a marked difference to individual student outcomes. “Our message to discouraged first years is to not give up. Don’t view your past year as a wasted one – no education is ever wasted. Take the lesson and make the corrections where needed, and build on what you’ve achieved thus far,” says Kriel.

December 5, 2018

Smart and practical gifting ideas for this holiday season

You’ve made that gift list and checked it twice … and you just can’t see how on earth you will be able to afford it this season. You are literally wishing that Santa could swoop in with his sleigh of toys to help provide for the friends, your family, and your coworkers who expect something from you. And yes, a credit card could solve all of your problems, but for now only – you will get nasty surprise in January and probably end up paying off the Christmas debt well into March. But instead of pulling out that nasty credit card or raiding the closet for re-gifts (scented candle and bubble bath anyone?), you have a few other options. You probably don’t realise it, but the people on your list might be just as relieved as you to do away with a gift exchange, and these ideas below can really help in finding meaningful ways to bond, celebrate your friendships, and even give back to others without having to go into debt. Non-material gifts for family For young kids, wrapped presents can be a really important part of their holiday (the expectation is there!), but there’s no need to give that up. But minimising material gifts can really help your family save money and rather spend quality time together. Children will remember the experiences you create whilst on holidays more than what they will remember about the presents they got. Just think back to when you were a child – do you remember the presents or the moments? It’s not unheard of these days where parents find it easier to make a mutual decision to her ratskip gifting each other presents, saving the money for either a family goal (pay off a little bit more on your house or reducing that expensive short term debt) or a family experience. And while you may find yourself buying a few small material presents for young kids, getting them excited about an experience (the present that can’t be wrapped and put under the tree) can help them begin to understand the value of family time and experiences rather than things. A coupon book A homemade coupon book is classic homemade gift for a reason! Building a coupon book for each child (or your partner) to cash in throughout the year lets them know how much you treasure the unique bond you have. These “goods” can be as simple as baking cookies together, have movie night with popcorn and pizzas, control of the TV control for a weekend, or bedtime two hours later than usual. Not only can these be fun to use throughout the year they can also help you find those experiences and special time spend with each child. A plan for organising family photos, documents, and memories If you’re stumped for gifts for extended family, conquering old photo albums and documents is a huge undertaking that everyone would appreciate. Taking the lead on deciding how and where photos and mementos should be kept, organized, and distributed, or setting up a virtual cloud of family photos for distribution, is a really big gift. Instead of exchanging gifts, family members can come together with items related to the history of the family and then throughout the year, various people can take the lead on organising and distributing them. Non-material gifts for friends and coworkers Gift exchanges between friends can become difficult and not to mention, pricey. Not only that, but a candle here, a mug there, and it’s all too easy for a gift exchange to feel like you’re simply swapping through the same boring presents. This year, instead of gifts, propose these options: Take something off their to-do list: From cleaning the house to putting air in tires, to picking up kids from school, one person’s dreaded chore or procrastination is another person’s No Big Deal! This year, make a plan to exchange dreaded to-do list items, with the idea that everyone will get something they truly need and value — and have been putting off for way too long. To make the process fair, add some guardrails, like time limitations. Contribute to a shared gift: If you work with a tight group of coworkers, suggest everyone pitch in R50 for an epic sweets and chocolates drawer. If you and your friend always get together for a drink, consider chipping in and sharing a wine or beer of the month club. The idea here is to think of potential gifts-that-keeps-on-giving that can benefit all, and also offer an excuse to get together. Write a note of appreciation: If your usual office or friend holiday gathering includes a gift exchange, suggest that this year, you each take the time to write a short note or a poem about what the other person has done this past year that you admire or appreciate. It doesn’t need to be elaborate. Taking the time to reflect on how important a person is to you, or even just how amazing their Google Sheets skills are, can be a great (and memorable) way to bond without breaking the bank. Start the conversation surrounding gifts now Of course, you should still give presents if you want to — but if this becomes stressful and anxiety filled, then it may be time to speak up that this year you would like to do things differently. Trust us, you will be surprised in how many of your family, friends and co-workers will support you. It’s difficult out there for everyone! By prioritizing relationships and experiences rather than things, you’re setting the stage for plenty of memories and laughter. You might be saying what others are thinking. Putting this idea out there can ensure that everyone’s on the same page without any awkwardness or resentment— or unwanted bubble bath. Hero Life is a company that offers a free online Will, helps you to start saving for your kids’ education, and offers life insurance, designed specifically for young parents. Hero Life is

December 4, 2018

Matric results scenario planning – know your options for any outcome

The period between the last exam paper and the release of Matric results are some of the most anxiety-inducing, nail-biting weeks of school-leavers’ lives. What should be a period of rest and relaxation as young people make the transition between school and further studies, is often marred by questions about “what if”. “It’s important to be able to use this time to reflect and look forward to future plans, but because there are so many possible scenarios that may arise from one’s Matric results, this time is too often spent stressing – both on the part of learners and their parents or guardians,” says Dr Gillian Mooney, Dean: Academic Development and Support at The Independent Institute of Education, SA’s largest private higher education institution. “Instead of stressing, now is the time to consider what you can control and to let go of what you cannot control. For example, the exams are over – you cannot change the outcome, or the exam results. What you can control is how you react to this outcome, and you can start to plan for a range of possible outcomes,” she says. Mooney says that there are established potential scenarios for which Matriculants can and should plan after writing their last paper. “If you know what to do after receiving your results, regardless of what the outcome may be, you’ll be able to relax and regroup so that you enter the new year refreshed and ready to take on the next phase of your life,” she says. She adds that parents and guardians in particular need to get in the right frame of mind ahead of the release of the results, so that whatever happens, they are well-positioned to either help their child make a successful transition, or deal constructively with any challenges that may arise. “Parents who are concerned that their child may not have performed as well as hoped, need to be particularly cognisant of how their reaction to results may impact on the ability of their child to bounce back should results be disappointing,” she says. “For these parents and learners, it will be particularly helpful to discuss potential scenarios in coming weeks, and be ready with a plan of action on how to manage the situation if indeed the learner’s results were below par. In addition, parents must manage their own emotions while remembering an over-the-top reaction may make an unnecessary but long-term impact.” So at this stage, it is helpful to stand back and objectively consider what options are open to both successful and not-so-successful Matriculants, Mooney says. “Always keep in mind that there are indeed options, no matter what your results.” SCENARIO 1: OPTIONS IF YOU RECEIVE A FAIL MARK Sit for the supplementary examinations. Send papers for either a re-mark or re-check. Return to school and re-register for matric. Register at another school to complete matric. Complete matric via distance learning. SCENARIO 2: OPTIONS IF YOU PASS, BUT NOT WELL ENOUGH FOR DEGREE STUDY Send papers for either a re-mark or re-check. Enrol for a Higher Certificate at a higher education institution, which can give access to degree study. Enrol for a Diploma which can give access to degree study. SCENARIO 3: OPTIONS IF YOU PASS, BUT NOT WELL ENOUGH TO ACCESS YOUR FIRST CHOICE OF DEGREE OR INSTITUTION Re-do the relevant subjects to attain the required marks. Investigate other options – look at different public universities or private higher education institutions. Whether public or private, all institutions set their own minimum criteria. An institution where the demand outweighs the availability of space as often occurs in the public sector, may set this bar quite high regardless of the objective quality of the education and qualification at that institution. Look at different qualifications within your field of interest, as there may be countless exciting offerings at institutions you may not have considered before. Other institutions may also have made provision for students who require more support, and will therefore have more accommodating admission requirements. SCENARIO 4: BETTER THAN EXPECTED RESULTS Great results mean greater options, so use the opportunity to review whether you are really on board with your chosen qualification and institution, before spending precious time and money pursuing a path that isn’t perfect for you. Investigate further than the road everyone is travelling, by researching niche offerings that may be a better fit and provide greater access to high-growth, high-demand career paths. “No matter what happens in January when results are announced, knowing now how you will handle any eventuality will make for a more peaceful, less stressful December, and will go a long way towards averting unhelpful tension within families and for young adults as the moment of truth nears,” says Mooney.

December 3, 2018

12345…maths for your toddler!

If you always thought that mathematics only revolved around numbers, think again! “There is a myriad of concepts that can help to prepare your child for school related mathematics,” says Liz Senior, Founder of Clamber Club and Occupational Therapist. “Pre-arithmetic readiness includes memory and sequencing abilities, the ability to understand shape, form and volume,” explains Liz. “It requires the child’s understanding of size, position, length and quantity,” she adds. Montessori found that learning about numbers requires 3 stages: The ability to sort objects into sets. Before your child can identify for example, 3 cars as being part of the same `set’, he needs to understand why they belong together. To do this, he needs to recognise the properties that cars have in common. The ability to match or pair one set of objects with another set. For example, there is one bead in this set and one shell in that set. Give the child another bead and another shell and see if he can match them together with the first set into pairs. This means that he will have 2 beads, and two shells. The ability to compare. A child needs to understand that two stones are less than 3 stones, and that 4 stones are greater than 3. Once he can do this, he can put things in an `order’. Liz shares with us a few activities that will give you some ideas of `mathematic fun’ on a daily basis. Use them as the opportunity arises, remembering where possible to talk about what you are doing, as the physical experience and the verbal reinforcement can help to consolidate many basic concepts. As you go, provide your child with opportunities to touch things, move them around, compare them, to climb over, through, under and on top. Allow and encourage him to experiment! Numbers Rhymes such as “1, 2 buckle my shoe,” or “12345 once I caught a fish alive” can be sung with your child even before he has a concept of the words. This verbalisation helps your child to memorise the names of numbers, particularly those from one to ten. Songs, finger exercises and rhymes with rhythmical number verbalisations all help to establish basic `rote’ counting and provide an introduction to numbers. Gradually your child will learn to count objects and understand the meaning of two or three. Quantity When you talk to your child, include quantity in your conversation – He has “lots” of books, and I have only a “few.” He has “more” hair than you have. You have “less than” him. Put different amounts of cereal in two bowls. Discuss which one has the most cereal and which one has the least. Which one would he prefer? Position and sequence When walking around together, try walking in a row. Who is in front, who is in the middle and who is last? Who is behind who? Swop positions and encourage your child to say where he is – in the middle, at the back or in the front. This game, once played on a physical level, can also be played using dollies and teddies or building blocks Understanding position and sequence is essential to understanding numbers and mathematics. For example, which number comes before number 5? or which number comes after seven? Length Take out some playdough and make roly poly worms together. Make long worms and short worms. Which worm is the longest and which is the shortest? Look in the mirror together and compare heights. Who is the tallest, who is the shortest? Size Collect some cardboard boxes – shoe boxes, apple boxes, fridge boxes, and cereal boxes. Ask your child to put objects in the biggest box, the smallest box. See how many objects do you have to put in the box until it is full. Which box can he fit into? For the older child, put boxes in a row from biggest to smallest. Mix beads together of different size. Show your child how to sort the beads by size into different containers. Start off with only 2 sizes and then add as your child becomes more adept. (The ability to sort into sets is a basic mathematic requirement) Shape Shapes described in mathematical terms are everywhere. Diameters, circumferences, to the square of, measurement of space – all relate to shape. Look out for square and rectangular boxes (cereal boxes, tea boxes, shoe boxes) circles (bowls, bottles, balls) and triangles (Toblerone chocolate!) Point them out to your child, discuss the shapes. Go on a shape hunt in the kitchen. Put some containers with different shape and size lids out for your child to match. Mass Look for heavy and light objects to experiment with. A bag of stones can be heavy, and you need to be strong to carry them. A balloon is light and can be hit up in the air. Explore the same concept in the bath with floating objects and sinking objects. Which object is the heaviest and which the lightest? Guess which one will float or sink. Volume Put some Tupperware containers into the sandpit to play with. Make some full of sand and leave some empty. How much sand will fit in the bucket until it is full? The same concept can be used in many ways. Your cup is full and now that you’ve drunk the water it’s empty. Show your child how to pack things in and out of boxes. Thickness Baking activities are wonderful for describing many of these concepts! Squash the dough until you have a thin layer or make a thick layer instead. Make thick biscuits and thin biscuits, big biscuits and small biscuits – and of course, count the biscuits! Cut a thick slice of bread and a thin slice of bread, look at a thick book that has many pages or a thin book. Discuss the thickest and the thinnest. Fractions Use the idea of fractions in your daily activities. Cut the bread in half, or into

November 30, 2018

When To Consider Introducing Complimentary Feeding

Complimentary feeding is a process in which you begin to introduce other food substances apart from breastmilk into your child’s diet. There are many benefits to this practice. However, more importantly, this practice is essential for the health of your baby. Complimentary feeding is essential for nutritional intake for your baby. Within this article, we shall be discussing the points stipulated by WHO (the world health organisation) surrounding the importance of complimentary feeding. Why Complimentary Feeding Is A Good Practice Complimentary feeding is an incredibly important practice for your baby. Complimentary feeding, in a nutshell, describes a co-existent feeding pattern in which you feed your baby both solids as well as breast milk. As WHO suggests, it is encouraged to breastfeed for the first 1000 days of your child’s life, up until the age of 2. Breastfeeding has a number of incredible benefits for a bay’s development, as well as strong antibodies to help them build immunities against certain diseases. However, there comes a time when breastmilk will need a little bit of help within the nourishing department. Read on below to see why complimentary feeding is such an important practice. Nutritional intake As suggested by the WHO, children will begin to need other nutrition in their diets from roughly six months old. Breastmilk will sustain your child fully up until this point. It has been reported – particularly within third world countries such as South Africa – that two out of five children up until the age of five are malnourished. These are some scary statistics! This can be attribute to the fact that these children have not been exposed to a balanced diet. However, these statistics don’t necessarily only ring true to the poor. All children stand a chance to fall into this trap, should their parents be unaware of the importance of complimentary feeding. Complimentary feeding will introduce a variety of new, needed nutrients into your child’s diet, helping their growing body get everything it needs to support development. The Dangers Of Malnutrition Scarier yet is what occurs should children not receive adequate nutrition. Malnutrition results in a syndrome known at stunting. Stunting, or stunted growth, refers to impaired growth and development for a child’s body. Stunted children are generally two standard deviations shorter than what a child’s height should be at that age. Furthermore, stunting can affect children in other areas; not only their height. Take a look at some of the other side effects of stunting: Poor cognition Poor educational development and performance Poor productivity An increased risk of chronic health complications later in life, should the child become over weight As you can see, the dangers of malnutrition are really something which need to be taken seriously. Scarier yet is that stunting cannot be reversed. As suggested by WHO, the first 1000 days of your child’s life are essential for building a healthy human being later on. therefore, practicing healthy eating habits is crucial during this time. Intestinal Development Above the nutritional benefits of complimentary feeding, there is also a developmental benefit to it. At some point or another, your baby’s gut will need to begin processing harder foods than breastmilk. Complimentary feeding allows your child’s tummy become accustomed to different food sources, whilst still being able to easily digest breastmilk. This eases your baby’s intestinal development by allowing them to slowly become accustomed to the new food stuffs being introduced to their diet. We will discuss the frequency which one should practice complimentary feeding below now. When To Start Practicing Complimentary Feeding As previously mentioned, complimentary feeding should be introduced after the six month mark. It should then be continued up until 24 months. If you are wondering about the frequency of this practice, just read on below now. According to WHO, you should practice complimentary feeding as per this tables suggestions: Baby’s Age Daily Complimentary Feeds Other Solid Food Sources 6 – 8 months 2 – 3 daily feeds / 9 – 11 months 3 – 4 daily feeds / 12 – 24 months 3 – 4 daily feeds 2 daily snacks Once your baby reaches two years old, you should consider weaning them from breastmilk. This is the time when you will begin to develop their solid diet fully. Important Things To Remember About Complimentary Feeding There are a few key things to remember when beginning complimentary feeding. Appropriate Foods Ensure that the foods you begin to introduce to your baby’s diet are appropriate from that stage of their lives. By this we mean both nutritionally and texturally. For lack of a better example, feeding your six month old baby a steak smothered in rich sauces would not work at all. Try preparing the solids yourself, starting with simple steamed vegetables such as pumpkin, which you can then pulse into a baby food consistency. Be Observant About What Your Baby Eats There are many additives in today’s products. Be sure that your baby is receiving safe produce when you begin to introduce them to solids. As mentioned above, the best way to do this is by preparing their first few meals yourself. You will then be able to monitor exactly what goes into your baby’s meal, and as a result, into your baby.

November 30, 2018

Teaching your kids about money

We previously touched on how, as a parent, we need to get our thinking right when it comes to money. A lot of us grew up with a weird attitude towards money, often about not having enough and wanting more. We become jealous of those who we perceive to have it all and we focus on what we think we need to keep up with the Jones’s. Sometimes we feel shame for what we have compared to others, but sometimes also shame for what we didn’t have. When we become parents, we have the golden opportunity to teach our kids to think differently about money from the get go. We have the opportunity to undo the wrong and uncomfortable attitudes we had (and might still have) around money. Here are tips to create a healthy, balanced attitude towards money in your family’s life and your kids upbringing. Pocket-money is a money management tool By letting your kids help with family chores (washing dishes, feeding the dogs, making beds, cleaning the braai and setting tables), you are helping you kids to understand the necessary tasks of daily life – not because they are going to get rewarded for it. We are doing it to help our kids to learn life skills along the way. Why should it be any different when it comes to money managed? Introduce money management with your kids by giving them weekly or monthly pocket money and let them save it and spend it the way they want. Be it on the Google Play Store for the hippest apps or on that extra data for the month. They will quickly learn the lesson of overspending or buying things that only gives them a limited time of fun and pleasure. Don’t be tempted to ‘top-up’ their pocket money for the rest of the month. Gratitude comes in the form of paying bills Paying bills doesn’t have to be this negative thing we usually don’t want to deal with. Involve your children by teaching them that bills are actually just reflections of pleasures already enjoyed. “Thank you Escom for keeping us warm in winter” and “Thank you Netflix for the entertainment”. “Thank you cellphone for connecting me to the world of games and chats with my friends”. Sharing this attitude with your kids teaches them that everything we consume is actually an exchange of goods and services for money. You can go as far as involving them in the payment process as this is another incredible way to teach a valuable life skill. Ask them to help you find the amount owed on the bill, who it should be paid to and for what services or goods. Let them circle the amount to be paid and write “paid” on the bill before filing it away. They will love the process but more importantly, learn valuable lessons while having fun. Sharing is Caring It’s so easy to to get caught up in the attitude of “we might not have enough,” and the feeling of “ and what we have, we have to keep for ourselves”. This attitude needs changing. We should become more conscious of sharing what we have, and by doing that we are contributing to the greater good. When we show our kids to be generous (via donations, volunteering, helping other friends or families in hard times, tipping a water or the petrol attendant), we are teaching them how good it feels to give. Anytime we do good for its own sake, we are modelling how to be a good human, and how to live with the sense that we are all connected, and we are very fortunate. That attitude alone sets our kids up to be appreciative for what they have, and to create more of it as they grow up. Happiness doesn’t come from overconsumption We live in a society overwhelmed with commercialism and in which more is never enough. As parents, we are tempted on a daily basis to give our kids everything they want, and replace it when it breaks. But really, think of the things that are dearest to you and you will be surprised in how often they are not things, but experiences. And if they re things: chances are they are things you worked really hard for and have a sense that you earned them. Buying your child everything they want and catering to their every whim does not raise happy children – it raises children who have a false sense of entitlement and reality. You will be raising children who tend to develop anxiety in later years when they realise that things rarely fall magically into their lap without their own hard work and hustle. Teach them to appreciate what they have, with modesty and without entitlement. Wealth is a state of mind Thinking rich is essential to living a rich life. Constantly living in the fear-based state of never having enough instills a fearful mindset in young children that they will carry forward with them, and have to un-do later. “We can’t afford that, we could never go on that vacation, that’s only for rich people.” All of that language creates a false reality that money is only for a selected few, and if you don’t have it, you never will. In reality, anything is possible – anything. And we can teach our kids to use that lens by involving them in planning and dreaming. Always wanted to go to Mauritius and stay at a family resort? Start a family vision board for that trip. Look up cool places to stay & airlines to use. Involve your kids in using some of their own savings (from the pocket money) to put towards the trip. Make them feel a part of it – and give them the sense that they have ownership in making it happen. This is a hugely empowering pattern of thinking and behaving; much healthier than the attitude that “that’s not for us.” Remember: our children

November 29, 2018

When your toddler’s language takes its time to develop

As parents we spend the first year worrying about our children becoming actively mobile and then generally secondly worrying about their language development or lack thereof. In most cases there is no need to worry. The vast majority of children learn language without a problem. Language or the ability to use language has its own piece of software in the brain and most linguists are now convinced that language is instinctive, a behaviour which happens just like eating and sleeping. After all humans can’t help but talk. Some children do speak earlier than others but do we always recognise their babble as words? Children start talking by cooing or babbling and if you listen closely you will notice that it has a rhythm similar to our communication. To the young child these babblings, sound just like what they hear when they listen to our conversations. When engaging back to your child, listen intently to what your child is babbling and try to respond back with proper language. After babbling comes the next phase of using either single or double syllable sounds. The child understands what he is trying to say long before the penny drops with the parent. Try and make the association and recognise that your child is referring to something or someone and respond back appropriately. Don’t be tempted to repeat the baby language, this may only delay speech further. What do you do if you have a late talker? The first step is to have the ears checked. Even a small amount of hearing loss may cause speech delays. For every ear infection your child has, he may lose 6 – 8 weeks of full functional hearing which may delay his speech development. There are two parts to language development – receptive language and expressive language. Some children will have good receptive language skills (understanding the words you say) but take longer to actually talk. They are able to respond to your requests and can follow simple instructions. Expressive language is when your child uses the words he can say to communicate with you. Between 2 and 3 years of age your child’s expressive language skills should increase to about 300 words. It is important for children to develop good oral-motor skills in order to be able to chew their food efficiently as well as perform good oral motor movements for speech production. These skills can be developed by getting your child to imitate you by performing different movements with your mouth, such as puffing up your cheeks, smacking your lips together, sticking out your tongue or licking your lips. Oral motor skills can also be stimulated by getting your child to suck through a straw, blow bubbles or windmills and through eating chewy foods such as biltong, apples, carrots etc. Girls tend to speak earlier than boys. Boys are more physical than girls. They are often referred to as the “walkers” and the “talkers”. The little one zooting around being very physical may take longer to talk than the little one sitting quietly and taking in everything around them. The third or fourth child may also take longer to talk than their older siblings, especially if the older ones are very vocal. They just can’t get a word in or the older children tend to talk on their behalf. However the opposite is also true, some younger siblings talk quicker as they are exposed to more language in the home environment. A toddler has little motivation to talk when everything is handed to him as soon as he points to something. If he understands what you are asking of him, he is busy building language skills and the words will follow. The frustration of trying to get others to understand you compels you to try harder, linking sounds to people, objects and actions. From this a communicator is born. Thumb sucking or extended use of the pacifier (dummy) may also delay speech development, by delaying the fine oral motor skills needed for speech. If your child is not letting go of his dummy, then insist on him taking it out of his mouth to talk to you. Language development also depends on how much language the child is exposed to. Children have to hear language to be able to develop the skill. Start early and talk about everyday things. Read to your child on a daily basis, making reading to him part of your daily ritual. Singing along to songs will also help to develop language skills. Extended viewing of the television is never a good thing. Communication happens between people and not between you and television characters. The language instinct is being supressed so much by screen time these days that it’s rife. Limit viewing time. There is never any substitute for verbal interaction. Language and vocabulary is very important because it is the foundation for phonetic reading skills. If you have a feeling there may be a speech delay, then don’t hesitate to communicate with a professional Speech and Language Pathologist. Having a one on one consultation can put your mind at ease as they know exactly what signs to look for. If there is advice they can give you to do at home, what a bonus as you are learning something new to help your child. If they pick up a disorder then hopefully you’ve caught it early and can prevent academic issues later on. It is very easy to have a chat with a professional. The wait and see approach must be avoided if you have a gut feeling. Parents must trust their gut! Note = If you are concerned about your child’s language development then it is advisable to have your child assessed by a registered Speech and Language Pathologist.

November 29, 2018

How do I know if my child is school-ready?

School readiness is one of the biggest concerns for a Grade R parent. How do you know if your child is ready to start “big school”? If you as a parent talk to other parents then you will hear how their children can build words and do sums and suddenly you start to doubt your child’s ability and whether he/she is really ready to attend school. Perhaps you should have prepared your child better so he could have a head start over the other children or maybe you should have started doing basic Grade 1 work in the afternoon after school. School readiness is divided into three basic skills: Intellectual The child must have the ability to understand, reason and interpret new concepts. At that age, they absorb and process all new information. If you teach a sound to a child, they will probably remember it, but there are other skills that are more important to your child’s school readiness. Because we are experiencing such a big change in our society where both parents work, parents often focus on developing intellectual skills and not physical or social skills. Televisions and computers have also become an easy way to keep children busy while parents are making food or doing the washing. Although it is not wrong, as children acquire general knowledge, parents must also remember to play outside with their child by kicking the ball around or playing hide-and-seek. Physical A child who is physically strong, who can comfortably run, jump, climb and clamber also has the ability to concentrate for longer. They can use their muscles to sit up straight for longer, hold a pencil and focus for 40 minutes at a time on what is being discussed in class. A child who is only intellectually stimulated (learning basic Grade 1 work) does not get a chance to develop these muscles. These are the learners who hang over their work or lay on their arms and get tired quickly. They do not complete their class work on time and have to do it for homework. Parents then wonder what happens at school because they have to sit till late in the afternoons and do homework. Social and emotional development Your child is going from his safe environment to a structured environment with other routines, longer hours and more pressure. Perhaps there won’t be anybody that he/she knows. For your toddler, it is the same as going to Grade 1. If your child can not play socially with other children, they do not learn how to handle difficult situations. A child who is not socially and emotionally ready will scream blue murder and cling to their mother’s skirt (We also know that some children can exaggerate a little). In playing there is conflict, unhappiness, dishonesty, and the poor teacher acts as a judge, but this teaches the children how to handle and process difficult situations. This skill will teach them how to handle stressful situations for the rest of their lives and how to be adaptable to the unknown. Here is a very informative website that can be used to see if your child is ready for grade R: http://www.schoolsparks.com/kindergarten-readiness-test Hilda Erasmus: Foundation Phase Specialist

November 29, 2018

Disney Baby Pound & Play Musical Table

The Disney Baby Pound & Play Musical Table is another great way for children to express themselves through fun and musical joy. With 2 modes of play: Music and Sound effects, toddlers can full engage with the 3 colourful balls, shape sorter pieces and 1 plastic hammer included. The Pound & Play also has detachable legs for floor play. 3 AA batteries included. Grab a Disney Baby Pound & Play Musical Table from the following retailers: Babies R Us, Hamleys, Me, Mom & Dad (Greenstone), selected Kids Emporium stores, Loot.co.za, takealot.com, purplepepperz.com, thebabyzone.co.za and others.

November 28, 2018

Why is music important to the development of children?

Music in its basic form – rhythm and melody – stimulates brain activity (the release of neurons) in a child’s left and right side of the brain. For example, when a child thinks or talks about the sounds they hear, they only use the left side of their brain. However, when a child engages in music making, irrespective of musical ability, they will use the right side of their brain. Dr Jean Houston of the Foundation for Mind Research said children who do not have access to music basically do not develop both sides of their brain equally – which impacts on their learning and thinking skills. Another researcher in the field, Roehmann, said that music helps children develop skills such as reading, writing, maths and science. According to psychologist Frances Rauscher, music activities build new spatial reasoning, while improving a child’s perceptual and cognitive skills, as well as self-discipline, dexterity, coordination, self-esteem, thinking skills, creative ability and personal expression. Music is a wonderful medium as it stimulates more than fundamental learning; it is a pleasurable way for children to express themselves. Music is basically creative energy captured in sound that allows children to cope with the environment. There are so many physical, emotional and external changes taking place in a toddler’s life. Music helps children to understand this environment and to express their feelings about their environment – especially when words are not available to do so. Allow your child to bang around on pots and pans to explore sound. Provide good soothing music for your child to listen to. Have music playing in your home. Children love to move to the beat of music. Maracas are an excellent choice of instrument for a child to play and learn to keep to the rhythm of a song. Sing, dance and be merry!

November 27, 2018

Review: 3D Colorables

3D Colorables is a fantastic way to help kids become more creative and to use their Imagination on a whole new level. This awesome idea was made for any one of four years and up to colour, inflate and play. This is a great exercise to help children practice patience, keep them busy and out of your hair and it’s loads of fun! You are able to colour this great toy with just about anything; crayons, markers, pencils, you name it. I highly recommend colouring with markers as it adds such a beautiful boldness to your creation. Adult supervision is advised when blowing up in the inflatable. We had received a DIY unicorn sword and shield inflatable, but there are many other cool inflatables for boys and girls, such as dinosaur friends, dress up butterfly wings (helpful for imagination games and Halloween), dress up dragon wings, dragon shield with a sword, pirate swords and so much more! Once you have coloured your magnificent toy, you are ready to inflate. You are given a slide straw that you place into the end straps and fill the straw with air, in a way you would with a balloon. Once you have sealed the inflatable, the inflatables with stay inflated unlike a balloon for endless fun. Warning: there is a choking hazard risk for children. Once you have inflated your fantastic toy, ready, set and play! Go one wild adventure through the trees and fight off your siblings or the masters of imagination and magic. Watch your children have an absolute blast and admire their artwork. For to purchase visit www.bizikidz.co.za With a variety of 3D Colorables available, your kids will be having the best of fun in no time!

November 27, 2018

Review: Disney Grow With Me Musical Walker

Disney Baby, world-renowned leaders in child care products, have released a revolutionary new developmental item that acts not only as a walking aid, but brings out all the musical talent and fun your child could possibly dream of – just grab those earplugs moms, it’s going to get crazy loud! The Grow-With-Me Mickey and Minnie Musical Walkers are one of a kind. Designed to keep your baby grasping and balanced, the wheels will turn to initiate steps and the sensory buffet will keep your little one intrigued for hours. How many times have you looked for your cellphone only to find it in your child’s hands? Well, now they have their own – detachable as part of the table, alongside a detachable 5-note piano keyboard for them to start making little musical notes and melodies – or just enjoy the noises. The keyboard has flashing lights, turning gears, a sliding melody button, a flop book and a reflective mirror. The walker also has rattle spinners, spinning balls, animals sounds buttons and fun melody and sound effects. It’s simply the coolest, craziest and noisiest fun your child can have whilst learning balance and steps. The Disney Baby Grow-with-Me Walker is available from the following retailers: Babies R Us, Hamleys, Me, Mom & Dad (Greenstone), selected Kids Emporium stores, Loot.co.za, takealot.com, purplepepperz.com, thebabyzone.co.za and others.

November 26, 2018

Best tips for travelling while pregnant

The truth is that a woman should not travel much when pregnant. It is time to stay close to home for maximum rest and mild exercise. However, traveling could be inevitable during pregnancy. Whether it is a one-time trip or regular travel at this delicate time for a woman, maximum caution will prevent numerous health and psychological problems. There are many publications that advise pregnant women on how to travel while pregnant. Some are helpful while others are not. It is up to you to obtain the information from reliable sources. Below are some of the most helpful tips for traveling while pregnant. Choose an Ideal Destination If it is possible to choose the destination, make numerous considerations before settling on one. Choosing a place to visit with favourable weather, excellent health facilities and clean accommodations is recommended. Countries with violence and a high crime rate should be avoided by all means. The Right Timing If it is possible, do not travel when the baby is almost due. You need time to settle down and identify the right health centres in the country where you plan to deliver. If you are traveling for a holiday, do it when the pregnancy is still in its early stages. The best time is before six months. Health experts discourage pregnant women from being tourists after six months of pregnancy; they need to be near home during this time. Pack Lightly A lot of luggage is not recommended especially if one is traveling alone. Since traveling while pregnant is mostly done out of necessity, do not bring more than is needed. Only pack the crucial things that you will use during your brief travel. Luckily, pregnant women wear light clothes, which do not take up much space. Shoes should also be light, and a few pairs will be enough for the trip. Choose Your Flight Seat Carefully We must all agree that traveling when pregnant is the most uncomfortable time to travel. One cannot sit for long before standing up to stretch or go to the washroom. It is important to pick an aisle seat that allows some freedom of movement. Most airlines usually assist pregnant women in finding an aisle seat rather than squeezing them between people, where they cannot even stretch their legs. Have a Snack and Water It may be difficult to readily find a healthy snack or juice during the journey. Even though flights offer snacks and water, these may not be what you are looking for. Carrying them with you is a better option for any pregnant women out there. It is easy to pack a snack or a healthy drink, and most flights will not have a problem with this. If drinks are not allowed through airport security, the airport will have a variety of healthy drinks for sale. Plan for the right time to eat your snack to avoid becoming too hungry. This may be earlier than the flight meals since a pregnant woman needs to have her energy up at all times. With these tips, traveling will be fun rather than a source of strain for a pregnant woman.

November 26, 2018

Review: Monopoly Junior Playing Cards

The best Monopoly for your child is right here! It is a simple game to play and even better, there is a Shufflecards app for the quickstart video or you are able to read the ‘how to play’. The Shufflecards app is a great way to play. It plays along with the players and you interact with the game even more. Instructions are there for any confusion and are loads of fun! I found that this game was a lot simpler than a board game for young children. This game is a lot more creative and super fun to play. It’s a challenge for the little kids but you’re able to win! I’d love to own a Pizza House, a skate park and every one of those cute shops if I could. In conclusion, this game is perfect for your little ones, even the artwork will leave you hungry. You are guaranteed to have loads of fun. Ages four and up are able to play and adult supervision is advised. I highly recommend this product to anyone with kids and to anyone who would like an easy game to have fun with. Enjoy your Monopoly Junior! Purchase online today from the BiziKids.co.za store

November 23, 2018

15 Lessons from a second-time mom

Congratulations on your second pregnancy! Wondering what lies ahead – besides a couple of extra stretch marks, additional lost sleep and, of course, the cutest, new baby? Here are some things I’ve learned that might help you prepare yourself and your family for Number Two. Yes, you will love the second one as much as you love the first. The science behind this apparently works as follows: The moment your child is delivered, its empty space inside your body is filled with all the love you require for it. Or something like that. Rest. When. You. Can. Understood – it’s much more difficult during a second pregnancy when you need to keep up with another little busybody. Moreover, if you’re working and running (sometimes literally) a household on top of that, it can be exhausting. Therefore, you might need to actively plan for resting times: Say no to things, resign from things, delegate things. Use weekends wisely and do not stay up late. You’re going to be stretched even further. Your body, that is. Your muscles are probably still shot from the first round of baby building and your organs still stuck in obscure places, so your belly can just expand without restriction. This is normal. Go big! Make a big thing about becoming a big brother/sister. Get your eldest excited about his sibling in a developmentally appropriate way. Read children’s books about pregnancy; let him help to prepare the nursery and pick out baby necessities; take him to sonar appointments; let him pray over or talk to the baby in your tummy. Also, make sure he understands that he will soon be sharing your attention with a needy baby, but that you’ll love him all the same. Get re-birth ready. While everyone’s story is unique, it’s common for second births to be quicker and a tad gentler since your body now has muscle memory to go by. Whatever route you plan (or do not plan) to follow – C-section vs normal; epidural vs unmedicated; home vs hospital – just make sure you have worked through any anxieties you might have after the first birth, especially if it was traumatic. Fear increases pain, reduces your satisfaction with the delivery and disturb those first bonding moments. It could even negatively affect the pregnancy. Work through your worries with a mentor, counsellor or friend. Be brave! Do something special for the first sibling sighting. A great idea is to have them “exchange gifts” (that you bought on their behalf, of course). Try to have space on your lap or in your arms for big sister or brother, so that their first impression of the baby is not that it took over their place. Thicken your skin. Your firstborn is most probably going to comment on your postpartum body in a less-than-diplomatic way. Steel yourself for anything from, “Is there another baby in your stomach?” to, “Why are you too fat to close your buttons?” Mind your marriage amid the madness! Don’t forget that you are firstly your spouse’s wife. Your marriage is not the “extra thing” you need to tick off from your to-do list – it’s the backbone of your family! Read more… It takes a village! Especially in those first few weeks, you absolutely need support. Have a good discussion with your spouse beforehand about realistic role division during the early days. Book a friend or family member to come and stay with you for a while or hire help if need be! Try your very best not to be alone with both kids for an extended period. Recovery 102. You might not bounce back as quickly as the first time…You are older. Your body has endured two pregnancies (and possibly double surgeries). You now have much more on your plate and exercising or fixing low-calorie salads may not happen soon. Have more patience. Eat less ice cream. Appreciate your incredible anatomy when you look at yourself in the mirror. Routine! Try to keep your eldest in a routine as much as possible. If your new normal will require changes – communicate it clearly. Don’t spoil her too much with treats, screen time, etc. because you feel sorry for them, or it temporarily makes your life easier – you will regret this later! Find a new rhythm for the family as soon as you realistically can. Read here about re-establishing routines. Again: Rest. When. You. Can. Capitalise on maternity leave – don’t see this as your opportunity to get things done. If there ever is a moment when both little ones are napping – join them! Dishes can wait. Postpartum depression is real. Catch it before it catches you. Be honest about your mental state and get help early on. BFFs in the making… The sibling relationship is one that will probably outlive you. Encourage it, treasure it and enjoy watching it develop. Here are some hints for parenting the pair. Expect to be surprised. Your second child is not a copy/paste version of the first. He will look different and be different, and you might need to figure out parenting all over again. She might be an unexpected angel. Or he might humble you with the realisation that you weren’t actually Parent of the Year before – your firstborn just had a more easy-going nature. Enjoy your new extended family! Double trouble? We can help! If you struggle to cope with the pressures of being a second-time parent, or if the new baby has created fresh chaos in your home – contact one of the Munchkins coaches to assist you in finding a new balance.

November 22, 2018

Making Your Home Toddler-Proof

In South Africa, a child is most likely to injure themselves at home – far more so than anywhere else. This is largely due to children’s confidence and curiosity at home, together with an adult’s inability to be everywhere at once, or to have eyes on children at all possible times; it’s human nature. The importance of being vigilant with pool safety cannot be overstated. The same is true when it comes to keeping your children safe in the home – particularly toddlers, who are keen to explore and gain some independence (without necessarily taking much heed of parents’ rules). Putting certain steps in place within the home will help you keep your child as safe as possible while allowing them to continue to learn, explore and develop. Teach your kid how to be safe in the kitchen The kitchen is often a favourite place of toddlers, what with it being where food is made. An interest in food and cooking should be encouraged from a young age, but the kitchen is clearly a particularly hazardous place for toddlers. Keep all electrical appliances out of reach and always make sure all pan handles are facing into the wall, away from the edge of the hob. Make any budding young chefs your ‘sous chef’, assigning them their own area of the kitchen while making sure they know the rules of the kitchen (for example, asking you, the head chef, for permission before attempting a new task). Give the toddler their own apron and child-friendly cutlery, as well as a safe task to do. Giving kids a task like cutting mushrooms will keep them busy and in your eyeline, also giving them a rewarding and educational activity in the process. Make your bathroom safe Never leave a toddler unattended in the bath. Not only can children drown in just a few inches of water, but slips and burns are most likely to occur in the bathroom. To prevent the risk of scalding, turn the cold water tap on first before using the hot water, and make sure the water is no hotter than 120°F. Place an anti-slip mat on the bottom of the bath and underneath the showers. Mop up any spillages on the floor immediately and consider using tap covers to prevent curious little people scalding themselves by turning the hot tap on. Finally, make sure that any medicines, razors and electrical appliances are kept high up in a cupboard and out of reach from children. Keep hazardous items out of reach Toddlers love to open drawers and empty them. With this in mind, make sure you keep anything that is potentially dangerous out of their clutches. This includes earplugs, tweezers, and medicines, which you may absentmindedly keep in your bedside drawer. Scissors, glue, and detergents are other examples of things that must be kept out of sight. For peace of mind, put child-safety locks on any cupboard doors containing potentially harmful objects. Be vigilant and realistic As a parent or carer, the responsibility of looking after a toddler can feel overwhelming at times. Let’s face it, accidents are going to happen; you cannot prevent that. However, many child accidents and injuries at home can be prevented. By putting sensible measures in place and keeping an eye on your toddler’s play at home, you give yourself the best chance of keeping them safe.

November 22, 2018

Connecting with your teenager

As a mother of four teenagers, it would be plausible for me to hail myself as all knowledgeable on the topic of connecting with teenagers. Unfortunately, connecting with your child is not a science – it requires continuous enthusiasm and effort. The same enthusiasm and effort that was shown to them when they were infants, toddlers and tweenies. Unlike other stages of your child’s development, the daunting part of connecting with a teenager is respecting that they have opinions and ideologies of their own, which are occasionally in conflict with your own. I asked my children about their views on the way we connect. For the first time in recent history they agreed with one another. We connect through mutual respect and compromise, two principles that can only be attained by communication. As a family we have established a variety of rituals that began in their early childhood. These have aided communication throughout their teenage years. Like many other mothers in the world, I juggle a career and the responsibilities of single parenting. The reality of life is that there is not much time for individual, sit-down, deep and meaningful conversations with my children. We all, however, have to eat and mealtime is communication time. I insist upon us eating together at a specified time every day – it is a non-negotiable rule in our home that is observed in the morning and in the evening. Gathering in the morning allows us to communicate our plans for the upcoming day. This is the time when I focus on the events for that day which are important to my teenagers; we are able to remind each other about what we have to do in the day; and it is often the opportunity to appreciate how much each individual family member has to cope with on that particular day. Between work, school and sport, all our days are busy and there is little time for each other between sunrise and sunset. During these hours there is a lot to be positively said for the power of social media. We have a family Whattsapp group and at some point throughout the day, one of us will send a message or an emoji or a meme. It takes all of a second, yet it can communicate love, encouragement or most often just share a little bit of family humour. Should I receive an email during the day that is pertinent to one of my teenagers, I forward it to them directly. This gives them the opportunity to be accountable for their own commitments and ensures that I don’t forget to pass on important information. Dinner time is when it all comes together. This is the time when I get the “scoop” of the day, with each teenager adding their little bit of “spice”. We are by no means the “Brady Bunch”, as dinner time often ends with more than one person disgruntled. Respect and compromise get their time to shine at this point. It is the moment when opportunities are taken by the teens to ask for permission (which often requires compromise on both our parts) or to let me know about altercations and celebrations that have happened in the day. It gives us the chance to debate current topics and to respectfully disagree with each other. I cannot help but dismiss the theory that it is not quantity, but quality that counts when spending time with your children. It is the daily quantitative communication that affords you the opportunity to discuss and advise teenagers on small issues before they become big challenges. Of course, connectivity is a relative concept. I would venture to suggest that finding the connectivity balance is the most challenging part of being a parent to teenagers. When my husband died seven years ago, I vividly remember one of my first thoughts being along the lines of not wanting my children to feel too connected to me as they became teenagers and thus feeling the need to be responsible for me. At that point in time I decided that all my children would leave home when going to university. This year, my first baby left to study in a different province. It has been the second most difficult time in both our lives and we count the days until we see each other. As difficult as it is for us both, it is an integral part of cementing our connectivity as adults. We talk every day, albeit that the time we spend chatting has become shorter as the year has progressed. The stronger the connection, the more difficult it is to disconnect. Just as we, as parents, are responsible for making the connection, so we are responsible for encouraging a certain amount of disconnection to take place at the right time. Throughout my teenagers’ latter years, I have noticed a few of their peers’ parents struggle with levels of connectivity. When our children become teenagers, we also tend to get a second lease on life. We have increased freedom and time – it is tempting to use our connectivity with them as a channel to re-live our own teenage years. A point of danger. Whilst the concept of being a “cool” parent is tempting and, I must confess, I have experienced a little “cool” parent envy myself – it is a point of caution. Their friends are not your friends. The goal is to keep the connectivity alive through adulthood and not to short circuit it in teenage years. Like all stages of parenting, there is no blueprint for how to connect with your teenagers. You need to establish which gatherings work for your family in your circumstances. Family traditions that are established in early childhood are the power for communication that is the wire for connectivity throughout the teenage years, with the ultimate objective being its transformation throughout adulthood. By Natalie Lee, Teacher at Pecanwood College

November 21, 2018

What to do if your teenager is depressed

Growing up can be an emotional rollercoaster, during which a young person has to contend with many high and lows, from school and friendships to puberty and their sexuality. If you have noticed that your teenager seems to be experiencing more lows than highs, and these lows are happening more and more frequently, this may be a sign that they are struggling with depression. It can be distressing to watch your teenager feel constantly sad and low. However, it’s important to know that you’re not alone, and the most important step you can take to help is to seek help. Here, we provide information on the symptoms of depression in teenagers to look out for, as well as guidance on the ways that you can support them. What does depression feel like for your teenager? Whilst it’s normal to feel sad occasionally, the intense and overwhelming low moods that depression causes can stop your teenager from getting pleasure from things they usually enjoy. This all-encompassing sadness can also prevent them from being able to function and perform daily tasks. We have outlined what depression actually feels like for a teenager to help you understand what they may be going through: For young people, depression can feel like they have a sieve in their head, which washes away all positive reinforcements and keeps hold of all negativity, which they focus on and magnify A teenager may feel like they are wearing a mask in front of friends. They will put on this brave face to cover up how they really feel, as they believe that they will be a burden if they show their real mood. This mask can be exhausting to wear, so by the time they come home they often can’t keep it up, meaning that you are likely to see the true picture Many young people describe depression as being tortured in their head. Anything that they hear gets turned into something negative, and even if they are told by a specialist that their depression is treatable, they believe that they’re the only one that can’t get better Signs of depression in children If you are becoming increasingly worried about your teenager, we have outlined common symptoms that they may be experiencing and warning signs for you to look out for: Psychological symptoms: Persistent sadness, or low mood Anger and irritability Crying more than usual Being highly sensitive to bad news or rejection Feeling worthless or guilty Low self-esteem Poor concentration Indecisiveness Feeling empty or numb Self-harming Suicidal thoughts Drugs or alcohol abuse Social symptoms: Social withdrawal Lacking interest in activities they once enjoyed Poor performance and behaviour at school or college Physical symptoms: Insomnia, or sleeping more than usual Frequent headaches and stomach aches Eating more or less than usual Unexplained digestive problems Exhaustion Lethargy Restlessness I think my teenager is depressed – what are the next steps? Talk to your child If you’re worried, sit down with your child and calmly explain that you’re concerned because they don’t seem to be themselves lately. If they’re willing to open up to you, try to find out how they are feeling and what is troubling them, and let them know that you’re always there to talk. If your teenager doesn’t want to talk to you, encourage them to speak to someone else they trust, such as another parent or a teacher. Take them seriously If you haven’t experienced depression yourself, it can be difficult to understand what your teenager is going through. Something that doesn’t seem to be a problem to you could be a major issue for your child, which is why it’s important to take them seriously and avoid being judgemental or critical. Be open and listen If your teenager wants to talk to you about their problems, it’s important to be open with them and listen to what they have to say. This lets them know it’s OK to talk about how they’re feeling, and they’re not alone. Learn the symptoms By familiarising yourself with the symptoms of teenage depression, not only will this help you to empathise with your child, but will also mean that you are able to spot when they’re going through a particularly difficult time. It can also help you to manage expectations, and understand that it’s possible that things may get worse for your teenager before they get better. Reduce risks Give them the phone numbers for charities such as LifeLine, and encourage them to call if they ever need to. You could also give them useful apps to look at such as Headspace or Mindspot. If they have thoughts about harming themselves, ask them to share those thoughts with you in a way that they feel comfortable with, so you can help keep them safe. They could write their thoughts down, send them in a text message or email, or talk to you about them when they’re feeling calm and perhaps distracted with an activity. Things you can do to reduce risks include locking away any medication and asking the young person what websites they are accessing online, and talking through whether these are really helpful to them or not. It’s also important to establish the best way that you, as a parent, can support your teenager. Ask them what you can do to help; they may just want hugs, a distraction such as watching a film with you or not to be left alone at night time. Seek help It’s crucial to seek professional help if you think your child is struggling with depression. This will ensure that they receive the support they need to prevent their depression from becoming worse. Make an appointment to see your GP; they will be able to recommend next steps. Also, reassure your teenager that depression is treatable and advise them that it would be worth taking them to a doctor to find out if they have depression, and if so, to get them the right support. Dr Hayley van Zwanenberg

November 20, 2018

Disney Baby Learning Pad

Always looking for your phone, only to find it in baby’s hands while they press buttons? Let them have their own in the form of the Disney Baby Learning Pad. The perfect distraction for enquiring minds that also teaches with shapes, the ABC, 123, lights, learning and music with 6 buttons. A fully immerse experience for the young mind. The Disney Baby Learning Pad is available from the following retailers: Babies R Us, Hamleys, Me, Mom & Dad (Greenstone), selected Kids Emporium stores, Loot.co.za, takealot.com, purplepepperz.com, thebabyzone.co.za and others.

November 19, 2018

Me do it !

Me do it! A popular cry from most two to three year olds. Sound familiar? This is usually followed by mom’s exasperated look as she knows this is going to take twice as long. Patience, count to ten and let her try. She isn’t wasting your time, in fact she is busy laying the foundation for future competence in whatever task she is attempting. At this age it’s usually getting dressed herself or cutting her own meat – a skill you would want her to be able to do in the near future unless you plan on doing it for her for the unforeseeable future. So how do we cope with this Me Do It attitude? Plan, work in the extra time into the schedule. And most of all be patient after all this could take a while to perfect. If you are less pressured so will she be and will more than likely manage to get the task at hand done. Resist taking over, stand back and let her be. You may give some pointers like – loosening the laces if she can’t get her shoes on. Purchase some stickers of animals for example and cut the stickers in half. Put the head in the left shoe and tail on the right shoe and this will help her to get her shoes on in the right way. The toddler who wants to do things by herself will soon master those skills required, making your life so much easier. Keep boosting her self-esteem. Tips to help them master the skills. Give her choices. Do you want to wear this dress or these pants? Two or three choices at the most. When shopping do the same. Which one of these two would you like to have me buy for you? Compliment her choice, don’t criticize a mismatched outfit. Rather just make a suggestion. The red t-shirt will look nice with the denim shorts. Teach them to look for the label to find the back of shirts and pants. Mark items if there is no label or sew a ribbon on the outfit. Potty training panties or underpants with a picture on makes it easier for them. Button from the bottom up. Buttons are a problem for most toddlers as they don’t have the fine motor skills yet. Get them to just line up the buttons at the bottom of the garment – they will eventually master the skill. The shoe matching stickers are great for teaching which shoe goes on which foot. Alternatively place them in the right order or explain that buckles /Velcro normally goes on the outside of the foot. Have fun and remember this too will pass.

November 16, 2018

6 Tips on choosing the best breast pump for you

If you are wanting to breastfeed your baby you most likely have thought about getting yourself a breast pump. At first the idea may be simple but there are quite a few things to consider. To make sure you get the best pump for your needs, follow these 6 easy tips: 1. Rental or personal There is a difference between a hospital grade and personal grade pump. The Hospital grade and personal pumps use a different mechanism to help create the negative pressure that draws out your breast milk. The hospital grade pumps are mainly for mothers who have to establish their milk supply without the assistance of their baby. This would be a mom who has her baby in NICU, a mom who is adopting and wanting to breastfeed or a mom who has returned to work and needs to pump effectively and fast. If you are planning on only using a pump for a short period of time, the rental option maybe the most cost effective. The personal pumps are much smaller in size than the hospital grade pumps which makes them portable. Some pumps use both mains electricity and batteries which make them portal and ideal for taking to work to pump. 2. Used or new There are a lot of mothers looking at purchasing second and pumps online or borrowing a pump from a friend. The reason for this is that electrical pumps can be very expensive. Although you would be saving some money there are risks involved with purchasing a second had pump. Firstly, you do not know how many people used the pump before you, if the pump was in a house with smokers and if the pump has any mould or bacteria growing in the pump. It is always recommended to buy a new pump rather than a second hand one. This is very important for sick or babies in NICU. 3. Manual or electric The decision between a manual or an electric pump can be based on two main factors; Price and usage. As mentioned before, the price of electric pumps can be quite high which may affect the decision about how to express. Some mothers respond really well to manual pumps and find them easier to use compared to electrical pumps. Electrical pumps are mainly used by mothers who go back to work because they make pumping quick and effective. 4. Double or single Double pumps have two flanges so that you can pump both breasts at the same time. This helps to half the amount of time per pump session. Also, double pumping results in your breasts producing more milk per pump session. Single pumps are less expensive than double pumps and can be a very useful option. 5. Closed system or open system Closed and open systems refer to the ability of moisture or breastmilk to collect in your tubing or pump motor. With open system pumps, moisture or breast milk is allowed to collect in the tubing or motor which can allow for the growth of bacteria or viruses. This can be very dangerous for sick or premature infants. It is very difficult to clean out the tube and sterilise the tube or the pump once it has the milk in it. If you see breast milk or moisture collecting inside your tubes it is best to replace the tubing. A safer option is to use a pump that has a complete closed system. This means that the moisture or milk is not able to move into the tube or the motor. This results in you not needing to clean, sterilise or replace the tubing parts. Apart from the health benefit you will also save some money on the spare parts. There are some pumps that are not complete closed systems as moisture can collect in the tubes but not in the motor. 6. Comfort and fit Make sure that the pump you chose is comfortable and fits you well. If you are comfortable while you express, you will also produce more milk. Once you have decided which type of pump would be the best for you, make sure that the brand that you chose will fit you perfectly and be comfortable while you pump. Look for brands that have different size flanges because not all breasts are the same size. If the flange is too small it can hurt your nipple and if it is too big it can result in poor expression of breast milk. Once you have decided on which type of pump you would like to use, go online and read reviews, find out what is being used overseas and why. You might just find that the pump you were thinking about is really noisy and it will not be suitable at work. The more you know about a pump the better decision you can make, so that you have a comfortable pump that works best for you.

November 16, 2018

Cookie	Duration	Description
cookielawinfo-checkbox-advertisement	1 year	The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Advertisement".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics	11 months	This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional	11 months	The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary	11 months	This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others	11 months	This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance	11 months	This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy	11 months	The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.

Cookie	Duration	Description
_ga	2 years	This cookie is installed by Google Analytics. The cookie is used to calculate visitor, session, campaign data and keep track of site usage for the site's analytics report. The cookies store information anonymously and assign a randomly generated number to identify unique visitors.
_gid	1 day	This cookie is installed by Google Analytics. The cookie is used to store information of how visitors use a website and helps in creating an analytics report of how the website is doing. The data collected including the number visitors, the source where they have come from, and the pages visted in an anonymous form.

Cookie	Duration	Description
_gat_gtag_UA_18530557_4	1 minute	No description
pron_ip	session	No description
pvc_visits[0]	1 day	This cookie is created by post-views-counter. This cookie is used to count the number of visits to a post. It also helps in preventing repeat views of a post by a visitor.
tk_ai	session	Gathers information for WordPress by themselves, first party analytics tool about how WP services are used. A collection of internal metrics for user activity, used to improve user experience.