Advice from the experts
Junior Colleges

Date Night!!

What is a “Date Night”? Date Nights can also be “Date Days,” but the key idea is that the couple is spending time as a couple and not as unstructured “family time.”   Date Night builds stronger marriages in five ways:  (1) Communication. Date Night helps with communication. Of course, this is an essential element of an intimate relationship. But communication also involves the willingness to remove distractions such as children and career demands deliberately. Date Nights also offers couples the opportunity to discuss topics of mutual importance.  They can self-define and dialogue about mutual aspirations. Communication is like a muscle. Sometimes you plan your communication workouts. “stress-reducing” conversation can help couples to stay current with what is moving through their intimate partner’s life. (2) Novelty. Couples typically experience habituation, a “settling in” quality where both are more likely to take each other for granted. The symbiotic “we are a couple” sensibility can settle into an ordinary domestic routine. But new research indicates that a deficit in fun and novelty is toxic. A balance of activities is attractive to both, which emphasises novel and different experiences can help increase intimacy. (3) Let’s Do It. Romantic love is that erotic spark, excitement, and an overwhelming sense of attraction to your significant other. But with time, the emotional and physical expression of erotic love tends to fade in many couples. Because Date Night allows a couple to focus on their connection completely, the erotic spark may be restored by the intentional pursuit of romance, novelty, and more in-depth communication. Date Nights may not only rekindle the romance, but regular Date Nights can also help sustain the fires of love over the long haul. (4) De-Stress. Couples that have regular Date Nights maintain a connection through intimate conversation and emotional support. They also lower the stress on their brains, as well as their partners. Fortunately, nature has endowed us with high resiliency in this area. (5) Abiding Relationship Commitment.  When you experience your partner’s commitment, your sense of being firmly attached will provide you with a stable, deeply satisfying relationship. Partners who cherish and prize each other, steer clear of other romantic opportunities, and nurture a powerful sense of “we-ness” or togetherness are significantly happier than less-committed, “iffy” couples. Commitment is scary. But commitment satisfies deeply. Oh no!!!! What about the kids??? You want to go on a date. But what about the kids? But I bet you know other couples that would also like to go out on a date. Tell your friends that you’ll watch their kids while they go out if they will do the same for you on your date. You can swap babysitting services, enjoy your date, and get your babysitter  free! It doesn’t get any cheaper than free! If you live near your family, ask them if they could watch your kids this weekend while the two of you try out new date night experiences. If you don’t live close to your parents, consider asking them to babysit for a night when they visit.  While you want to spend time with them, they also want to see their grandkids. Come to think of it, Grandma and Grandpa might have their own version of Date Night, enjoying their grandchildren together. Daniel Dashnaw Revised 5/13/19 Couples Need to Feel Connected As parents carry the stress and burden of providing for a family, sleep needs are not always met, and as kids demand all the attention, feelings of connectedness can quickly become lost. As a result, parents feel run down, and their identity as a couple becomes lost in their roles as parents. Being a mom or dad is certainly an identity to be proud of, but couples need to be able to find ways to connect again outside of their parental duties. A date night is a perfect opportunity to spend time together engaging in hobbies or volunteer opportunities that you both once found to be of common interest. Engaging in shared interests and having an opportunity to talk about things that draw you closer to each other are undoubtedly essential priorities to make in your marriage. Kids Need to See a Healthy Relationship While a date night is meant to be about your marriage, it is good for the kids. It is healthy for them to learn it’s OK to be separated from you, but it is beneficial as they grow up to witness a healthy relationship. Think about how you want your son and daughter treated in their marriage. There is a significant advantage to children learning the importance of a loving marriage. Excuses Need to Go Away Granted, childcare expenses can quickly become budget killers, especially when you calculate in multiple kids. However, plan for these expenses as part of your monthly budget (perhaps sacrificing less important expenditures to add these). Then, you won’t have the excuse of not being able to afford a date night. Also, if all your date night budget goes into the child care costs, you can get creative with cheaper dates such as picnics, walks through a park, or budget movies. Published Feb 14, 2018 Letise Dennis Date night jar tips and ideas!!!! Please follow the link to great date night ideas… 40 Date Night Jar Ideas for Couples

December 2, 2022
Junior Colleges

Big School!

Preparing your little one for Big School: tips and tricks from a Mommy and Teacher, as some of us will say, a Teacher Mommy. It says it all: tall walls, big kids, more classes and don’t forget the bell that rings! Having your Grade 00 become the small fish in a big pond can be very scary for them and for you as a parent. Here are our tips and tricks on how you can help your child prepare for the transition:  Once you pick up your little one from preschool, drive past their new school and let them familiarise themselves with the school building and the new environment. Talk together about what a typical day at primary school will be like. If your child has any concerns, encourage them to share them with you. Set up a calendar so they can mark down the days and sleeps until primary school. It is often hard to say goodbye to old friends when moving to a new school and making new ones simultaneously. Usually, most of the new students are also looking for new friendships. Have a conversation with your child about how they can make new friends. Re-assure them that they can still maintain their preschool friendships with playdates.  Go through all the different situations your child might encounter at school that threaten safety. Please discuss the importance of communicating with their teachers, handling cases that make them uncomfortable, leaving the school grounds unattended, and road safety issues.  Establish the routine you will follow during the school week. The parents who didn’t need to pack lunchboxes for their little ones can also take this time to start prepping lunchboxes EVERYDAY. Let them eat porridge/breakfast at the same time you would have to eat before leaving for big school, have their first snack as they would for their first recess etc., so that their tummies can get used to the new timetable. It is like having a buffet for a week, and then it is back to normal, and your tummy rumbles the whole time because you could eat whenever you wanted to and how much you wanted to over the holidays. Practice the morning routine of getting up early, having breakfast, putting on your child’s uniform and packing the school bag. Try to have everything ready the night before to reduce stress and rushing. An easy trick/tip for children with separation anxiety: Sprite a little perfume or deodorant on your child’s collar so they can always smell you and feel your presence all day long. The most important thing is to speak positively about school (children pick up on your anxiety). Share your favourite memories of school when you were a kid. Connect school subjects/activities with your child’s interests (e.g. if your child likes soccer, talk about the school’s gym). It is completely normal to shed a tear when your child starts school. We wish all the parents the best! Enjoy your child’s school journey with them, and cherish the moments you spend together. During these years, it is important to make memories filled with laughter and enjoyment.” Dream big in the big school!

November 15, 2022
Brainline

Online learning the solution to challenges of learner placements in schools


As thousands of parents and guardians await the news whether their children have been placed for the 2023 academic year or not, online school, Brainline says online learning remains a viable and reliable solution for learner placement challenges. Last month, Gauteng Education MEC Panyaza Lesufi revealed that a total of 764 062 applications were submitted and processed for both Grade 1 and 8 and the department have 332 477 learners to place. Brainline CEO, Coleen Cronje, says the uncertainty of the future can get the better of some families. ‘In October, parents and guardians in Gauteng have started to receive SMSes with placement offers, which will only conclude by the end of November. Until then, many families remain under severe stress and uncertainty over the future of their children’s education. Many face the reality that their children might miss school if not placed by the start of the new year,’ she says. (Ref: https://ewn.co.za/2022/10/02/placement-offers-for-gr-1-and-8-to-be-sent-from-monday-lesufi)  The Gauteng education department’s online admissions portal was launched in 2016 to streamline the process. After applications for the 2023 school year opened in July, the portal received its highest number of applications ever. Parents applying for their children were able to join an “e-queue” at five schools at the same time. But less than half the learners have been placed in their first-choice schools because of limited spots available and based on the placement criteria. Cronje says with online learning, parents and learners are not subjected to second, third or fourth options.    ‘Innovation has paved the way for an alternative form of education and, with the latest technology, Brainline is bridging the gap to accommodate the digital age. Our teachers present online classes in innovative ways, challenging the status quo of blackboard teaching. These online classes are essentially breaking down the invisible walls of traditional teaching, by presenting the curriculum in new and exciting ways, bringing the classroom to life, and invigorating the lesson material. In this way, Brainline is revolutionising home education for today’s learner and we always have space for new applicants’ Cronje explains. The education department has identified 275 primary schools and 221 high schools where the number of applications exceeded the number of learners the schools could accommodate. Online school, Brainline, is recognised by the IEB, which is the examination board for many private schools in South Africa. ‘This means that learners follow the South African National Curriculum (similar to the curriculum offered in South African schools) resulting in the National Senior Certificate (NSC) upon successful completion of their matric exams.’ The enrolment for the 2023 academic year is already in full swing and Cronje says there a number of benefits to enrolling early. ‘Avoid the rush and be prepared for classes when school starts in January. It also allows for more time to order books and other study material. By enrolling early, families also get the opportunity to save on their annual tuition fees.’ For more information visit www.brainline.com

November 10, 2022
Bonitas – innovation, life stages and quality care

Intermittent fasting and pregnancy, is it dangerous?

Your baby’s health during your pregnancy solely depends on you – what and when you consume is important to both of you. Intermittent fasting is a diet that many turn to to lose weight and improve health. This is a time restricted form of fasting and you may wonder if it’s healthy to keep up this kind of eating while trying to get pregnant or when you are pregnant. Is it safe to fast while I am pregnant?  Fasting during your pregnancy is not recommended. While there is research that shows this may be a good way to help with weight loss and potentially reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes, this is not ideal when your body needs more calories than normal.  While pregnant your nutritional focus should be to make sure that your baby is getting all the right vitamins and minerals. While in the initial stages of pregnancy you might not need more calories than normal, as your pregnancy progresses you will need to eat more – making fasting a less viable option. However, if you are struggling with morning sickness (most prevalent in the first trimester), you’ll find that eating bland foods little and often can help ease the nausea, which isn’t compatible with fasting for hours at a time. Not only will snacking help keep the nausea at bay, but it’ll also keep your blood sugar stable. While there aren’t studies that look at intermittent fasting throughout pregnancy, it has been found that moms-to-be with lower glucose levels had lower fetal movement, which can be a warning sign of potential issues during your pregnancy. Can I start intermittent fasting straight after birth? If you’ve decided to eat regularly during your pregnancy, you may wonder if you can return to your old lifestyle after having your baby. However, while you are breastfeeding it’s best to stick to a regular eating schedule. Even after birth your body will be needing extra calories for breastfeeding – restricting these can lead to reduced milk supply

November 9, 2022
Parenting Hub

When Should You Review Your Life Cover?

Your life changes, sometimes quite drastically, if we just think about the last two years for instance,, and your insurance coverage should adapt to the new circumstances, making it crucial to re-evaluate your life cover at each key point in your life. Life insurance is part of your financial plan and just like a GPS reroutes you when things change on a trip, your financial plan and your life insurance coverage should also be updated to take account of new routes or events in your life.Edwin Theron, CEO at Sanlam Indie, says: “Although your policy will renew routinely, a policy you may have bought five or ten years ago might not provide you with enough benefits for your current demand.” He takes us through five possible life events that would require you to review your life cover. 1. Getting Married Many couples forget to build a solid financial foundation for their marriage. When it comes to preparing for your new financial life as a married couple, life insurance is one of the puzzle pieces. The abrupt and unexpected loss of apartner can be extremely expensive as well as emotionally distressing, especially in households dependent on both incomes as is the case for most couples these days. A surviving partner may use the death benefit from a life insurance policy to cover living expenses, funeral costs, or any outstanding debts, such as a mortgage or student loans. 2. Getting a Promotion Your hard work, long hours and dedication have paid off!  Before you know it, your family will be accustomed to your new income and the lifestyle it allows. Revisit your life insurance coverage when you receive a job promotion and a bigger paycheck. This is particularly crucial if you have income protection, so that you can be sure your income is sufficiently protected if an unexpected disability prevents you from working even just on a temporary basis. 3. Kicking the smoking habit We all know that smokers pay more for life insurance than non-smokers, so if you have stopped smoking, your insurance company might lower your rates because of your new status. Remember that most insurance providers will ask you to sign a non-smoker declaration and reserve the right to request smoking tests that gauge the amount of cotinine in your system. There is no such thing as a “smoker-free zone” when it comes to insurance, so it’s best to tell your insurer the truth. 4. Buying a house Being a homeowner is exciting! However, it becomes pricier when you account for your mortgage, homeowner’s insurance, property taxes, maintenance, and upkeep costs. Life insurance is an important consideration when buying a home because it’s likely to be both your biggest financial commitment and asset. One of the top five reasons people get life insurance is to settle mortgage debt if something happens to them. It is essential to review your life insurance so your family won’t have to leave their home in the event of the unexpected, especially if you or your partner couldn’t afford homeownership bills on their own. 5. Having a baby One of the largest changes you can go through is the arrival of a new family member, whether it’s your first or second child. Given the shift, most individuals will increase their life insurance coverage so that, in the event of their death, their loved ones would have enough money to support them until they are financially independent. As a general rule of thumb, it’s a good idea to review your life insurance at least once a year. Some digital insurance platforms can help guide you through the process if you don’t have a broker. The Sanlam Indie Plan, for example, can help you work out what cover you need – and don’t need – in just a few minutes online.

November 8, 2022
Junior Colleges

“The “terrible two’s” phase and how to deal with the “tantrums” that come with it “

Every child has a unique personality, which will be visible as the child gets older. Their character will be moulded and formed as a combination of the people around them, genetics, and living atmosphere. However, your little one will tend to exhibit a common personality trait as they pass the age of two – temper tantrums or the “terrible twos” Firstly, the name “terrible twos” is a misnomer. It is characterised by resistant behaviour.  This includes: saying “no,” kicking, biting, ignoring instructions, and throwing themselves on the floor. However, this can start from as early as their first birthday and not manifest itself until your little one is three years old. There is a reason why the nickname has stuck: Usually, around the age of 2 is when your toddler hits key developmental milestones such as: Communicating in two or five-word sentences, walking, climbing and gaining a solid foundation of concepts like; “mine,” “no” “bad,” and “good” which they didn’t necessarily understand before.  The root of these milestones, called the classic “terrible twos phase”, is about asserting independence, testing boundaries, and learning how to communicate fundamental needs and wants, but this comes with learning how to recognise that these needs and wants will sometimes differ from those of the parents and child’s caregivers.  “Terrible Twos Symptoms”  The child might be very loving and clingy in one moment, and he might start yelling at you within a second.  Refusals are also common among the children – they might refuse to do things, including eating, changing clothes or diapers, and even refuse to be touched by the parents. To get your attention, they might resort to many actions and tactics. Including screaming at the top of their lungs while looking directly at you, throwing things, or repeatedly hitting their head against the wall or a floor. Terrible twos are characterised by antagonistic behaviour towards the parents and frequent mood changes. Tantrums accompany this. How to help your little one through their “temper tantrum.”  Give them a few minutes to cry or scream it out.  Once you see they have calmed down, hug them and wipe down their faces. Now that they are done crying/screaming and cleaned, ask them to tell you how they feel and try to help them navigate through it. Tell your little one that the next time they feel overwhelmed or need something to come to you and ask. This can be a very trying, testing and challenging time for the parents, caregivers and teachers. You can feel like you’re not a good parent and guilt trip yourself. Doing this may affect how you treat your child. Sometimes parents overcompensate or take their frustration out on their partner, helper, etc. It’s crucial in these moments not to be too hard on yourself; self-regulate, take a breather and remember to keep a little human alive is a big task. They are trying to understand what this life is about. You are doing a great job and remember this is only a phase!

November 7, 2022
PowerPlastics Pool Covers

Drownings escalate in summer, have peace of mind by cover your pool with a PowerPlastics Solid Safety Cover

Drownings in swimming pools always escalate in summer but why chance it – you probably won’t get to the pool in time? The best-selling child and pet safety cover, the PowerPlastics Solid Safety Cover, gives you absolute peace of mind. Easy to use, it forms a complete barrier over the pool. Also reduces power, chemical and water consumption, so you will enjoy savings as well as safety! Don’t wait until it’s too late. 

October 26, 2022
Bonitas – innovation, life stages and quality care

Handling Childhood Illness Effectively

Most parents know that during the course of raising a child you will have to deal with different bouts of illness. Here is some information, from Bonitas Medical Fund, which should help you to manage common early childhood illnesses successfully.

October 24, 2022
Bonitas – innovation, life stages and quality care

PUTTING YOUR KIDS ON A PATH TO GOOD NUTRITION

For many parents, nothing is as stressful as getting your kids to eat all the food on their plate, especially when it comes to veggies. Eating a variety of healthy foods is essential for your children’s wellbeing. Here are some tips on how to get your kids to eat better.

October 17, 2022
Wriggle and Rhyme

Confessions of an Amateur Juggler

For years I’ve had a running joke that if I were to ever write a book, it would be called “Confessions of an Amateur Juggler”.   It’s a ridiculous joke, because I’m not actually a circus juggler, but I am a working mom so I do juggle a lot.  However, the key word in my imaginary book title is not “juggler”, it’s “amateur”.  Professional jugglers don’t drop balls, but amateur ones sometimes do! If you’re a busy, working mom like me, the idea of juggling probably resonates deeply with you.   Sorry, I haven’t introduced myself.  My name is Kirsty and I’m the Founder and Programme Director for Wriggle and Rhyme, a music and movement programme for babies, toddlers and pre-schoolers. At the heart of my “amateur juggler” journey is my heart.  A heart that is 100% devoted to my family.  Even though I’m running a business, I still think of myself as a stay-at-home mom. Here’s my story …  When my now eighteen-year-old daughter was born, I left a demanding career in the corporate rat race to be more available to my growing family.  I took on part-time work to top up our household income. But, when my second-born son was 18 months old, my part-time contract work finished.  I desperately wanted the flexibility of working from home, but it was so difficult to find a job that fitted around my children and earned me a reasonable income for the hours worked. My entrepreneurial spirit kicked in!  I decided to research business opportunities, using my musical qualifications and marketing experience. In 2008, Wriggle and Rhyme was “born”.   Yes, October is our birthday month – this year we’re celebrating 14 years of music! Wriggle and Rhyme was a natural synergy of my marketing and musical training. Little did I know then of the exciting and fulfilling journey that would follow! Starting with one class from my home in Fish Hoek, the business has grown in both size and profile, with numerous branches across Cape Town.  In 2011, we branched into Pre-schools and now have a thriving Pre-schools program running too. The Wriggle and Rhyme programme has been written and produced locally by me.  And like me, it’s proudly South African!  I’m also passionate about quality and value.  So much love and energy has gone into creating a completely unique, fun and memorable programme suitable for children from 6 months to 6 years old.  It has been very well received by the thousands of children who have attended classes over the years. I now have three beautiful children, but Wriggle and Rhyme has become my fourth child.  I’ve gone through all the stages of motherhood with the business – from exciting conception to a crying newborn, to a demanding toddler, to a feisty tween, to a maturing teenage.  The business is very much part of our family!  Both my sons attended classes with me when they were little – they still speak about them!  It has been a real joy to have my children engage with my work because it’s something they can so easily relate to.   As the business has grown, so has my capacity.  I now work full-time hours, but I work around my family, which means that I’m still at home full-time. It’s a challenging juggle at times, but the benefits have been phenomenal – being my own boss, contributing to the household income and being at home with my kids! In 2013, I realized that there were lots of other women like me out there.  Women who wanted to work from home, be available for their families, but women who also need to earn well for their time and efforts.  So, I created the “Wriggle and Rhyme Product Package” which is available to License, as a work-from-home Business Opportunity.  This has allowed other women to take this proven business model and receive the ongoing training and support they need, to turn it into their personal success story! If this resonates with you, come and join our team of amateur jugglers and discover the joy of adopting Wriggle and Rhyme into your own family! For more info about the W&R business opportunity, have a look at www.wriggleandrhyme.co.za/join-the-team  Find us on Facebook and Instagram @wrigglerhyme #wrigglerhyme

October 14, 2022
Parenting Hub

5 TIPS TO AVOID SCAMMERS WHEN TAKING OUT FUNERAL COVER

As we navigate through these challenging economic times, making sure our loved ones are taken care of financially becomes more and more important. This includes anything from ensuring they have a simple savings account, to the big guns like life insurance and funeral cover. Sadly, when it comes to funeral cover, scammers are operating everywhere, and many people are falling victim. For the most part, these scams offer supposedly cheaper and more convenient funeral cover, and they target people who are emotionally exposed at the thought of a loved one passing on.  Funerals can often set your family back as much as R60 000, so it’s vitally important that you have suitable insurance in place to assist you with the costs. There are a few ways to make sure you’re getting a good deal. The following tips will help with assessing suitable funeral cover, enabling you to know what you’re paying for and what you’ll get should the worst happen:   1. Deal with the right person and a reputable provider Funeral cover has always been seen as a soft target for fraudsters and they usually pretend to be employed by a known insurance or financial services provider. In fact, people often claim to be scammed by close associates like relatives or neighbours! If you are unsure, the person or service provider should supply you with the details of the company that they are representing and their registration with the Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA). If the alleged insurer does not want to give you that information, see that as a red flag and just walk away.  2. Request a policy schedule Once you have taken out a funeral policy it is customary for you to see the policy schedule as confirmation of cover. The provider is obliged to provide you with this information. A reputable insurer must be transparent and provide all the relevant documents that will give you the assurance to know what is included in your policy and what to do when it’s time to claim. Never accept anything you don’t understand or agree with as providers are compelled by legislation to ensure that their products are easy for clients to understand. 3. Funeral cover need not break the bank Your service provider can tailor your cover to suit your budget and personal requirements as one policy size does not fit all, so be sure to discuss all options and plans and don’t feel pressured to take on the first option offered. 4. Do your own research When it comes to legal and financial documents, it’s sometimes easier to avoid the jargon and reading and to just take someone’s word for it. In fact, when it comes to insurance of any kind it’s absolutely critical that you read the fine print yourself and understand clearly what the terms are. Look specifically at waiting periods, exclusions, and the definitions of extended family member relationships that you might have covered.  5. Life cover vs Funeral cover It is a common misconception that life and funeral cover are one and the same thing. Life cover aims to assist those you leave behind with financial stability and security. Because it’s underwritten, it often offers more cover. Funeral cover aims to simply provide your loved ones with the means to deal with the immediate challenges of your passing and normally pays within a few days of the claim being submitted. As with everything in our lives, you get what you pay for, so be sure to do your homework and choose a funeral cover that will give peace of mind and that you understand. “Life is so unpredictable and having to deal with the loss of a family member is a painful time and the concerns about the costs of a funeral, and beyond, can add to the weight of an already difficult moment. WithSanlam Indie Funeral Cover, you can make sure that you and up to 20 of your family are taken care of and spared from the financial vulnerability that comes with burial arrangements. If you’re willing to answer a few more questions, Sanlam Indie’s Life Cover might offer you more cover, while still including a quick pay out portion for immediate funeral-related expenses.” – Edwin Theron, CEO at Sanlam Indie www.sanlamindie.co.za

October 11, 2022
PowerPlastics Pool Covers

Reduce loadshedding with a PowerPlastics Solid Safety Cover

Did you know that the best-selling safety pool cover – the PowerPlastics Solid Safety Cover – is also a great way to reduce your pool’s power consumption? In our power crisis, if every pool were covered, it would reduce the need for loadshedding! Get covered, get the PowerPlastics Solid Safety Cover – the easy solution for child safety as well as sustainability. A total no-brainer! Get a quote today.

October 11, 2022
Bonitas – innovation, life stages and quality care

Don’t misjudge generics

Even though generic drugs have been around for more than half a century, many patients in South Africa are unreasonably suspicious of what is. In essence it’s a ‘carbon copy’ of the original brand of drug or medicine. Bonitas Medical Fund believe it may be because consumers think that if they are cheaper they must be inferior. This lack of understanding costs consumers and medical aids millions of Rands each year.

October 10, 2022
FYI Play it Safe

SEXTING, PORN & PREDATORS – UNCOMFORTABLE CONVERSATIONS CAN MAKE KIDS SAFER ONLINE

When it comes to keeping your children safe online, solutions such as parental controls certainly can help.  However, there’s widespread agreement that parents need more than one strategy, and all online safety efforts will be more effective if they are underpinned by open communications between parent and child.  It’s not hard for parents to have ongoing discussions with their child if they are about a topic like cyberbullying, which spans the physical and digital realms.  However, a number of the online dangers for children and youth are far more sensitive topics for conversation that will test most parents’ levels of comfort, especially when it comes to talking about sex and pornography or suicide and suicide ideation. Rachelle Best, the CEO and Founder of FYI play it safe, an AI-powered monitoring app used by families across the world to keep kids safer online, spends a large portion of her working time engaging with parents, teachers, children and youth about the online dangers facing young internet, gaming and mobile app users.  She has a wide-ranging view of how South African parents and their children are either currently tackling or avoiding difficult topics.   Rachelle says, “Parents have different levels of personal comfort with certain sensitive topics that can inhibit them from starting these conversations or responding appropriately if their children initiate them.  In these cases, the ‘not my child’ syndrome is commonly used to deflect from the need to have a conversation about a topic that is uncomfortable for the parent.  Typically, I come across those who will insist their child is ‘too young and innocent or naïve’ to have a conversation that is related to sexting or online pornography or child grooming by predators.  Others will say such conversations aren’t necessary because they trust their child to never look at sexually inappropriate content or engage with a stranger or potential predator.” Parents with ‘not my child’ syndrome’ are at risk of being blind to the ubiquity of online pornography and other content depicting overt adult sexuality.  For instance, latest research shows that while 75% of parents say that they believe their child has never been exposed to pornography, while 53% of children were comfortable admitting that they have been.  It’s likely many more would prefer to deny any engagement with pornography.  Inappropriate online sexual content is not the only concern; children and teens are also vulnerable when it comes to stumbling across or seeking out content around suicide, suicide ideation, self-harm and violence.   Furthermore, social media channels are not only online spaces where children and teens may encounter predators. They could meet potentially dangerous strangers in gaming chatrooms or on other communication app platforms as well.  This ever-evolving landscape, where new apps and games are launched daily, makes it difficult for parents to keep up and keep track of all the digital spaces where their children may be active.  Rachelle says, “This is why open communications forms the bedrock of child online safety.  Parental controls, and advanced monitoring and alert apps such as FYI play it safe are part of the layers of security needed, but one solution alone is unlikely to prevent your child from encountering harmful content.  You have a strong foundation to help keep your children safer online when you are taking an interest in your child’s digital life, talking to them openly about the risks and keeping a conversation going about how best to handle or avoid risks.” Why some parents avoid conversations about difficult topics with children Counselling Psychologist, Lekha Daya says, “There are topics that may trigger shame or a level of discomfort which a parent may not know how to tolerate, causing them to avoid a conversation.  There may also be a gap in parents’ understanding of their teenager’s world because it differs so much from their own experience of youth.  Some parents may feel inadequate at facilitating conversations about difficult topics and prefer just not to have them.  Others may be resistant to learning about and fully understanding the online world, especially when it comes to grappling with both the positives      and negatives of gaming and social media.  There are parents who have an authoritarian and critical parenting style that does not create room for ease in difficult conversations. In these cases, both teens and parents go into a defensive fight or flight mode where having an honest and open conversation becomes challenging, if not impossible.” Top tips for having hard conversations with your tweens and teens Start by being aware of yourself – Reflect on your own feelings of discomfort and/or shame that might be causing resistance and avoidance when it comes to dealing with important online safety topics.  It helps to be aware of your own anxiety      in your body when the topic is brought up – such as a tightening in the chest, quickening of the pulse or an urge to fidget.  Lekha says, “Self-awareness is a lifelong process but one that requires commitment from all parents to equip themselves in having difficult conversations. Building self-awareness for yourself as a parent and for your teen starts with understanding that your responses are often from your own childhood experiences and exposure.” Adjust your expectations – A conversation about a hard topic is a challenge, but you don’t have to be ‘perfect’.  Lekha says, “Self-compassion and allowing for one’s own feelings of vulnerability is important.  Know that you will not always get it ‘right’ in difficult conversations, and that’s okay. Sometimes, your teen might seem to have a knack of bringing up a difficult conversation when you feel unprepared.  Sometimes, you won’t know the answers to their questions. Take the pressure off yourself to have the conversation ‘perfectly’, and forge ahead with it rather than avoid it.  You don’t need to know it all, you can acknowledge what you’re not sure of or don’t know, and then open the conversation up again at a later stage when you’ve found out more. It’s important to be able

September 26, 2022
PowerPlastics Pool Covers

Pool safety for kids – what you need to know about solid safety pool covers

As a parent, you already know the importance of child drowning prevention and how quickly accidents can happen. What you perhaps didn’t know is that in South Africa, pool safety will become a regulatory issue, governed by the SABS through its building Standards.    According to the Safety Standard (SANS 10134), pool safety will need to be provided on all properties. The most effective way to address this is with a solid safety cover. But not all safety covers are made equal and it is important to understand the criteria when choosing a safety cover.  These are the questions to ask and the critical factors to get right if your safety cover is to perform as it should and keep unsupervised children (and pets) safe. After rain, does the water drain off within 15 minutes, leaving no water pooled on top of the cover? A compliant safety cover must have drainage holes.  Could an object measuring 114mm fit under the edge of the cover? This represents the size of a small child’s head.  Is the cover’s weight tolerance 220kg or more? Can two adults and a child walk on it without harm to themselves or damage to the cover? Are the batons supporting the cover manufactured for solid safety pool covers and able to carry the intended weight? Similarly, are the ratchets of adequate quality? Are the supplier and  the installer accredited by SANS 10134? Does the supplier provide official certification with the safety cover?  The PowerPlastics Solid Safety Cover is the leading child safety cover and complies with all the abovementioned requirements. Solid Safety Covers were first designed and introduced to the South African market by PowerPlastics Pool Covers. Many have tried to copy it but don’t always get the quality right. Cutting corners by using cheap components could result in a pool cover that is as unsafe as an uncovered pool if not even more dangerous, imagine being trapped under a defective cover! A Solid Safety Cover  is a specialist product, and requires specialist design and installation methods.  Go with the original and best in quality cover from PowerPlastics Pool Covers. You will be glad you went the extra mile when your quality safety cover stops a child or pet drowning in your own home.  Learn more at www.powerplastics.co.za 

September 9, 2022
Parenting Hub

Board of Little Experts’ Creatively Curates KidsCon 2022

Comic Con Africa is excited to announce that KidsCon will be back this year and form part of Africa’s largest multi-genre pop-culture and gaming festival. Curated by an impressive ‘Board of Little Experts’, this years’ show will set KidsCon apart, as the ultimate immersive experience – a festival just for kids, designed by kids. Collocated with, and taking place throughout the entire Comic Con Africa weekend at the Johannesburg Expo Centre from 22 to 25 September, KidsCon will have something for all little fans. Bringing together everything that dreams are made of, and more. KidsCon has heightened the experience and selected several of the brightest, and coolest kids between the ages of 7 and 11 to form a ‘Board of Little Experts’, which plays an important part in deciding which cool elements make it to KidsCon this year.  “With almost 60% of Africa’s population under 25 years old, listening to, and taking direction from the kids on the ‘Board of Little Experts’ is vital in shaping not only the most incredible festival experience, but it also lays the foundation for an intuitive, inclusive and representative society. They grow up with technologies and tools many of us could only have dreamt of at that age. Plus, they have a brilliant way of thinking outside the box that can surprise even the most creative of adults,” said Carla Massmann, Comic Con Africa Show Director.  ‘Board meetings’ might sound boring… but this is where we find creative ways of discovering what’s fun out there and what they want. Coming from different backgrounds, having varying interests and opinions on topics such as gaming, fashion, food, books and so much more, makes the board more dynamic and fun! From doing unboxing reviews, engaging in conversation, comparing what they like and don’t like as well as voting on certain games, gadgets and kids gear, the ‘Board of Little Experts’ provides welcomed insight on what South African kids want to uncover at every turn.  “Even though we can’t bring a spaceship to the show or build a hall out of candy quite yet, our little experts have wonderful insights into the things that excite them. We also build incredible content with them, such as unboxing, game reviews, and art tutorials to name just a few. This year’s board have really surprised us, sharing so much creativity and inspiration, they are a confident bunch that give us a taste of our future leaders and go-getters ” continued Massmann. Kids have an incredible four days of fun to look forward to this year with more activities on offer than ever. There’ll be daily Kids Karaoke competitions, along with that are super-fun Just Dance challenges, Mario Kart races, Transformer Speed Builds, and so many other activities taking place live on the Kids Con stage every day! Families can now look forward to a bigger and better KidsCon experience with daily cosplay and dress-up competitions with some stunning prizes. Other highlights will include the latest and greatest in toys and kids lifestyle product, KidsCon Comic and Art, Kids Tech, and of course tons for our Gamer Kids to thrill and delight.  One of the highlights in the gaming space  will be the KidsCon E-sports tournament powered by RGB Gaming. The two-day tournament will see 64 players from 16 schools duke it out to decide who walks  away with bragging rights and stunning prizes as the top team of the event. There will also be two days of free play where everything from robotics, esports and game-based learning to coding, build challenges, and 3D printing will be available to experience. Buy your tickets today for the ultimate family day out and learn about all the amazing things Comic Con Africa and KidsCon has in store for the little ones by clicking HERE.

August 23, 2022
Parenting Hub

How to install your car seat and correctly strap in your child correctly for optimal safety

According to the law, children under the age of three have to be strapped in when travelling in vehicles on South African roads.  The type of seat your child needs depends on several things, including your child’s age, size, and developmental needs. Once you’ve established what car seat you’re after though, correctly installing it and knowing how to strap in your child is the next very crucial step to securing your child’s safety when in a vehicle. According to Maxi-Cosi car seat manufacturers, their seats are among the safest you can buy, but all car seats need to be fitted and used correctly for safe travel and maximum protection. Here are their top tips for car seat safety: Install car seats correctly Baby car seats must always be rear facing. If you have ISOFIX in your car use an ISOFIX car seat, it’s easy to install the seat to the anchor points. If you don’t have ISOFIX you can use a seat belt installed car seat. Make sure you know how to guide the belt correctly and pull the car seat belt tight. Make sure the seat is locked down – a simple check is to check if the car seat is moving around a fair amount, in which case it’s not installed correctly Pull the car seat’s safety harness tight. If you can just slip one finger between the harness and your child’s chest, it’s tight enough. Read the car seat manual or watch the installation video and follow the instructions carefully. Various baby stores can also install carseats for you and check that your seat Secure your child correctly Always use a car seat, even on short trips It’s obvious, and it’s the law, but we still sometimes see children travelling without a car seat. Accidents can happen, even on the shortest trips. Use a rear-facing car seat for as long as possible It’s safest for babies and toddlers to stay in a rear-facing car seat until they are at least 15 months old. It doesn’t matter if their legs stick out, but if their heads are higher than the seat shell, they need the next size. Avoid second-hand car seats You can never be sure a second-hand car seat is a safe car seat. You don’t know if it’s been damaged in an accident, or has pieces missing. Use the correct size car seat It’s best to buy a car seat for your child’s current height and weight, then buy the next size up. Avoid seats that claim to cover all ages in one. Make sure the safety harness is at the right heightThe harness should be at shoulder height.    Take your child’s coat offA thick coat can make the harness less effective. If your child is cold, use their coat as a blanket over the harness. Beware of activated frontal airbagsThe safest place for a rear-facing car seat is on the back seat, passenger side. This avoids the danger of front airbags inflating against the seat. Deactivate the front airbag if you use your car seat on the passenger seat and place this seat in the rearmost position. Make sure the safety harness straps are not twisted. Keep loose items off the rear parcel shelfIn an accident, even small loose items can turn into dangerous projectiles. Tuck them away safely. Follow these tips and enjoy lots of fun, safe outings with your child.

August 21, 2022
PowerPlastics Pool Covers

Pool safety on housing estates and gated communities

Eliminating risk and ensuring compliance  The estate lifestyle in South Africa has boomed in recent years, creating high demand for family properties on estates. While these communities are favoured for security and convenience, estate homeowners with pools have slightly different factors to consider when it comes to child safety and pool maintenance, according to PowerPlastics Pool Covers.  The most important factor for estate pools is ensuring child safety and preventing drowning accidents. In fact this is a regulatory issue, governed by the SABS through its building Standards. Where there are no individual boundary walls or fences enclosing each property in an estate, the pool can be considered a drowning risk.  According to the safety Standard (SANS 10134), pool safety must be provided on each property. The most effective way to address this is with the SABS-certified PowerPlastics Solid Safety Cover that comes with a safety certificate. A homeowner can be asked to prove compliance at any time, including when selling the property.  PowerPlastics Pool Covers was the original company to design what is now the best-selling solid safety cover in South Africa. Compared to other safety methods like fences or nets, this cover forms a complete barrier over the water, allowing for safety as well as reduced maintenance costs.  Water saving and water management becomes important where estates are developed around natural ecosystems and residents have sustainability to consider too. One can’t simply let backwash pool water drain into the ecosystem as the chlorine poses a threat to the natural ecosystem. Either the chlorine must be greatly reduced or eliminated, or the waste water must be dealt with in via another responsible process.  In summer, the average pool can lose up to 105 litres a day to evaporation. With a solid safety cover, evaporation is curtailed almost entirely, and chlorine demand can be reduced too, given that the water is kept clear of dirt and debris. Pump time can also be decreased, allowing for power savings. The cover ticks all the boxes on child safety as well as sustainability.  Compared to the old covers and nets that used hooks and eyelets, the cover is simple to use. It can also be semi-automated for further convenience. The cover supports 220kg and uses a baton and ratchet system to create the tension with no fiddly hooks and eyes. A range of colours allow it to blend in with the home’s outdoor area. There is also an option to print custom content on the cover, such as graphics and photos for user-inspired flair. It is important to note that pools with elaborate designs and features can be tricky to cover with a solid safety cover. The decking or coping should not be restricted by rocks, fountains and flower beds. However, PowerPlastics Pool Covers has a Special Projects team that can design covers for these trickier pools.  Order your pool cover today and don’t take chances. Anyone can drown, no one should!  Learn more about the PowerPlastics Solid Safety Cover https://powerplastics.co.za/powerplastics-solid-safety-cover/  Get valuable safety tips from TopStep, the home of pool safety – a PowerPlastics Pool Covers educational resource for drowning prevention and pool safety. www.topstep.co.za  You can also download the TopStep Child Drowning Prevention Handbook.  If you need a better understanding of the safety compliance regulations, contact PowerPlastics Pool Covers who will take you through it. www.powerplastics.co.za 

August 11, 2022
Kumon

TIME MANAGEMENT FOR KIDS: HOW TO HELP YOUR KIDS EXCEL

Time management for kids is a life skill that can set them up for success. It is particularly important for children to learn time management at an early age in order to be successful in their education, as well as other areas of life. Having time management skills as a child is important because it allows them to focus on priorities and accomplish tasks without feeling overwhelmed. But how does one establish good time management skills? We put together some steps to help you work with your child to develop these essential skills. 1. Help them become aware of their time It’s important to remember that time is limited. When considering all the tasks to complete, break them down into sections by prioritizing and planning. Talk with your child to help them know what is urgent and important to ensure that is where they begin. Explain the breakdown to your child to show them that time is being allotted for different topics such as school, extracurriculars, family events, etc. 2. Define priorities It helps to know what needs to or should get done. For school activities, make sure to have discussions with your child’s teachers or review the assessment information that comes home to know the main areas that need attention. Talk with your child to help them understand the importance of each task and then develop a routine that will ensure enough time is set aside for each activity. Discuss these priorities and let them know that their schedule can be made to give them time to focus on these tasks. 3. Create a schedule and develop a routine Once you have an idea of what to focus on, create a daily and weekly schedule together with your child. Make this process fun! You can do this by allowing them to work on a visual board with pictures or writing down the time slots on a calendar and colour-coding, adding stickers or decorating it with drawings. 4. Break down goals A schedule will help plan time, but what is done in that time depends on your child’s goals. Compile a checklist to encourage them to know their goals and work independently to accomplish them. For example, if your child needs to learn three new maths concepts, they may need to focus on assignments that help master them. In other words, they may need to read and practice examples in the textbook. It may even be chores that should get done after school. Plan out the goals to know what to focus on in the timeframe. This will help them feel less overwhelmed and help to track progress for each goal. 5. Track progress and reflect on time spent As your child continues to complete tasks, track their progress to see if there are any areas for improvement or accomplishments to celebrate. Together you can reflect on what happened within the time frame to see if they need to reassess their time in the future and understand how to plan accordingly. Also, your child can see how their time well spent led to an achievement, which will encourage them to continue setting aside time and planning for future goals. 6. Celebrate even the small wins One of the biggest motivators for kids when it comes to time management is celebrating small wins. Completing tasks and becoming closer to the main goal is a huge accomplishment! Be sure to celebrate the successes by praising your child and encouraging them to continue making strides while managing their time. Seeing that their hard work resulted in something positive will make them more inclined to continue these efforts in the future. The Takeaway Time management for kids may seem like a challenge, but it is beneficial to establish this life skill early with them. Focusing on these steps when completing schoolwork is a great place to begin, as other tasks will likely fall into place throughout the process. Being able to manage time as a kid will help them feel less overwhelmed and in turn make them feel more accomplished and confident in completing tasks throughout all areas of life.  The Kumon Maths and English programmes not only help children to improve academically but also develop other life skills which including goal-setting. Should you be interested in learning more about Kumon and how it can support your child, visit www.kumon.co.za  This article is taken directly from the KUMON NORTH AMERICA website:  https://www.kumon.com/resources/how-to-help-your-kids-with-time-management-skills/

August 11, 2022
Mindscape Education

Education Vs Teaching – What is the difference?

In this article, we explore these differences and how both play a role in moulding our children’s learning experience. “A child educated only at school is an uneducated child” – George Santayana 1863 – 1952, philosopher and Harvard Professor.  Ponder that for a while. What about this one – attributed to Albert Einstein (who?) but in fact, its true origins are unknown.  “Education is what remains after one has forgotten what one has learned in school”. These are rather deep statements, and the reason I say this is as follows. I find that many parents often think that if their child is not actively working i.e. reading or writing or learning things off by heart, then they cannot possibly be learning.  We ourselves are products of a schooling system that was one size fits all.  Everybody sat in a classroom, which had been arranged neatly in rows, and the teacher Presented material, and we Practiced the material until it was Perfect.  There is so much more to an education than what a child is taught in the classroom or the space inside your home that you have dedicated to home schooling.  The opportunities for an education are endless and present themselves on a daily basis. An education is something whereby a child is offered far more than only content and material.  An education is also about common sense (although I don’t know why it’s called common sense.  If it was indeed common, more people would have it).  Having self-awareness and awareness of others, being kind to one another.  Having empathy, compassion and respect – that’s an education.  Teaching is the imparting of facts, the transference of subject matter from a teacher to a student after which the student is tested to see how well the teacher delivered the subject matter and whether the student retained it.   We need to break out of this traditional mould and review what we value more – our kids simply being taught, or the education they receive.  Both have their place, indeed, but I’ll leave you with one more quote from the already-mentioned Mr. Einstein.  “Education is not the learning of facts, but the training of the mind to think”. Disclaimer – The views expressed are that of the author C. Wickham Interested in homeschooling your child? Feel free to Mindscape Education, e-mail info@mindscapeeducation.co.za or call (+27) 11-704-0687. Visit the Mindscape Education website to find out more about our curriculum options.

July 28, 2022
The Bridge Assisted Learning School

Little kids, big feelings – helping young children manage anger

The past couple years have had a tremendous impact on the mental and emotional wellbeing of most people, and young children have not escaped the impact of Covid-19 and the lockdowns in this regard. Parents may have seen a change in their children, including increased instances of anger outbursts, sometimes of the explosive kind. “There has definitely been an increase worldwide and in South Africa of children struggling to manage anger and anxiety – outbursts that are quite distinct from run of the mill so-called tantrums which some children exhibit under normal circumstances,” says Educational Psychologist Dr Greg Pienaar, Principal at The Bridge Assisted Learning School, a brand of ADvTECH, Africa’s leading private education provider. The Bridge, which opened its doors in January 2018, has filled a niche demand in education, catering to students of average to above average ability who face certain learning barriers and social or emotional challenges. Pienaar says that parents whose children exhibited out-of-character anger outbursts, with an increase in frequency or intensity, may have been left baffled by these incidents. “The first thing to note is that, given the unusual circumstances of this year, this behaviour is relatively normal. However, having said that, parents definitely need to address the situation to ensure it is resolved, and seek help should they struggle to do so,” he says. A September report by the Centre for Disease Control (CDC), noted that Covid-19 affected children directly and indirectly beyond getting sick or the threat of them or their loved ones falling ill. “Many children’s social, emotional, and mental well-being have been impacted by the pandemic. Trauma faced at this developmental stage may have long-term consequences across their lifespan,” the report said. Listed as contributing factors to this impact were: Changed routines Breaks in continuity of learning Breaks in continuity of healthcare Significant life events that were missed Loss of safety and security “All the above factors, and many others, mean that children have had to deal with a major and historical life event at a very young age, when they are still learning to process feelings and emotions. Unusual behaviour may have arisen as a result,” Pienaar says. “This includes anger outbursts, simply because children often don’t know, or don’t have the tools, to express their feelings effectively when they are young. Anger is their way of communication, their way of telling you there is a problem.” Essentially, the misbehaviour is the language the child has available to express themselves. So, parents and teachers need to respond appropriately to meltdowns and not immediately react with harsh punishment, arising from their own anger. It is important to model calm and considered behaviour at this point, Pienaar says. “The most important first step is to understand that there is a reason for the meltdown, and then to determine what that reason is. This involves spending time with the child, and communicating as effectively as possible,” he says. “Remember we as adults have the ability to understand what is going on, even in our uncertainty. But our children were faced with a tremendous amount of unexpected and immediate changes, ranging from wearing masks, having to social distance, giving no hugs or not seeing important people in their lives. Children had to learn to grow up and face fear of death, uncertainty and the fallout from their parents’ fears and anxieties before they were mature enough to handle these big changes and big feelings. So it is not reasonable to expect all children to just have absorbed these changes and coped forthwith.” Pienaar says to bring the situation back to normal, parents should ensure they: 1. GET ALL ROUTINES BACK TO NORMAL AS SOON AS POSSIBLE Try to get life at home back to a predictable routine, explain why it is necessary and why everyone is going to stick to it. Children need predictable routines, boundaries and restrictions to give them the parameters in which they can explore and thrive. 2. HARNESS ‘IN THE MOMENT’ SITUATIONS Under normal circumstances, an anger tantrum may call for a timeout. However instead of timeouts, try time-ins. Sending children away and into isolation may sometimes worsen the situation. Rather take the child for a walk, or sit in a park, and be there for them. Discuss the feelings the child is having, and discuss how the child can manage those feelings in an alternative way. Listen and learn. “Remember that there is a difference between a tantrum and an outburst of anger, although they may seem similar on the surface,” Pienaar says. “A tantrum occurs when a child doesn’t get his way. The way to address this is to consistently not indulge the demands of the child, which ultimately allows the child to learn that the parent will be consistently enforcing rules and boundaries, and that tantrums are pointless.” Anger issues however point to larger problems outside of the child’s control. “Developing a close connection with the child, spending quality time and developing language around emotions, is the best way to empower a child to manage their anger effectively. If this does not help, and the outbursts continue or escalate, it is advisable that parents seek additional intervention to address the matter early and before greater emotional trauma develops.”

July 27, 2022
Kumon

4 EASY WAYS TO ADD MATHS TO YOUR EARLY LEARNER’S DAILY ROUTINE

Whether you realise it or not, we use maths concepts to solve real-life situations every day. From cooking with recipes to figuring out the correct money to give at the store, maths is everywhere. Teaching your children fundamental maths skills at a young age is easier than you think! With research stating that 80% of a child’s brain develops by age five, it’s important for parents to take advantage of the critical early years. The great news is that children are naturally curious and often question the world around them, so there are many chances to naturally weave in learning opportunities. By just adding a little maths to your everyday routine, you can help your toddler or preschooler begin to recognise numbers, learn the proper number sequence and eventually develop the ability to count. Here are four easy ways to add maths into the everyday routine for early learners: 1. Play simple card games Learning about numbers is the first step in a preschooler’s maths journey. In addition to using number flash cards, playing card games using regular playing cards is another great way for children to learn about numbers up to 10. The cards between two and ten not only have the numbers on them, but also the amount of symbols that represent the quantity. The pattern on the cards helps children to conceptually understand what the number represents. 2. Count outdoors or with items you use each day To help your preschooler learn to count, start by heading outdoors. Find items in nature that can be easily counted, such as the petals on a flower, the leaves on a branch, or even trees in the yard. Ask questions such as: “How many flowers have pink petals in the garden?” “Which flower has more petals than the others?” “How many red leaves are there?” These questions will spark their curiosity to explore the answer. If needed, help your child by pointing and counting with them. By modelling how to do it, your child will feel encouraged and motivated to count with you before doing so on their own. You can also count items you use each day such as different foods or toys. 3. Sort and understand groupings Look for teachable moments during everyday play. While playing with their toys, ask your children to sort by colour, or by similarities, or by differences. You can even introduce sorting during clean-up by asking them to put toys into the right bins. One great place to start with sorting is by using different coins. These all vary in size which makes sorting by their differences simple without introducing the values of each coin. Once you show the differences of each coin, help sort these out into different groupings. For example: “Can you count the ten cent pieces? Let’s put them into groups of 10.” Once you master sorting out the ten cent pieces and setting aside the groupings, then you can count the total. Repeat this with the various other coins. 4. Cook to teach measurements and shapes Not only is cooking useful, it’s a great way to learn maths. Begin by finding an easy and fun baking recipe. Some will call for measurements such as “two cups of flour” or “three teaspoons of baking powder.” You can have your child help with counting these measurements out with you. Next, work with your child to form shaped cookies and count as you lay them on the baking sheet. Young children tend to notice the different sizes, for example, one giant cookie versus 24 mini ones. You can then get different sized plates and ask questions like “Which plate holds the most cookies?” or “How many cookies fit on the blue plate?” This will encourage your child to think through this by experimenting and counting different groupings. Maths is something we turn to for everyday tasks. With these simple tips, your child will begin learning some maths concepts without even really knowing they’re learning. It is great to start teaching these skills at a young age to get them prepared for Grade R and ensure they are on the right track for their academic future! This article is from the KUMON NORTH AMERICA website: https://www.kumon.com/resources/4-easy-ways-to-add-math-to-your-early-learners-daily-routine/ 

July 27, 2022
The Bridge Assisted Learning School

Neurodiversity: How to support a Dyslexic child?

Children each learn and develop at their own pace, and reading is no different from any other skill. However, for some children they find it challenging at one point or another. They battle to build, recognise and manipulate the sounds in language. They also have difficulty in decoding words.  Often children battle with barriers to learning, which may include dyslexia.  Studies show that dyslexic children face many difficulties in their academic and social surroundings. Also, they suffer from a low self-esteem because of the lack of accomplishments, particularly in academics, which may affect their long-term life opportunities. Therefore, parents’ awareness about dyslexia and the impact it has on their child is imperative in ensuring support as well as a sustainable development of their child. At the Bridge Assisted Learning school we aim to work with our parents to create environments both at home and school that will be conducive to learning. Much can be done to alleviate this by utilising the following interventions, both at school and at home, in order to develop processes to support a comfortable confidence and self-esteem within children battling with dyslexia. These include:  Explicit direct instruction in phonological and phonemic skills. The intervention also needs to include ‘The Big 6 of Reading’: oral language, phonological awareness, phonics, vocabulary, fluency and comprehension. Font style: The most commonly referred to fonts for people with dyslexia are: Comic Sans, Verdana, or Arial. It does not matter which font is used, it is more about using the particular font exclusively, so that the person becomes accustomed to the font used. A specific font developed for dyslexic people can be found on the Open Dyslexic website (www.OpenDyslexic.org).  Open Dyslexic is a free font to use for the children who are battling with dyslexia. The letters are spaced out and wider in some instances. Also, when you use any font for a child with dyslexia, always justify left: it spaces the words out evenly and makes it easier for the child to read. Time constraints: Always provide extra time for students with dyslexia, especially for reading tasks. Always allow additional time in test or exam situations. Lowering the stress when learning is taking place: Create a learning culture where making mistakes lead to learning. Provide adequate time for thinking. Don’t place too much stress on children to read aloud in front of other people. Children with dyslexia should be aligned with an empathic teacher mentor. Building reliance and self-esteem: Dyslexia impacts on the social and emotional well-being of the child. Use terms of encouragement when talking to your child. Parent activities: Try to nurture children’s love for stories. Encourage them to collect books and build their own library and practice reading their favourites with them. Also invest in audio books that you can listen to while driving to school that gives phonetic sounds to practice. Showing them that you care and that you are just as invested to help them succeed.  Children don’t outgrow dyslexia, and their troubles with reading can affect how they behave in school. However, with the right teaching and support, children can overcome reading challenges and learn coping mechanisms to make them thrive in school and throughout their life.  By: Dr Greg Pienaar, Principal at The Bridge Assisted Learning School

July 18, 2022
Good Night Baby

When the ENT comes to the rescue

Sleep is so essential for our children’s overall development and health, but we cannot address sleep habits if there are medical reasons for a child’s restless nights.  There are a few ear, nose and throat (ENT) related conditions that can contribute to poor sleeping – let’s look at the two most common causes amongst infants and toddlers: Adenoid hypertrophy or enlargement Any form of a blocked nose causes difficult, uncomfortable and noisy breathing while sleeping.  The most common cause for a chronically blocked nose that an ENT specialist diagnoses are enlarged tonsils and adenoids. Adenoids are lymphoid glands that form part of your immune system.  They are located behind the nasal cavity where they trap viruses and bacteria or allergens that try to enter and infect the upper respiratory tract.  When they are constantly exposed to viruses or bacteria (for example at creche or school) or even to allergies, they enlarge and block the passage where air needs to pass from the nose to the airway.   Adenoids are often enlarged in children, but shrink as we grow older and our immunity improves.  Adenoid hypertrophy causes snoring, a blocked and runny nose, nasal voice, mouth breathing and postnasal drip with night-time wet coughs. Severe cases can even lead to obstructive sleep apnoea where your child stops breathing for a few seconds at a time.  Your child will snore loudly and wake sporadically during the night due to these pauses in breathing and will not be able to enter the deeper part of sleep. In the long run this is detrimental to their sleep and overall health as essentially, they are not getting enough oxygen to their bodies and their hearts and lungs must work extra hard.  It can lead to failure to thrive and poor growth, behavioral problems, poor school performance due to lack of concentration, enuresis (bed wetting) and even heart failure.   Middle ear infection or effusion The middle ear has a natural drainage pathway to the back of the nose called the eustachian tube.  Any fluid build-up in the ear from inflammation or an ear infection is supposed to drain naturally via the eustachian tube.  When the adenoids are enlarged and block the eustachian tube’s opening, this cannot occur and fluid builds up and becomes stagnant in the middle ear.  This leads to recurrent infections or chronic fluid build-up called an effusion.   You know the feeling you get when your ears need to pop when landing in an aeroplane?  That is the pain a child has almost constantly when there is pressure build up in their middle ear, especially when lying down and there is increased blood flow to the head.  That is enough to keep anyone awake at night.  Not only is it painful for children, but it can cause difficulty in hearing and eventually delay their speech development because of the muffled sounds.  In severe cases it can even affect their balance.  Some mothers notice how their infants walk differently when their ears are acting up. These conditions are very common in infants from around 6-8months of age into toddlerhood and if the above symptoms are present, it’s best you visit an ENT specialist.  There are certain medications that can be prescribed if caught early to try and reverse the inflammatory process and essentially shrink the adenoids, but often it requires surgery.  The surgery is a low-risk, quick procedure where the adenoids are removed through the mouth (often combined with a tonsillectomy) and grommets can be inserted into the eardrums to drain the fluid. Once these medical conditions have been resolved there will be a marked improvement in their sleep and a child that already had well-stablished sleep habits, will often return to sleeping well once they are feeling better. What can you expect from their sleep once they have been treated? Waking early: Suffering from any of these conditions affect both the quality and quantity of your child’s sleep. Some children become so accustomed to poor quality sleep that once they finally get helped, they find themselves waking up at the crack of dawn refreshed and ready for the day. They’ve never slept so soundly before, and it can take your child a while to adjust to sleeping more appropriate hours. White noise: Once ears are cleared of fluid, some children become hyper-sensitive to the white noise in their room. You can temporarily reduce the volume and remember to never exceed 50 dB once you turn the volume back to normal. Discomfort: This will need to be addressed and you should offer your child comfort and reassurance. Once they are feeling better go back to your plan and ensure that they don’t become reliant again on any unsustainable sleep associations. Short term-use is often not the problem, it is allowing the bad habits to creep back in permanently that becomes an issue. Once your child is feeling better and has recovered, go back to their normal routine. Often sleep concerns after a procedure are easily resolvable and your sleep-trained child will undoubtedly surprise you with how well they bounce back. If your child slept poorly prior to the procedure, look at contacting a sleep consultant for some assistance. Quality sleep is vital to your child’s health and well-being and they certainly deserve a good night’s rest after what they’ve been through. By Dr Nina du Toit – ENT and Tammy Buitendach – Good Night Consultant www.drninadutoit.co.za

July 11, 2022
The Papery

Dreaming big is the first step towards achieving your goals

All successful people men and women are big dreamers. They imagine what their future could be, ideal in every respect, and then they work every day toward their distant vision, that goal or purpose.” —Brian Tracy. Here are 10 good reasons why it is important to Dream BIG It allows the mental freedom to think about what you really want out of life. Helps you forget all the reasons why you can’t make it a reality. Motivates you to see the big picture. Gives you a renewed feeling of purpose. Opens up a world of possibilities. It doesn’t cost anything to dream. Dreaming gives us hope. The more you dream big, the more likely you are to succeed. People who dream big are generally happier than people who settle for less. Dreaming helps us determine what our goals should be. “Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world.”—Harriet Tubman What is the difference between a dream and a goal? Dreams are something you create in your mind that can take any shape or form and can be quite abstract, while goals are based on taking action. With goals, a lot of focus and attention is needed. Dreams, on the other hand, don’t need that kind of focus. What does dreaming big involve? Dreaming is not necessarily only about the actual dream, it is also about setting the tone & having the tools to help make those dreams become a reality, which is why we have created the “DREAM BIG” journal to help with actualizing your dreams. During this process, we help create goals out of your dreams, by writing them down, although the action taking part, is far more fun and much more about creating the right headspace to turn them into a reality. “The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.”—Eleanor Roosevelt. What kind of big dreams do people have? Dreams can be anything from things you want, things you want to do, a way of being, your health, holidays to beautiful destinations, a specific lifestyle, happiness! There is no limit to what we can dream possible for ourselves. So many of our dreams at first seem impossible, then they seem improbable, and then, when we summon the will, they soon become inevitable.”—Christopher Reeves How can the Dream Big Journal help you get started? It’s all about bringing emotion into the dreams – when we add emotion & feeing to our dreams, they are far more likely to become a reality. Having a special place to write your dreams. Writing down your dreams, putting pen to paper, is like a writing a birthday wish list to the universe. Going back and reading through them often, helps keep those dreams top of mind. Remember when you read through those lists, feel the emotions you would feel if you had those things in your life. Pictures often stir up different emotions to what words do. Creating a vision board gives us a different way of feeling our dreams. We encourage you to use all your senses by doing the exercises that are included in the journal. Some of the exercises are there to help you to be more mindful and present. Doing what lights up your soul is one of the most important ways of actualizing your dreams because it conjures up the same feelings and emotions that your dreams would make you feel – Alison shares a personal story about this below. Giving attention to your dreams daily will also bring you closer to your dreams. A personal story from Alison! At the beginning of February this year, I decided to set myself a goal to swim every day that month. Most days this was really easy, although some days were harder as it rained or the wind was howling (and freezing), or the water was really cold. But I was determined to stick to what I had set out to do. When I got to the end of the month, I realised how much it was benefiting me. It felt like everything in my life was going along with ease.  Swimming in the sea and the beautiful views are really my happy place, which left me feeling in a constant state of happiness and gratitude. I had got myself into a very good routine of waking up early, working for a couple of hours and then taking this amazing break to go and swim and have a wonderful cup of coffee, before continuing with my day. It felt like my time was limitless, I got through so much more work, and especially focused work. I decided to carry on for another month and eventually kept going all through April as well.  For now I have had to stop due to a small op that needs recovery time out of the sea water. I am still going to the beach and walking (dipping my toes in the water) and will be back full body in the water as soon as I am allowed to! It has become about so much more than the swimming, my kids have been joining me, such special time with them, my little dog absolutely loves our morning outing – there is so much connection & benefit in this daily ritual! The reason I am sharing this story, is that doing things that light up our soul and connects us to our hearts, is very much part of making our dreams come true in the nicest possible way. While I am out there swimming and drinking coffee, I feel like I am filling up my happiness cup, and this is spilling over to all areas of my life, making me feel joyful and abundant and allowing me to realise many of my dreams at the same time.

July 11, 2022
Catrobatkidz

JUMPING

Anyone who’s ever seen a child jumping knows what the face of true joy looks like. Jumping is one of the simplest, cost effective workouts that combine fun and fitness together, providing physical, health and educational benefits to children, young or old. Best of all is that jumping is enjoyable and can be done any time of the day, anywhere. The Benefits of Jumping For children who are averse to taking part in sports, jumping works really well by getting a workout without realizing it! Healthy Heart Cardiovascular health has become one of the primary concerns in children. Jumping is an important cardiovascular exercise that gives the heart a healthy and organic workout. It helps the blood to circulate properly throughout the body ensuring that oxygen is pumped more efficiently. So, you can encourage your child to do this fun exercise and ensure the proper functioning of their heart, making them feel healthier and more alert. Plus, it is a great way to keep weight down! Stronger Core Muscles When children jump, they learn to control the movement of their bodies, which involves virtually all major muscle groups in the body. The core muscles are used to jump and land alike. This is how the core is strengthened. Jumping motions, with simultaneous impact and flex to keep the body going up and landing, allow the joints and muscles to move, strengthening both muscle and bones and increases endurance. Strong legs can take us very far in life, and children who jump can get the benefits of muscular limbs early on. No more getting tired and begging you to carry them after only half an hour of walking! Improved Learning Jumping increases a child’s metabolic rate, helping the child’s body to process nutrients faster and more efficiently. This helps to keep their weight down, leading to a fitter, leaner toned body, which boost self-esteem. In addition, while jumping, the body produces mood-enhancing substances, that is why children are happy and joyous and find it a fun exercise. Jumping creates a balance in the child’s mind. With happiness comes an ease of learning. Children who jump regularly tend to be better at study, grasp things easier, and have a sharper memory, improving their learning abilities. Jumping strengthens both the mind and the body! Motor Planning & Sequencing Jumping requires continuous motor planning and sequencing – skills that allows us to plan and execute our movements in order to safely navigate our environment. When jumping, the child uses motor planning to judge distance, evaluate how much power is required to jump and land, plan movements, and then execute the jump in the proper sequence. Strong Lymphatic System Jumping activates and stimulates the lymphatic system which manages the levels of toxins in the body. When toxins are managed well, it helps keep diseases away and improves the immune system. Better Co-ordination Jumping helps children understand their bodies better. They have to concentrate on a number of skills at the same time: bouncing, balancing, maintaining the body’s position, and anticipating the next action. Both sides of the brain and body have to work together while controlling different muscles and limbs at the same time as one another. This greatly improves, and has a positive impact, on bilateral motor skills and overall coordination. Weight Loss Jumping is great to help tackle weight issues and is very helpful with weight loss. Children can do this easy workout and burn a lot of calories on a daily basis. Jumping means a leaner body and more flexibility. Jumping can burn around 100 calories in only ten minutes – You can do it too!

July 7, 2022
CambriLearn Online Education

Education: Nature vs. Nurture

As a parent, how often have you questioned whether your parenting techniques have made fundamental impacts on your child’s development or are they inherently “who they are” based on their genetic build-up? The nature vs. nurture debate is a longstanding question and popular parenting discussion that has fascinated phycologists for decades.  Nature refers to genetic and hereditary influences passed down from our parents and grandparents, from physical appearance to our personality characteristics. Nurture refers to environmental influences such as early childhood experiences, parenting styles, social relationships and community.   In the past, this debate commonly took a very one-sided approach with contributors drawing a line in the sand and arguing that it was either nature or nurture that had the most significant impact. Today, most parents will agree (through first-hand experience) that both factors play a critical role in a child’s development.  Have you ever considered this question in relation to your child’s education and the way in which you approach their schooling? In this article will take a closer look at this question and unpack some ideas on how a child’s learning environment and schooling model impacts their ability to retain information and how this affects their willingness to learn.  Teaching styles In a recent interview, CambriLearn student and Mensa member Christopher Oosthuizen says; “I like to be taught how to think and not what to think”. From this 8-year-old’s brilliant mind, we can see how important it is for our teaching methods to reflect the child’s preferred style of learning. With such a profound and analytical mind, Christopher thrives on self-empowerment, learning through experimentation and being provided with the right tools to discover learning concepts. For Christopher, homeschooling provides an optimal learning zone​​™.  Natural abilities No two children are the same and therefore they will not learn in the same way or at the same pace. There is simply no one size fits all solution to education and creating a personalised learning journey based on a child’s natural abilities is the best chance to ensure educational success.  As a parent, you might prefer to read a manual whilst your child might prefer to see instructions in a diagram format. Parents should celebrate and strategically approach each student’s preferred learning style in order to promote optimal learning and knowledge retention. According to the VARK system, there are four types of learning styles – visual, auditory, reading/writing and kinaesthetic. This short quiz can help you better understand your child’s preferred learning style Learning environments  One of the key factors when instilling a child’s love for learning is to consider their learning environment. One child may enjoy online learning through interactive online materials and gamified learning platforms whereas another child may learn better through one-on-one tutor support.  A child’s learning environment has a direct and lasting impact on the way in which they absorb and retain information. Parents need to consider which learning environment best suits their child’s unique needs in order to harness their love for learning. This liberates them to pursue their own interests and teaches them how to manage themselves throughout their education journey.  Understanding your child’s preferred learning style can be a difficult task, consider taking this online quiz to help shed some valuable insights on your child’s optimal learning environment. 

July 7, 2022
Paper Video

Effective Study Techniques and Methods

Yes, there are in fact effective study techniques that can help learners retain information better and they’re not based on fiction or chance, but years of scientific research. Study smarter not harder. We’ve all heard or read the saying at some point in our lives, but what does “studying smart” actually look and is there, in fact, a science to prepping for your exams. Studying comes naturally for some while others find it challenging. Regardless of your love or hate for the books, effective techniques that help absorb info is a different concept entirely, and it’s one that educators and psychologists have researched for years. Studying “right” starts with understanding There’s a small obsession amongst educators, phycologist and physicists to understand the concept of absorbing information quickly and keeping it locked away for as long as possible. While there has been an endless debate, one thing they can all agree on is that the work should be understood first and foremost. If learners aren’t understating the material, they’ll find it difficult to retain it which is why tutoring platforms have been becoming increasingly popular, helping learners understand over and above simply studying the material. Paper Video’s is one such platform where learners from grade 8 to 12 can unpack challenging subjects like Maths, Physical Science, Life Science and Accounting through video lessons, past exam papers and teachers that help explain the work. Studying effectively is not just about getting information into our brains to pass an exam, it about saving time and effort, and remembering the work well-beyond that final paper. Plus, once you understand what you’re learning studying will feel like a breeze. Find study techniques that work for you. There are no one-size-fits-all approaches when it comes to a study technique that works, and “Learning Styles” is a concept that is slowly but surely being taken off the table. For those who don’t know, “Learning Styles” is a theory that indicates whether or not people are Visual, Auditory, Read & Write or Kinaesthetic learners. New research published by the American Psychological Association stated that there is no scientific evidence to support this concept. In an article published by the Atlantic in 2018, Daniel Willingham, a psychologist at the University of Virginia made a compelling case whereby he stated: “People have different abilities, not styles. Some people read better than others; some people hear worse than others. You can’t visualize a perfect French accent, for example.” He went on to say that people should not think of themselves as visual, verbal or some kind of learner, “Everyone is able to think in words; everyone is able to think in mental images. It’s much better to think of everyone having a toolbox of ways to think, and think to yourself, which tool is best?” So, how do you know what study technique works? With no clear recipe to success amid all the mind maps, rhymes, notes and re-reading, and if not for a “learning style” how can we tell what works and what doesn’t?  Luckily there is science and proven research that tells us what techniques should do and how they should affect learners. Ask yourself: Does the technique help me engage with the material (not just reading)? Does the technique help me track my progress, (a test of some sort)? Does it involve repetition? Does it make me more efficient? Am I retaining/remembering information?  Scientifically backed Study Techniques Remembering or retaining information is a challenge that can be traced back to when German Psychologist Hermann Ebbinghaus first identified the “the forgetting curve” in 1885. It was and still is, a hypothesis that highlights how information or knowledge that gets stored in the brain is lost over time if the individual does not attempt to retain it. Now, to us in the 21st Century, it might not sound so ground-breaking, people forget things. But back then, Ebbinghaus identified a problem and gave it a name and scientists love nothing more than to solve a good problem. That’s why they dedicated their careers to finding ways that can help humans study better and retain information successfully and here are a few of our favourites. 1. Interval studying Call it what you may: the spacing effect, distributed practice, spaced repetition or interval studying, it’s a method that was identified by Hermann Ebbinghaus in his book: Memory: A Contribution to Experimental Psychology. While Ebbinghaus identified the forgetting curve he also gave us a snapshot on how to overcome it: Spaced out repetition. A study by the American Psychological Association showed that the method was 96% more effective than massed repetition, otherwise known as cramming (Cepeda 2006). Conclusion? Spacing out your studies over several short periods helps you remember better, so stick to short bursts, but keep them focussed. It’s not about how much time you have, but what you do with your time that counts. 2. The Leitner technique The technique was created by German science journalist Sebastian Leitner and is a learning technique based on flashcards. The technique also adopts interval studying as part of the method, so learners will be studying in short spaced-out bursts. The technique uses several boxes to help track the flashcards you need to study, and each box represents the amount of time and effort learners would need to spend on certain cards. Here’s how: Every card starts in Box 1 If you get a card right it moves to the next If you get a card wrong, you move it down a box How many boxes you have is up to you, but most educators vouch for three or four.  3. Pomodoro study technique If you’re prone to distractions or if you lose focus easily, the Pomodoro method is used universally not just as a study hack, but as a way to help people increase their productivity. It’s a time management system that encourages short, intense bursts of work for about 25 – 30 minutes. Once the time is up, you stop working and take a 5- or 10-minute break. The technique

July 6, 2022
Parenting Hub

A guide to making blended families work

Do you fear that you’ve become the evil step-monster? It’s so easy to feel like that, especially with blended families becoming the societal norm. Telling a child what to do, especially when they are not your own, can be tricky business. Yes, children are the gifts that keep giving, but let’s not joke: they can also be crafty little critters and can sometimes put serious strain on a marriage. When two families come together, things don’t often run smoothly. Between children resisting change, the parents trying to accommodate different personalities and rotating between two different households at any given time, things can become extremely rough. Some things you may consider when trying to blend families: Planning for your blended family: Everything needs planning – absolutely everything. When you and your partner decide to merge your two families, keep in mind that things don’t always go smoothly. Respect is earned, not demanded. Step-sibling relationships can be particularly sticky, especially when alliances are formed. Plan for bonding sessions and make your new family get to know each other. Lay foundations and set boundaries: Children do best when routine is not disrupted. To this end, one should strive to keep life as normal as possible, and this is done by laying foundations and setting boundaries. Remember that too much change at once can unsettle children. Find ways that all of you can maintain your routines. Don’t allow ultimatums or manipulation to happen, as this is a dangerous foundation to lay. Conversely, don’t be too harsh – after all, the “you’re not my real mom” argument is infamous for a reason. Also try to limit expectations – you shouldn’t expect to fall in love with other children instantly (and vice versa). These things take time. Keep all parents involved at all times: So as not to “step on anyone’s toes” you should strive to maintain a good relationship with your ex, and encourage your new partner to do the same. Ex spouses respect being kept in the loop when it comes to their children, and the kids benefit when there is no animosity between the various parents. In some cases, this can certainly be a very difficult thing to maintain, but civility is free. Court battles, on the other hand, are not. According to helpguide.org, the following should be observed: Listen respectfully to one another Address conflict positively Establish an open and non-judgmental atmosphere Do things together – games, sports, activities Show affection to one another comfortably If you are struggling to keep the family together, it may be a good idea to consult with a professional and get some advice on a way forward. It’s not always easy to keep everyone happy, and sometimes you just need a bit of assistance. If a child is expressing particularly excessive anger towards a parent or step parent, if favouring starts to happen and alliances get formed, or members of the family openly avoid each other, seek advice from a psychologist dealing with family matters.

June 30, 2022
PowerPlastics Pool Covers

Drowning myths and signs of a drowning in progress

A reminder that pool safety is a year-round responsibility for parents and pool owners and that child drownings can almost always be prevented if the right steps are taken.  Should an accident occur in your pool, knowing what a drowning in progress looks like and a quick reaction can make a big difference to the child’s prognosis. Take a moment to familiarise yourself with the following indications of a drowning and please share widely with other parents.  Always keep the pool covered with a PowerPlastics Solid Safety Cover to prevent child drownings.  Find these and more tips about pool safety from TopStep and PowerPlastics Pool Covers. www.topstep.co.za www.powerplastics.co.za  Myths about drowning Television has a lot to answer for when it comes to how drowning is portrayed and there are many myths out there. Be aware of the signs and remember that the appearance of a drowning can vary widely.  Myth #1: Drowning children will shout for help Drowning children are physiologically unable to call out. The respiratory system is designed for breathing – speech is the secondary function. Drowning children’s mouths alternately sink below and reappear above the surface but while their mouth is above the surface, they need to exhale and inhale before they sink again. There is not enough time to cry out.  Myth #2: Drowning children wave their arms to attract attention or will thrash in the water Drowning children cannot wave for help. A person who is drowning cannot perform voluntary movements such as waving or moving towards a rescuer. Envisage the surface of the water as a platform. Someone who is drowning often presses down on the surface and tries to use it as leverage to get their mouth above the water’s surface to breathe. So what the onlooker sees are arm movements that can appear to be playful swimming. Children will not kick wildly either. They remain upright in the water with no evidence of a supporting kick. They are quiet, focused only on breathing and show no signs of violent struggle. The child’s struggle is quick — 20 seconds, whereas an adult struggles for 60 seconds. Myth #3: Drowning children are unsupervised children 50% of all child drownings will occur 25 metres or less from an adult who was distracted for only a few seconds.  Myth #4: My child has had swimming lessons so he/ she won’t drown No child is ever drown-proof, no matter how good their swimming skills. A few swimming lessons are no guarantee when it comes to drowning prevention.  Myth #5: Water wings and flotation aids will prevent drowning Water wings give a dangerous and false sense of security, often making children think they are stronger swimmers than they actually are. Flotation aids can also suddenly deflate. Myth #6: My children are older and can swim so my pool is fine left uncovered Children who drown are often short-term visitors to that property. It could be your neighbour’s child who comes over the wall to play, your domestic helper’s child who comes to your property during school holidays or visiting grandchildren and friends’ children – you will have children visiting who can’t swim and the pool needs to be secured for them too.   What does a drowning in progress really look like? Being able to identify a drowning in progress means you can react quicker and increase the chances of a full recovery. Familiarise yourself with these behaviours:  Head low in the water, mouth at water level  Head tilted back with mouth open Trying to roll over onto the back to float Hair falling over the forehead or eyes Body is vertical/ upright  Eyes glassy & empty, unable to focus Eyes open, with fear evident on the face Hyperventilating or gasping Trying to swim in one direction but without progress Sometimes the most common indication that a child is drowning is that they don’t look like they’re drowning. They may look like they are treading water and just looking up at their surrounds. One way to be sure is to ask them, “Are you alright?” If they can answer at all, they are probably fine. If they give a blank stare, you may have less than 30 seconds to get to them and prevent a drowning occurring right before your eyes.  Remember, children tend to make a noise in the water. If they’re quiet – get to them ASAP! Most people imagine Picture A is an accurate depiction of a drowning in progress. In reality, Pictures B & C are more accurate – mouth at water level, head bobbing, body upright, little to no splashing and sometimes the appearance of doing doggie paddle.

June 22, 2022
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