Parenting - Parenting Hub

Advice from the experts

How to raise a problem solver

Are you as worried as I am about the children of the new generations and their ability to solve problems? With the increase in the number of helicopter parents (parents who “swoop” in to make everything all better) and a generation of highly sensitive kids, how well are our children going to be able to identify and solve their own problems? This isn’t actually a new problem but it seems to be getting worse. Many years ago I taught college courses part time and it was back then that I noticed an increase in the number of parents coming to see me during my office hours, complaining about the grade I gave their young adult child. Instructors today tell me it’s gotten even worse, with some parents even popping in to see the class for themselves. Making the commitment to raising your children to become problem solvers first requires that you accept the fact that every problem can only have one owner. That person must be held responsible for solving the problem but can certainly seek out and incorporate help from others around him or her to solve the problem. If your teenager puts a dent in the family car, she owns that dent. She may obviously need help in getting it fixed, but she still owns it. To begin with, every time your child or teen comes to you with a problem, you must first determine yourself whether your child owns the problem or you own the problem. If you own the problem, take immediate measures to solve it quickly. If your child owns the problem, be ready to help him or her solve the problem. The following incident is an example to learn by. My son came running into the house one Saturday, holding his arm and complaining about a small abrasion from a fall he took out in the yard. A quick examination of the boo-boo and a few questions left me feeling confident that there was no internal damage and there really wasn’t any blood that I could see. Because I did not feel that there was anything I needed to do that my child couldn’t do for himself, it became his problem to fix. I first acknowledged that the minor scrape was a problem for him by saying to him, “It looks like your arm might hurt.” He nodded. I then helped him begin problem solving by saying to him, “What do you think you could do to make that arm feel better?” My coaching him to solve the problem felt uncomfortable to him so he said, “You’re my Dad, YOU do something.” I replied with, “You’re right, I am your Dad and I’ve always done things in the past, but this time, I want to know what YOU think you can do to make that arm stop hurting.” Instantly, my son said to me, “Can we wash it off and put a bandage on it?” I replied with a smile, “What a great idea! I could help by getting the box of bandages down from the cabinet for you.” Within a matter of minutes and of course, with some “Ouches!” he washed the boo-boo and applied the bandage, and off he ran to continue his play outside. Today that young man is in his early 20s and solving problems every day as a much sought after restaurant manager! Let your children and teens solve their own problems with your guidance and coaching, while you’re nearby to help them do it. What problems will YOU begin letting your child solve on his or her own today?

February 10, 2022

A Valentine-A-Day for your children

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

February 9, 2022

10 Ways to celebrate Valentines Day

Are you looking for new or even classics to take your Valentines Day through a whole new journey? To create a momentous, time-freezing day with the one who has your heart? Just a small idea can lead to one of the best experiences to look back on together. 1. Staycation in your city Travel your city to a new destination. A trip not too far from home, but a vacation it is. Destinations including tourist attractions and lounges can be just that breath away from reality and inside your very own story. 2. Tour the city Whether you’re on a staycation or staying at home, an adventure-filled date across the city is magical. How often are you able to explore your own city out of enjoyment? Why not take the opportunity to, with your favourite person. 3. Picnic Paradise A hike filled with laughter, chatter, and joy. A climb for the sun at a nature reserve or even a beautiful hill near home. Lay out a picnic of your favourite goodies and meals, readying to sit and gaze at the beautiful sunset together. 4. Keen on being at home? Each partner choose a movie you both love, and to deepen the surprise, each person order a seamless delivery with food you think the other would enjoy. 5. Time of our lives The perfect, underrated moment of time to bond with your partner is making a time capsule, full of all things that bring your smiles, when you’re reminiscing once more. In the future, when you notice your growth together, and fall in love with your memories, you’ll even find joy in recollection of creating this time capsule together. 6. Classic cliches You can’t go wrong with rose petals or even her favourite flower petals, champagne, and twin fuzzy robes. You could light some new scented candles and just spend the moment with either pedicures or even binging your favourite shows. Its your day together, why not get creative with your time. 7. Romance in a drink If you and your partner are filled with a passion for tastings together, a romantic wine tasting is for you. An elegant way to start your celebration, and to spend time pretending to be a judge could spark some charismatic delight. 8. Chaos in the kitchen You and your partner can plan a homemade dinner, where you cook a new recipe together. You could even have your very own cook-off. A little competition to see what masterpiece, or monster mess-up, you create! 9. Your man’s heart Food. It’s a wonderful for of love between one another. A cute, delicious idea is frying up some bacon and making a bouquet of bacon roses to eat in a yard or lounge picnic. An extra idea is turning the rest of your date into a game day containing all the games you’ve been waiting to play. 10. A day of mystery A day of mystery? An escape room date. A thrilling way to work together and become closer by the end of all the excitement. its the ultimate team building exercise to further use each others strengths and to laugh at it all once you’re on your way home.

February 8, 2022

Homeschooling: How to Raise Happy Kids (and Parents)

It is safe to say that parenting through a pandemic has dished out a few lessons on how to cope with the daily dose of mom guilt. People speak of the ‘new normal’ and we slowly find ourselves levelling out – back into the daily routine. But things are different now; it has become a little harder to take life for granted and to just ‘get on with it’. Because the last two years changed us, all of us. The Year of Banana Bread 2020, the year of the banana bread, the year of loungewear and the year that the parents became the teachers. At first, homeschooling was a temporary replacement for a traditional classroom setting. The change was driven by necessity, not by choice. And whilst “panic pandemic homeschooling” is not a true reflection of an optimal online schooling model, it did turn out to be a wonderful consolation prize for many families. The onset of the pandemic catapulted us into online work environments, homeschooling and online shopping. We learned to quickly appreciate the benefits of online learning platforms like CambriLearn, which offers an all-in-one online education from pre-primary to matric. When we look back on the lessons learned in parenting through the pandemic, we can now see some silver lining to the experience. More and more people are now realising the potential and benefits of remote work and school environments and have put measures in place to reset and restructure the work and education aspects of their lives. Many parents have experienced first-hand that their children learn better when they want to learn. When they have a vested interest in the content and how they are exposed to the subject matter. The best educational setting is the one that helps a child achieve their goals, that makes the most of their abilities, and meets their unique personal needs. Are you paying attention? With challenges like anxiety, ADD, ADHD and other special needs we have to ask ourselves – is there one schooling option that is right for everyone? Or should we be paying more attention and investigating more personalised approaches that suit each unique child? With six-hour school days on top of extramural activities on top of extra lessons, children (and parents) are under pressure. Homeschooling has opened the door to alternative education solutions that better serve the diverse needs of our children. When I grow up, I want to be healthy and happy Logan Laplante is a 13-year-old boy who hosts a popular TEDx Talk episode about his homeschooling experiences. In a profound moment in the video, he talks about what he wants to be when he grows up. His answer is simple and one that we as adults so often forget. “I want to be healthy and happy,” he says. As parents, our number one goal for our children should be for them to grow up to be happy. And we can only hope to raise our children in a way that enables them to learn from our own pursuit of happiness. What is the right (school) choice for your child? The right education solution for your child should be the one that allows them to study in an environment that supports their individual needs, rather than one that casts them into a one-size-fits-all mould. CambriLearn offers a personalised, flexible and self-paced learning solution to suit each child’s individual needs. With over a decade of experience, their online learning platform has been tried and tested by more than 3.5 million students worldwide. Their interactive course content and teaching methods promote optimal knowledge retention and help instil a child’s love for learning – throughout their schooling career.

February 3, 2022

Health at School

The school year is in full swing and children are as busy as ever with all their activities and homework. By following a few lifestyle tips you can keep your child healthy and cut down on their sick days says Bonitas Medical Fund.

January 30, 2022

10th anniversary of World Read Aloud Day – Here’s the story

If, ‘The journey of a lifetime starts with the turning of a page,’ thenNal’ibali – South Africa’s reading-for-enjoyment campaign – has been the catalyst for millions of lifetime journeys. Nal’ibali, (isiXhosa for ‘Here’s the story’), was founded in 2012 to spark children’s potential through storytelling and reading. Each year since, it has been leading literacy change in SA by galvanising adults into reading with their children through its annual World Read Aloud Day celebration. What is World Read Aloud Day World Read Read Aloud Day (WRAD) is a sustained initiative to promote a culture of reading aloud with children amongst families, parents, caregivers, educators and society. 13 401 children were reached with Nal’ibali’s first call to action in 2013. In 2021, the campaign, together with its partners, read aloud to over 3 million children. The growth of this initiative suggests that South Africans have embraced the call to read aloud on the day. Reading is the foundation of education, and Nal’ibali works hard to promote reading and literacy throughout the year. Signing up 1 million families As opposed to previous years when Nal’ibali’s focus has been on increasing the number of children being read to on WRAD, in 2022 the target remains 3 million children. However, the NGO aims to sign up 1 million families, with the help of partners such as Standard Bank, Liberty Community Trust, VW and City of Cape Town Library and Information Services to commit to reading regularly to their children over the next three years, starting on WRAD. The importance of families ‘Where schools play a key role in teaching children the mechanics of reading, families play an equally key role in helping children to fall in love with stories and books,’ says Katie Huston, acting Director of Nal’ibali. ‘Children who regularly hear fun and engaging stories understand how books work and are more motivated and better equipped to learn to read themselves and to keep reading.’ Research also shows that families who participate in WRAD keep up a sustained habit of reading and sharing stories. Family literacy is essential for many reasons; one of the biggest is that when family members can read and write, it helps break the cycle of poverty. Here’s the story ‘For children to enjoy a story, they must be able to understand it! Because of this we commission a brand-new story in all 11 official South African languages each year,’ explains Huston. The story is also made available in South African Sign Language and Braille through partners, SLED (Sign Language Education and Development) and Blind SA. ‘We then encourage adults everywhere to pledge to read it aloud to children on the day,’ Huston concludes. This year’s story, ‘A Party at the Park‘, was written by Mabel Mnensa, author of the children’s book ‘Kantinga Finds the Perfect Name.’ This year’s story, ‘A Party at the Park‘, was written by Mabel Mnensa, author of the children’s book ‘Kantinga Finds the Perfect Name.’ Reaching into Africa ‘A Party at the Park’ has also been translated into an additional six languages (Swahili, Shona, French, Chichewa, Portuguese and Lingala) to cater for the approximately two million children who are foreign nationals living in South Africa. In addition, neighbouring African countries have been invited to join Nal’ibali’s WRAD celebration. This is a landmark step for the campaign as it starts to build a pan-African resolve to get children and families reading, and share its reading resources beyond South Africa’s borders. Get the story and pledge to read aloud Members of the public can join Nal’ibali’s 2022 WRAD celebration by making their pledge to read the official story with their children on Wednesday, 2 February via the campaign’s website, www.nalibali.org, or by WhatsApping ‘WRAD’ to 060 044 2254. The official story is available for free download from these platforms and pledgers can choose to keep reading with Nal’ibali throughout the year by opting into its family-reading programme. Pledgers are also encouraged to share pictures of their read-aloud sessions online, tagging Nal’ibali (@NalibaliSA) or using the hashtag #NalibaliWRAD2022.

January 28, 2022

LIFELONG LEARNING – IS THIS A SKILL THAT CAN BE TAUGHT AT SCHOOL?

Nowadays, we frequently hear about the importance of ‘lifelong learning’. But what is this? Lifelong learning is a self-driven, sustained pursuit of knowledge and experience that inevitably enhances our personal and professional lives. The mantra of a lifelong learner is that there is always more to learn. In our personal lives, lifelong learning leads us to new frontiers and into exciting worlds based on the individual interests we pursue in our free time. In our professional lives, lifelong learning compels us to build on our work skills-sets; helping us to stay relevant in the fast-changing world of work, increasing our competitiveness in the job market and opening up new and better work opportunities. Across these interconnected spheres, lifelong learning tends to lead to greater fulfilment in life, and often enhances our capacities for personal development, active citizenship, and social cohesion. Should lifelong learning be taught at school? We asked Mark Anderson, Principal of high-engagement online school, Koa Academy, and he says: “Lifelong learning is a skills-set encompassing both ‘hard’ and ‘soft’ skills. School is where it starts formally. There are technical, practical skills when it comes to learning such as time management and self-management which can be taught and reinforced in the school environment. There are also ‘soft skills’ which are taught through modelling, coaching, and practicing over time. Developing these skills rests on the foundation of an essential spark that ignites a desire and an enjoyment of learning which you find in high engagement school environments. Children are innately curious, and curiosity is the major driver of learning. The school environment, as well as the home environment, need to keep triggering that curiosity which creates the opportunities to develop the skills and self-motivation to keep learning. It is this that opens up the pathway to a lifetime of continuous learning.” How do our kids ‘learn to learn’, and how to think about their learning? Mark says, “The best place to start with young people is to help them figure out their individual interests as well as why we learn certain things in school. We also want to develop key skills which make learning easy – like being able to prioritise, organise and manage time effectively. We also want to nurture a high sense of personal investment in learning – the idea that my learning benefits me personally and significantly, which helps develop learners who are highly self-motivated. The last thing you want is your child to finish Grade 12 and still have to be told what to study, when to study, how to study and – especially – why to study!” Lifelong learning is a game changer for our future adults. Some of the many benefits include being able to identify and reach personal goals more easily, increased financial opportunities, healthier brains, higher self-confidence and self-motivation, and improved social skills. Discover Koa Academy here

January 14, 2022

BUSTING 3 BIG MYTHS ABOUT ONLINE SCHOOL

We are almost two years into the global pandemic with its many restrictions on day-to-day life, and the digital world has played a vital role in ensuring continuity of our work and our kids’ schooling. Our uptake of digital tools and platforms has been vastly accelerated; we’ve acquired new digital skills and knowledge; we’re far more open to possibilities and options that tech has opened up for us – and, there’s no going back. Mark Anderson, Principal of high-engagement online school, Koa Academy busts three of the common myths around online school: I will have to teach my child – “When traditional schools were forced to transition to online teaching, many parents were required to pick up some form of teaching role from home. However, when an online school is designed specifically for the online space, learning has a distinct pedagogy and online teachers have particular skills to facilitate learning on the digital platform. At Koa, it is the professional teacher’s role to guide your child through the school curriculum, freeing parents up to be parents, much as they are in the physical school environment. My child will not get socialization – “Parents need to choose a school, online or physical, that suits their values and aims for their child’s education and school experience. Socialization at school comes through the intentional creation and maintenance of a high-engagement environment. There are physical schools that do well at this, and others that don’t. Same applies to online schools. At Koa, children come together in small 8-person Pods with their teacher which makes socio-emotional development a key part of every school day. Our kids are learning how to be responsible, sociable digital citizens as well, which is preparing them for a very real world where our activities and work are increasingly digitalized.” The qualification is not equal– “It is true that parents need to be on the lookout for unregistered and underequipped institutions, looking simply to capitalize on opportunity. However, accredited online schools offer the same curricula and recognized qualifications as physical schools. Like every aspect of our lives in these fast-changing times, schooling and tertiary studies are transforming and being disrupted by better ideas and improved tools. As parents, we are challenged to keep abreast of these developments and to recognize that our child’s education and further studies will and should be different from what we experienced. The world has, and continues to change rapidly and dramatically, and it is the role of school to prepare our children for the real world they will encounter as adults. In many ways, a well-designed online school like Koa offers a more robust preparation for the future world of work and life.” Discover Koa Academy here

January 7, 2022

Boston Online Home Education

The pandemic-led digital transformation enabled online learning to provide a seamless school year, keeping learners on track despite the onslaught of the Covid waves. Furthermore, the digital age also created new avenues of possibilities for parents and learners choosing home education as an alternative to the old-style school curricula. As a pioneer in private education specialising in online and distance learning over the past 30 years, the Boston group is a key player in this environment, extending their educational expertise to support parents and learners embarking on a home education journey with reliable services via Boston Online Home Education, visit https://www.bostonline.co.za As a registered Cambridge International Associate we create credible online pathways for parents of home educated learners toward the attainment of school-leaving alternatives that are internationally recognised for entry into leading local and global universities. “Our mission is to provide access to global opportunities for home education parents and learners. For this reason we have chosen to support the renowned Cambridge curriculum with strategically designed learning materials and technology. This uniquely prepares learners for the future, honing higher order skills of comprehension, understanding and application,” says Katz about the Boston group which has become one of only five international associates listed on the Cambridge International website, https://www.cambridgeinternational.org/why-choose-us/find-a-cambridge-school/ Future ready skills: Critical thinking According to the World Economic Forum critical thinking and problem-solving top the list of skills employers believe will grow in prominence in the next five years. This is a key competency required in the Fourth Industrial Revolution and a transferable skill that can be used across subjects and careers. “In a world where knowledge has become a vital currency, it is essential that learners are able to think critically about content,” says Eli Katz, executive at Boston Online Home Education (BOHE). A central focus of the Cambridge curriculum is to avoid rote learning and emphasize higher order skills and its application. “Our aim is to support parents and learners so that they gain valuable life skills and competencies including analysis and evaluation of information that can be applied in different contexts, enabling them to problem solve and make meaning of complex issues. We are excited to support parents and learners who choose the Cambridge curriculum” says Katz. Boston Online Home Education Support includes various Cambridge paths. The Cambridge International Certificate of Education (ICE) for learners turning 14 in the first year of registration and who have achieved a Grade 7 or 8; the Advanced International Certificate of Education (AICE) stream is for learners turning 16 in the first registration year and who have achieved either a Grade 9 or 10 or the ICE. Learners also have the option to register for Cambridge examinations in respect of individual Cambridge IGCSE and AS subjects to supplement their existing studies especially for those learners who wish to enter more demanding faculties such as medicine or engineering post school. Cambridge awards are recognised by universities in South Africa and globally, including Ivy League institutions. As a registered Cambridge International Associate our staff have access to the Cambridge Support Hub so that we can provide relevant, comprehensive and up to date support to ensure alignment with the Cambridge curriculum and realise your child’s preparedness for these examinations Quality Course Content As a registered Cambridge International Associate we provide credible support mechanisms and services required to support your child’s home education success in the Cambridge curriculum. Amongst the challenges faced by parents is ensuring that their children have access to quality content and assessments whilst being able to monitor their progress. The Boston platform provides parents with a specific login feature to co-participate in their learning journey. Boston has developed a comprehensive offering mapped to Cambridge guidelines. In addition to live lessons and educator support which provide personal attention to each learner, the Boston methodology includes extensive recorded video lessons, summaries, e-books and assessments with triggers being sent to parents so that they are able to monitor progress and track performance. This also allows learners to revise material at their own time and their own pace until they fully grasp the content instead of feeling pressurized in a classroom setting. The live lessons then allow for classroom interaction and facilitates educator-leaner engagement and discussion. Our personalized learning approach is further enhanced by individual counselling sessions. Advanced technology infrastructure The use of the Boston’s artificial intelligence (AI) model assists with detailed reporting, data analytics and diagnostics for parent to determine strengths and weaknesses throughput the learning experience. Learner progress is further monitored through access to a range of formal and informal assessments, facilitating detailed feedback to parents and learners, enabling relevant academic intervention throughout the learning process. “ It is essential that we harness technology but intertwine with human intervention to create a learning experience focused on the individual”” says Katz. Social Interaction Boston encourages social interaction through multiple opportunities to engage online with other home educated learners. In this way, learners can enjoy a local and global social network. A variety of activities such as digital music production, journalism club, app development, public speaking and even online chess tournaments are made available. Parents who require further information and assistance, can speak to a Boston counsellor or visit our website: www.bostonline.co.za or send an email to: info@bostononline.co.za

January 7, 2022

8 Survival Tips for Christmas without Your Kids

As the festive season approaches, you might be dreading Christmas without your children. Whether it will be your first time or you have accumulated many bad memories of lonely Christmas Eves and days, consider this: 1. Accept it This is the reality of your separation and divorce. Instead of pondering everything you have lost as a result of it, embrace a new era with abundant opportunities to make positive changes, renew and gain a blessed future. Teach your children to be resilient and look forward to the new way of celebrating Christmas. 2. Drop the Guilt You don’t need to take all the blame (or blame your ex-spouse) for the way things are now. Your separation or divorce has changed your lives irrevocably and that is all right. Forgive yourself (and your ex) for your mistakes and move forward with enthusiasm. Going on a guilt trip is no way to spend a holiday. 3. Have a Christmas Spirit Remember the purpose and meaning of celebrating Christmas? Focus on displaying an attitude of reconciliation, forgiveness and grace. Honour your personal beliefs and celebrate your rituals uninhibited, but at the same time, be respectful of the beliefs and rituals on the other side. Set a good example for your children, as they will also be facing the same Christmas without you. 4. Minimise the Pressure Let go of all the pressure you have always put on yourself, to make it a memorable event for everyone. The responsibility does not have to rest on your shoulders alone. Depending on the ages of your children, invite them to contribute their ideas for a merry celebration and encourage them to start doing something special for your family too. Every member of a family has a role to play in accomplishing successful festivities. FREE Weekly Online Support Circles for Divorced Moms and Divorced Dads 5. Indulge in the Solitude Have compassion for yourself during this time and spend the day within your emotional means. Don’t force yourself to do something or be somewhere you are not comfortable with. Rather spend the day doing your favourite things or even something you can never do when your kids are with you. A little quality time with yourself, to rest and revitalise will go a long way in the new year. 6. Stop taking Responsibility for your Ex You are not responsible for the way your Ex behaves about arrangements with regard to the festive season. You might experience it as inconsiderate, spiteful or deliberately hurtful, but you cannot bend over backward to try and make up for it, for your kids. Each parent has to go on living a separate life and children need to adjust to the differences realistically. How the children spend Christmas with their other parent, is not up to you. 7. Do not Burden your Children No matter how terrible you might be feeling about your pending suffering, do not burden your children with your trepidations. They cannot adjust successfully and enjoy Christmas if they are feeling guilty about leaving you alone or feeling sorry for you being without them or constantly worrying whether you will be alright. Free them from feeling responsible for you and encourage them to have a good time. You will feel a whole lot better when you see the relief in their eyes as you take that weight off their shoulders. 8. Be practical Create new Christmas traditions with your children and celebrate before or after their return. Plan ahead to ensure that you have somewhere to go if you do not want to be alone. Make prior arrangements to contact your children and wish them a merry Christmas, wherever they are. If you and your ex are on good terms and your respective families are comfortable with it, spend Christmas together.

December 22, 2021

Beloved SA muso, Majozi, joins Koa Academy as Head of Culture

High engagement online school, Koa Academy has announced the appointment of proudly South African creative, Majozi as their new Head of Culture. The SAMA-nominated musician is well-known for ‘wearing his heart on his sleeve’ and for crafting hit songs conveying his inspiring perspectives on life. Learners at Koa Academy, who engage with their teachers in small 8-person Pods, will get to interact with Majozi in a range of experiential arts and culture projects that aim to develop real-life skills. Koa Academy CEO and Principal, Mark Anderson says, “We’re delighted to warmly welcome Majozi into the Koa family. As a professional musician, he’s walked the artist’s road himself and has incredible insight into how young people in South Africa can grow life passions, develop meaningful interests and pursue careers in arts and culture fields. As a successful working creative, Majozi’s appointment as Koa’s Head of Culture represents the unbundling of education and enables Koa to focus on giving our kids more opportunities to discover their talents and pursue future careers which may typically have fallen outside the usual scope of traditional schooling.” For many years, traditional schools have been seen as a sort of ‘one-stop-shop’ for all things related to a child’s learning and future opportunities, often leading to limited resources being stretched thin and a steep rise in school fees. The emergence of online learning has largely enabled the unbundling of education, with parents able to leverage the best options available for each element of their child’s learning. Koa guides parents to take full advantage of those options, with Majozi leading the charge in the creative arts. In his role on the Koa leadership team, Majozi will be responsible for providing strategic and practical direction when it comes to Koa’s approach to arts and culture. From January 2022, Majozi will feature at parent webinars and give school assembly presentations. He will provide coaching to Koa staff on how best to identify and grow individual kid’s talents and artistic interests. Majozi will also be hands-on involved in the design of more Koa Clubs and courses with an arts and culture focus. Majozi says, “Ever since I found my talent in music and started my career, I wished that my education around arts and culture started at an earlier age. When I was growing up, I think arts and culture were misunderstood and often just a side thought in South Africa. I’d love to help change that mind-set and help learners to embrace and value their creativity in whatever form it takes. Even if a future career in arts and culture is not for them, all learners can gain so much by engaging with experiential arts and culture education. They can learn appreciation, understanding, creativity, teamwork, history, and so much more. That’s the beauty of arts and culture, it really has many fascinating subjects that can be explored within it. I want the Koa learners to feel like they are enough and their ideas matter. I’d like to boost their confidence and let them know they can do anything they put their mind to. We’re going to break the ceiling that the world may already have put on their creativity.”

December 20, 2021

THE JOY OF SCHOOLING FROM HOME

As we reflect on this academic period, we are delighted with the amazing successes of children who are learning from home. While there has been significant frustration with school systems around the world, where schools were opened and closed, curricula were reduced, tests and examinations were adapted, school was online and offline, and mask wearing, social distancing and sanitising was enforced, children who are learning from home have continued their education as normal. And they have flourished. They have excelled academically. Some have accelerated significantly on their academic pathway. Their creativity, critical thinking, collaboration, and communication skills have developed, and their research and technological skills have been enhanced. They have become more confident and motivated. It gives me joy to see children playing, socialising, finding new interests and trying new sports. There is no anxiety, as they are not being pressurised to perform in a system which does not value each child’s unique character, interests, and abilities. I delight in seeing children playing with their pets and spending quality time with their families. I hear the calm in parents’ voices as their children take responsibility for their learning and they see their improved development. THINKING ABOUT SCHOOLING FROM HOME? At this time, you might be reflecting on your child’s schooling, and, like many other parents, you might be considering the best way forward for your child. I would like to encourage you to consider embarking on the exciting journey of schooling from home. It might look daunting, but with guidance and support, it is a lot easier than you think. There are many options available to support parents and children to learn from home. Take the time to carefully consider your child’s interests, passions, talents, and ambitions, and, also consider your family situation, so that you can find the best solution for your child. It is important to thoroughly research the many methodologies and curricula before you decide on an educational solution. In my experience and with the research I have done in education and development, I have found Cambridge International qualifications to be an excellent option for students to obtain a matric and to have the choice of further study. CAMBRIDGE INTERNATIONAL QUALIFICATIONS Cambridge Assessment International Education (CAIE) is part of the University of Cambridge and provides international education qualifications for children worldwide. Reasons to obtain a Cambridge International qualification Internationally recognised Cambridge International qualifications are accepted by South African and international universities and by employers across the world and are recognised to prepare and equip students with the skills they need to succeed at university and beyond. Develops attributes for future success Learners develop a deep understanding of their subject and learn to apply their knowledge. They develop the ability to solve problems creatively, to think for themselves and to do their own research and to communicate what they have learned. Students are encouraged to be confident, responsible, reflective, innovative, and engaged. Challenging and inspiring Students are challenged to develop their potential and are encouraged to utilise their strengths and to pursue their interests. They learn in depth and develop higher order thinking skills. The approach encourages students to draw on local context and culture so that their learning is relevant. Prepares students for life Students develop an informed curiosity and a lasting passion for learning. They develop thinking and learning skills which prepare them for the challenges of tomorrow’s world and to shape a better future world. Matric and university exemption with Cambridge International qualifications The Cambridge AS Level qualification is a matric qualification that is internationally recognized as one of the best in the world. The incredible resources and methodical delivery of the curricula ensure that your child is getting the best education available. For matriculants, Cambridge offers an international qualification that is a less stressful option than the South African National Senior Certificate. Instead of writing all exams in one sitting, Cambridge offers IGCSE and AS Level exams (Grade 11 and 12) over different sittings. Your child could write some subjects in November, others the following June and still have a third opportunity to write subjects the following November. Fewer subjects are required and there is a range of subject choices and qualification combinations. In addition, once your child has written and passed a subject, the certificate is issued by Cambridge Assessment International Education (UK) and your child will not need to write the subject again, unless they choose to. This means they can concentrate on their remaining subjects. There is no age limit to write subjects with Cambridge International. Why our children and parents love the Cambridge way “It is organised.” “We know what to expect. When we start, we know what is in the syllabus, which textbooks to use and what the exams look like. It is easy to find past papers and answers, so we can do as many past papers as we need, to practice for exams.” “We can set our own pace, work when we like, and do as much work as we need to. We don’t have to sit in a class all day and wait for everyone to catch up. We don’t need to listen to a teacher reading from the textbook.” “It is a lot less stressful.” “It is a much better way to learn than school.” “Exam marking is unbiased.” GLOBAL VILLAGE COLLEGE The delivery of the Cambridge curriculum by Global Village College is a complete educational solution for students and parents to school from home. Global Village College provides it all at your fingertips 24 hours a day. We introduce your child to the Cambridge curriculum so that the transition from other curricula is seamless. We offer Academic Pathway consultations to help your child choose subjects for IGCSE and AS Levels and to plan their pathway to write exams. We provide course material and subject specialist tutoring. We have a variety of options and can recommend the one that best suits your child and your involvement as a parent.

December 17, 2021

PLAY IT SAFE THESE HOLIDAYS

It’s the long school holiday season again, a time when we enjoy long days with family and friends and listen to squeals of delight as our children run around and enjoy the warm weather. It is also a time which brings a harvest of injuries to our children. “Bored children are more likely to investigate new ‘risky’ objects and areas. Children like to explore ‘new territory’, therefore this holiday season we encourage all parents and caregivers to actively supervise their children and be extra be vigilant”, Thilda Nel, Executive Director, ChildSafe. To help ensure your children have fun and stay safe this holiday, here are a few tips from ChildSafe to remember. Be a mindful driver Always keep within the speed limit Keep an eye out for pedestrians, especially now with children home and playing outside Check that there are no children playing around your car before you drive off Remember that children are safer in the back seat Check Your Child’s Car Seat Before Holiday Travel Seventy-three percent of car seats are not used or installed correctly, so before you hit the road, check your car seat. Also ensure that all passengers are buckled up, even for short trips. Use Booster Seats Safety in the car goes beyond your little ones. Kids who have outgrown a forward-facing harness seat are not ready for a seat belt or front seat yet. They are safest in a booster seat that enables the adult seat belt to fit properly. Even when children have graduated from booster seats, they should remain in the back seat (firmly buckled up) until they reach the age of 12. At the Beach and Swimming Pools Never leave children unsupervised near or around water. Actively keep an eye on your child near water, even if they can swim or wear safety gear Stay close to your child near water, in case they will need help Restrict children’s access to pools; use a fence with a locking gate On the beach always have children swim where there is a lifeguard Even good swimmers can be swept out to sea by currents. Check warning signs near water before entering the water Consumption of alcohol Parents and caregivers to be responsible when consuming alcohol because numerous injuries to children occur when caregivers are under the influence of alcohol. Alcohol consumption impairs self-control and adequate supervision of children cannot take place. Being a smart party host or guest should include being sensible about alcoholic drinks. Most traffic fatalities are alcohol-related, therefore, please use designated drivers, people who do not drink, to drive other guests home after a party. Preventing burns Kids love to reach, so to prevent burns from hot holiday food or liquid spills, simply use the back burner of your stove and turn pot handles away from the edge. Do not hold small children while drinking hot beverages. Always start with cold water first when running a bath and remember to test the temperature with your elbow and never leave a child unattended to in the bathroom. Put our braai fires with cold water and not sand. Blow Out Candles and Store Matches Out of Reach Keep holiday candles at least 30cm away from anything that can burn, and don’t forget to blow them out when you leave the room or before you go to sleep. Make a habit of placing matches and lighters in a safe place, out of children’s reach. Avoid novelty lighters or lighters that look like toys. Keep Harmful Plants Out of Reach Plants can spruce up your holiday decorating but keep those that may be poisonous out of reach of children or pets. This includes berries, plants and mushrooms. In a poison emergency, call the Poisons Information Helpline – 0861 555 777. Find the Perfect Toy for the Right Age Consider your child’s age when purchasing a toy or game this holiday season. It’s worth a second to read the instructions and warning labels to make sure the gift is just right. Before you’ve settled on the perfect toy, check to make sure there aren’t any small parts or other potential choking hazards. Keep Button Batteries Away from Young Kids Keep a special eye on small pieces, including button batteries that may be included in electronic toys. While these kinds of games are great for older kids, they can pose a potential danger for younger, curious siblings. Don’t Forget a Helmet for New Bikes or Other Toys If your child’s heart is set on a bike, skateboard or scooter this holiday season, be sure to include a helmet to keep them safe while they’re having fun. Decorate Your Tree With Your children in Mind Children are curious and will want to play with the ornaments on the tree, so you might as well prepare. Move the ornaments that are breakable or have metal hooks towards the top of the tree. That makes room at the bottom for the ones that are safer for young children. Check the Lights Lights are one of the best parts of holiday decorating. Look at the ones on your tree and in and around your home for exposed or frayed wires, loose connections or broken sockets. Keep yourself and your children entertained, keep them safe, and have a happy, enjoyable summer holiday! In case of an emergency call 10177 or 112.

December 15, 2021

Child kidnapping prevention tips for all ages

News headlines across the country were dominated recently by the kidnapping of four young boys from Polokwane. They were thankfully returned with their family a few days ago, but available crime statistics seem to indicate there is a growing trend of kidnappings across our country and many of these never make the front pages. The figure for reported kidnappings in 2010/2011 was 2,839 and the upward trajectory of this particular crime by 133% by 2019/2020 places South Africa at risk of being placed on a “consolidated watch list” of countries viewed as kidnapping hotspots. According to Missing Children South Africa, a child goes missing every five hours in our country. “Parents need to empower their children, teenagers, and varsity-going young adults with all the information necessary to prevent kidnappings,” says Charnel Hattingh, Head of Communications and Marketing at Fidelity ADT. She says there are several tips for parents and family members to consider, and it starts with these safety tips to teach your kids: Children must always walk to or from school with a friend or friends. Stick to streets they know and never take shortcuts through quiet areas or empty parking lots and never walk with cell phones and iPads in full view. If they get picked up at school, they should never leave the premises but always wait inside the school grounds for their lift to arrive. Younger children particularly must never get into a stranger’s car– even if the stranger claims that someone they love is hurt and that they have been sent to pick them up. Remind them that you would never send someone they don’t know to fetch them. Consider using a password system. If the person coming to collect you from school cannot repeat the password that you and your child agreed on, they should not get into the car but immediately ask for help. If a stranger approaches your child, they should not talk to them no matter how friendly they may seem. If someone tries to grab them, they need to fight, kick and shout. If your child does encounter any suspicious activity, encourage them to get a good look and memorise their physical details and clothing, as well as the vehicle they are in. Listen for any names or other details that might help identify them later. Make sure your children memorise their full names, address, and phone number. Using a play phone, teach them when and how to dial 10111. If they are older they should have some emergency numbers programmed into their phone or consider having a safety App on their phone. Hattingh says there are also tips for older children, such as those of varsity age: Older children should be reminded to keep their valuables out of sight at all times and not to use headphones because this will dampen their ability to sense their surroundings. The more you cut your senses off the easier it is for someone to take you by surprise. Stay alert! Alter their route: If they are walking home or to public transport, they need to alter their route. Even if it takes longer, always use a route that is well lit and populated with houses and other walkers instead of taking shortcuts through less-friendly areas. If you feel threatened, you can at least knock on someone’s door for help if you’re walking through a familiar neighbourhood. If you are using a taxi service, ensure that it is a bona fide service provider. Be extra cautious to go and meet anyone who befriends you on social media. Always meet in a public space with two or three friends as backup. Be cautious to be lured by people offering you a job or modelling contract. Remember safety in numbers. “When it comes to kidnapping, the more knowledge both the parent and child have, the better their chances of identifying kidnappers and preventing the unthinkable from happening. As parents, we don’t want our children to live in fear. Still, we live in a world where bad things happen,” says Hattingh.

December 10, 2021

The best defence is a multi-defence

Shew, the disruption, stress, fear, and grief that Covid-19 has brought into our lives! We have no choice but to keep on doing the best we can to protect ourselves and our loved ones. Nearly two years into the pandemic there is much scientific evidence about how individuals can ward off the virus, prevent hospitalisation or support recovery. Fortunately, we live in a country with a well-respected medical body which has informed South Africa’s vaccination rollout, and a professional and compassionate healthcare fraternity that goes the extra mile for their patients. Still, as individuals, we have a huge part to play in our own defence, and as always, the best defence is to adopt a multi defence strategy. “Face masks combined with other preventive measures, such as getting vaccinated, frequent hand-washing and physical distancing, can help to slow the spread of the virus” As many of us return to the office and congregate indoors over meals and drinks, we also need to think about ventilation to minimise the indoor spread of Covid-19. And we can power up our body’s natural immune defences to fight against the onslaught of contagious infections, germs which are everywhere, poor diet, stress and pollution. Things we can control: Eat healthily, which means more vegetables and fruit and cutting back on deep fried and stodgy fast foods. Move regularly. This can add up to big health and fitness benefits, for example, 20 minutes of brisk walking five or more days a week has been shown to boost immunity. Plan fun active get-togethers with family, friends, or colleagues. Think bike rides or walks to collect coffee, start up a backyard cricket or footy game, take a ball or frisbee for play dates. Supplement healthily. Well-respected nutritional supplier, Nativa, has a range of immune boosting nutritional supplements. Check them out on https://www.nativacomplex.co.za/immune-health/#nativa-complex-multi-defence Look out for new Nativa Complex® Multi-Defence tablets, a health supplement formulated to deliver the benefits of two immune and antioxidant boosting vitamins (Vitamins C and D) and minerals (zinc and selenium) to promote antioxidants and good health. All products are available from Takealot, Dis-Chem, Clicks and selected pharmacies nationwide. WIN! A Philips Air Fryer valued at R1600 from Nativa Complex® Immune Boosting Supplements when you click here

December 9, 2021

7 Ways You Can Be An Eco Friendly Parent

There’s nothing more rewarding than being a parent, but if you’re trying to be more eco friendly, you know that having a little person in the house makes it difficult. There’s something about kids that just generates more and more stuff, and with that comes waste. Don’t fear though, as you can make some changes to become a more eco friendly parent. Here are some tried and tested tips to help you do so. 1.Pick Out Eco Friendly Diapers There’s no denying that diapers are expensive, and harmful to the planet. You don’t want to contribute to landfill, but you have to use them in some form. These days, you do have options. Many parents like to use cloth diapers. They won’t go into landfill as they’re reusable. Simply wash them once they’ve been worn, dry them, and they’re ready to be worn again. Don’t want to spend time washing diapers? Then you can find eco friendly diapers, that are designed to degrade better in landfill to minimize their impact. 2.Minimize Bath Times You can conserve water by minimizing how often you bathe your child. It’s usually best to bathe them a few times a week, rather than every day. This has other benefits too, such as preventing your child’s skin from drying out. At bath time, make sure you’re using eco friendly products, too. You want to use products that don’t have added scents, as these will irritate your child’s skin and sometimes lead to health problems. 3.Avoid Fast Fashion This sounds hard to do, as kids outgrow their clothes so quickly. You don’t want to support less than ethical clothing practices, but you need to keep that clothing budget to a minimum. There are ways around this, though. For example, if you have friends or family who have kids a little older than yours, you can get hand me downs from them. They’ll usually still be in great condition, as the kids wouldn’t have had long to wear them before they outgrew them. You can also find second hand clothing stores online, where you can find good quality second hand clothing. The more second hand you buy, the less clothing is going into landfill. 4.Breastfeed If You Can There are so many reasons why breastfeeding is good for your baby, but one you may not have thought of is that it’s so good for the environment. Think about it, breast milk is naturally renewable, comes in no packaging, and has lots of health benefits. Of course, not everyone can breastfeed so if you’re not able to, don’t worry. It’s worth giving a shot though, as it’s so good for the planet. 5.Ditch The Car You don’t have to go everywhere by car, all the time. While there are some times when it will be easier to hop in the car, try leaving it at home sometimes. You’ll be helping the planet by reducing your carbon emissions. Plus, kids often love public transport like buses and trains, so they’ll have a great time taking an outing with you. 6.Unplug Sometimes Did you know that around a quarter of the energy consumption in your home is from electrical devices? You can save energy by switching them off sometimes, and you’ll lower your energy bills too. Instead, use these periods to spend more time together as a family. You can play board games or simply chat together, whatever works. You’ll help the environment and grow closer as a family. 7.Buy Used Books You want your kids to have plenty of books to read, but the problem is new books can actually harm the planet. Around 10% of all greenhouse gases in the US come from the paper industry alone, so you can do your bit by buying second hand books. You can also sign up with your local library, and check out new books all the time. There’s lots of ways you can be an eco friendly parent, and you don’t have to make big changes in your life to do so. Try these tips, as they will help you reduce your impact as a parent while still doing your best for your kids.

December 9, 2021

Hat trick for Boston as it launches Boston Online High School to extend academic offering

As a pioneer in private higher education specialising in online and distance learning over the past 30 years, Boston City Campus is extending its educational expertise to launch Boston Online High School. While there are many British curricula available in South Africa, only registered Cambridge Associate schools like Boston Online High ensures that learners are studying the correct syllabus and have access to the type of questions and formats expected in exams. Focussing on empowering secondary school learners both locally and globally, Boston Online High School has chosen the Cambridge curriculum as the gold standard for high school learners. “Specialising in skills of critical thinking, creativity and problem solving, learners both locally and worldwide will be exposed to expert educators providing the best practices of teaching and learning in the context of a global curriculum,” says Boston Online High School (BOHS) CEO, Eli Katz. Renowned globally, the Cambridge qualifications are recognised by over 1 400 universities worldwide, including all UK universities, 600 US universities (including Ivy League universities) and other top student destinations including Canada, Australia, Singapore, South Africa, Germany and the Netherlands. Classes for the academic school year are set to commence on 15 February 2022. Increasing access to top education Through Boston’s Invest in SA subsidy programme, the online school is making access as broad as possible, and addressing the country’s systemic education challenges by ensuring that the fees remain affordable. “As a result, our monthly fees of R2 500 for all levels include all textbooks and workbooks”. says Katz. Offering As a registered Associate of Cambridge International Education, BOHS provides the opportunity of two Cambridge streams: The Cambridge International Certificate of Education (ICE) for learners turning 14 in the first year of registration and who have achieved either a Grade 7 or 8. And the Advanced International Certificate of Education (AICE) Diploma for learners turning 16 in the first registration year and who have achieved either a Grade 9 or 10 or the ICE. The AICE Diploma offers the coveted Cambridge International AS (Advanced Supplementary) and A (Advanced) Level Qualifications. Both ICE and AICE require two years of learning each. “Being a registered Cambridge Associate brings huge advantages to our students. BOHS educators continually work with the academic material, assessments and assessment methodologies supplied to registered Cambridge associates only. This means we have access to the Cambridge curriculum statements which ensure that the teaching and learning is directed towards the guidelines specified by Cambridge. These guidelines also direct the “how” of the assessment methodology for each topic, thereby ensuring that Boston students will be well prepared for their exams. It is therefore critical for students to ensure that they are studying with an accredited tuition provider!” says Katz. BOHS facilitates social interaction through the many extra curricula activities such as digital music production, journalism club, and even an online chess tournament. Future ready graduates The AICE diploma provides seamless entry to higher education and/or the workplace. Learners will have access to coaching on subject choices with guidance on their career and university pathway. As a result, candidates who have completed Cambridge AICE will experience a smooth transition to post-school studies, academically, technologically and socially. Monitoring and guidance Expert mentors and tutors are on standby to ensure personal attention to guide and assist each learner. Students also have the advantage to go at their own pace, with diagnostic technology pinpointing what a learner knows and where there are gaps (versus getting lost in the classroom because of feeling uncomfortable to ask questions). Student progress is also monitored through a range of formal and informal assessments, facilitating detailed feedback to learners and parents, enabling relevant academic intervention throughout the learning process. “We aim to develop skills and future readiness through a holistic curriculum of academic excellence, offering learners the opportunity to enjoy a high school online environment while preparing them for a successful and fulling future”, says Katz .

December 8, 2021

Boston Online Home Education to extend its academic support and services

Boston Online Home Education, a registered Cambridge International Associate, is your home education partner. We create credible online pathways for parents/guardians of home educated learners toward the attainment of school-leaving alternatives that are internationally recognised for entry into leading local and global universities. As a pioneer in private higher education specialising in online and distance learning over the past 30 years, the Boston group realises the challenges faced by parents who select to home school their children. As a result Boston is extending its educational expertise to support parents and learners via Boston Online Home Education. Our mission is to create new opportunities for home education parents and learners to choose an aspirational online learning experience by offering support to the Cambridge International single subject, i.e. International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) and Advanced Supplementary (AS) Levels, or group awards, i.e. International Certificate of Education (ICE) and Advanced International Certificate of Education (AICE). The Cambridge International Certificate of Education (ICE) is for learners turning 14 in the first year of registration and who have achieved either a Grade 8. And the Advanced International Certificate of Education (AICE) stream is for learners turning 16 in the first registration year and who have achieved either a Grade 9 or 10 or the ICE. Learners also have the option to register for Cambridge examinations in respect of individual Cambridge subjects to supplement their existing studies especially for those learners who wish to enter into high stakes faculties such as medicine or engineering after school. Parents of a learner without a grade 9 are required to register their child as a home-school learner with the Provincial Department of Education in the province in which they reside. “Being a registered Cambridge Associate brings huge advantages to parents and their children. The educators at Boston continually work with the academic and assessment guidelines, which are only made available by Cambridge to registered Cambridge associates and Cambridge schools. This means we have access to the Cambridge curriculum statements which ensure that the support is directed towards the guidelines specified by Cambridge. These guidelines also direct the “how” of the assessment methodology for each topic, thereby ensuring that learners will be well prepared for their exams. It is therefore critical for parents to ensure that they are getting support from a credible source such as a registered Cambridge Associate” says Katz. Amongst the challenges faced by parents is ensuring that their children have access to quality content and assessments whilst being able to monitor this progress. As a result Boston have developed a comprehensive offering of recorded lessons, summaries, e-books and assessments with triggers being sent to the parent so that the parent is able to monitor the progress of the child throughout the learning journey and track performance. The parent has a specific log in feature to participate in the learning journey. Forums and discussion groups between peers and educators are also integral support mechanisms with access to experience educators to solve problems is fundamental. Through strategically designed learning material, learners have the benefit of honing higher order skills of comprehension, understanding and application. Expert tutors are on standby to ensure personal attention to guide and assist each learner. Learners also have the advantage to study at their own pace, whilst the use of online technology assists with diagnostics pinpointing what a learner knows and where there are gaps as opposed to getting lost in the classroom because a learner might feel uncomfortable to ask question. Learners also have access to teachers who provide personal guidance and support. Learner progress is also monitored through a range of formal and informal assessments, facilitating detailed feedback to parents and learners, enabling relevant academic intervention throughout the learning process. ”We are not a private or independent school, as we do not enrol learners in any grades or have physical school grounds. We also do not set any curricula, exit exams or issue awards – this is done solely by Cambridge International, and you need to register for this separately. We can however assist you by facilitating this separate registration process”. “We do not replace your legal responsibilities and duties as a parent or guardian of the home education learner. Our focus is about providing support to parents and learners in the home school journey”. Boston encourages social interaction through multiple opportunities to work and interact online in groups with other learners. In this way, learners are able to enjoy a local and global social infrastructure. Boston enhances this further through the many extra curricula activities such as digital music production, journalism club, public speaking and even an online chess tournament. “We aim to assist parents so that their children develop skills and future readiness through a holistic support program of academic excellence, offering learners the opportunity to enjoy an alternative to high school while preparing them for a successful and fulling future”.

December 8, 2021

Water Safety

Drowning is the 2nd leading cause of death in children between 5 and 14 years – 30% of all drownings. Children under the age of 5 are most at risk. Drowning is known as “the silent killer” because when drowning occurs, it happens so quickly and one may have less than a minute to react. There can be very little splashing, waving or screaming. A child can drown in as little as 4cm of water and it takes about 90 – 120 seconds submerged for a child to lose consciousness. Irreversible brain damage occurs after 4 to 6 minutes not breathing. ChildSafe reminds parents and caregivers of the following:

November 30, 2021

Yogi Bear, Cindy, Huckleberry Hound, and a Universe of Hanna-Barbara Characters Welcome You to Jellystone! on Cartoon Network Africa

Original animated ensemble comedy series from Chowder’s C.H. Greenblatt and Warner Bros. Animation marks anticipated return of legendary characters to television after 30-year hiatus Cartoon Network’s young audience won’t be the only ones delighting in the brand-new, animated series, Jellystone! – there’s something nostalgic for baby boomers and millennials in there too! From 15th of November, Africa’s #1 kids’ channel is bringing on the whacky, wonderful, and absolutely hilarious epic ensemble cast of Hanna-Barbera characters, created by acclaimed showrunner and executive producer C.H. Greenblatt (Chowder, Harvey Beaks) and produced by Warner Bros. Animation. The series presents a reimagined take on these beloved characters, modernising them for today’s family audience and introducing them to a new generation of fans. Set in the charming town of the same name, Jellystone! follows the Hanna-Barbera characters as they live, work, play, and (often the case) destroy the town in some silly way together. Huckleberry Hound proudly serves as the town’s mayor; Cindy, Boo Boo and Yogi are the town’s medical staff; Jabberjaw works at Magilla’s clothing store where they supply all the bow ties and hats to the town’s citizens. Every character has a specific role in the community, and their paths cross in fun and ridiculous ways, turning everyday activities into hilarious pandemonium. “I grew up watching tons of Hanna-Barbera cartoons and have a deep love for these characters,” said Greenblatt. “The massive amount of both classic and not-so-classic characters we were able to use from the Hanna-Barbera library is what really makes the Jellystone! universe special. Rather than recreate the feeling of cartoons of the past, we wanted to have silly, weird fun with these characters and expand their personalities to give them more depth. Chances are, if there’s a character you love, you’ll see them somewhere in this world eventually. We hope long-time fans appreciate our take on this world, and we’re excited that parents get to introduce and enjoy their favourite Hanna-Barbera characters with their kids.” We’re re-writing history at Cartoon Network, so take a trip to Jellystone! from Monday, 15 November, on Cartoon Network Africa.

November 16, 2021

R20 million in bursaries available at The Knowledge Trust Education and Career Expo on WhatsApp

South African matriculants, school leavers and students can register now to attend The Knowledge Trust Career Expo, hosted for the first time entirely on the WhatsApp platform. Expo visitors who have completed the expo’s career guidance journey, unlock access to apply for the more than 140 bursaries, valued at over R20 million. They also have access to more than 20 education institutions, who will be hosting stands at the expo, as well as a wide variety of career guidance, learnership and job opportunities. The expo, which runs for three months focusing on different topics each month, can be accessed for free by South African youth. For November, the theme is Education and participants can register to connect with educators, training providers and organisations who sponsor young talent. The expo features a variety of pathways across six different expo halls: business and management; media and communication; science, technology, engineering and maths; health and wellness; tourism and hospitality; and arts, humanities and education. For the current Matric cohort, the event’s ground-breaking use of the WhatsApp platform enables them to easily co-ordinate browsing the virtual education and employment expo halls with their study and exam timetables, from home, simply via their devices. For school-leavers and students, it enables them to scout for serious study opportunities, bursaries and sponsorships without incurring any travel spend or major data costs. In addition to accessing the bounty of bursaries, participants have the option to apply for Standard Bank student loans via the WhatsApp bot. Young South Africans can register here to access The Knowledge Trust Career Expo on WhatsApp. Jaryd Raizon, Africa Director of The Knowledge Trust says, “This expo was designed for youth as a free tool they can explore within the comfort of their homes. At a time when so many other events have been disrupted due to the pandemic, it was vital to provide youth with access to career guidance, education and job opportunities, at scale through affordable technology. At the same time, ensuring Matrics and school-leavers are not further compromised due to COVID-19.” JobStarter, a career coaching platform, is one of the partners at The Knowledge Trust Career Expo. Executive Director, Marguerite van Niekerk highlights why learners and students should participate: Learners and Matrics – “Taking the first step to planning for your future can feel rather daunting, even frightening. To know what your next step should be, you need to know what options are available to you because it is important to match your skills, interests and values to study and career pathways that work well for you. Career Expos like this one are important tools for you to use to discover what’s out there in the world of work and to explore options that suit you. You are likely to gain insights into careers you haven’t known about or considered.” School-leavers and Students – “The job market is constantly and rapidly changing, and so are the skills-sets that employers need. The Knowledge Trust Career Expo will provide you with wonderful opportunities to gain insights into different industries and a deeper understanding about your interests, skills and values. It’s an experience that helps you understand who you are and what you have to offer, which is a crucial first step in your job-seeking journey. This, in turn, helps you create a better CV and stand out in interviews.” Van Niekerk concludes, “My top tip is to explore every booth in every hall. Don’t follow your preconceived ideas about study or work that might interest you. Keep an open mind and check out all the options. You never know what you might learn about yourself or the world of work that could shift your career trajectory in more fulfilling and rewarding ways.” Unilever’s LevelUp initiative is an exciting feature of the expo this November. The youth empowerment programme will give expo participants access to training modules that will enable them to strengthen their CV as well as build their skills and experience. LevelUp teaches the basics of personal branding, helps to develop digital skills and offers a range of activities that promote work-readiness. Lisa Andrews, HR Director Talent & Organisation at Unilever says, “Collaborations and partnerships are critical in growing and developing Africa’s youth and we are proud to partner with The Knowledge Trust on such an innovative and purpose driven initiative” Registration for The Knowledge Trust Career Expo via WhatsApp is free here

November 12, 2021

A holiday could be just what the doctor ordered

After enduring three waves of COVID-19, the vaccine programme now rolling out and the travel and hospitality industry re-opening, now might be the ideal time to plan a de-stressing, year-end family holiday. Many families are still getting over cabin fever, the stress and anxiety associated with the disruptions to work, education, anticipated social events that were cancelled, or at worst, the loss of someone close. A Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) study in 2020 found that during the first lockdown period 33% of South Africans were depressed. This is double the level of depression and anxiety that a 2018 study found. The HSRC also reported that 45% of respondents were fearful and 29% experienced loneliness. Research supports the benefits of taking a holiday to counter depressive symptoms, with one study finding that getting away is far more effective than passive leisure activity. Scientists have also found that the psychological benefits of a holiday can last for up to a month after returning home. Besides finally having something to look forward to and the mental health benefits of a holiday, another consideration is the deals that are available as the hard-hit travel and hospitality sectors try to lure back customers. Personal loan specialists, DirectAxis, canvassed some industry experts to find out how you might regain some sanity while getting the best value for your holiday budget. Be an early bird If you’re planning to fly to your destination, the good news is that with British Airways (operated by Comair), kulula.com and South African Airways all flying again, there’s increased competition and more seats to fill, which should keep airfares in check. Even so, don’t wait too long before booking. Airlines sell different fare types within each cabin. Typically, the cheapest fares have conditions attached to them, such as penalties for changes to the booking or a limited baggage allowance. The more restrictions there are, the less you’ll pay. Airlines know these cheaper fares will sell quickly. To discourage customers from changing their minds at the last minute and leaving the airline with an unsold seat, they charge hefty fees for cancellations or changes. If you’re sure about your arrangements and book early, you can snap up these lower fares. The other tip is to try to fly during periods of lower demand. Although the year-end break is always going to be busier and fares are likely to be slightly higher than during quieter periods, most people want to be on morning or evening flights so they can make the most of their day. You may be able to save some money if you choose less popular flights during the day or fly on Christmas Day or New Year’s Eve when demand is typically low. Avoid popular flights at the start or end of school holidays which are likely to be more expensive. Expand your horizons The successive lockdowns meant that international tourism all but dried up. While there is now some interest from North America and some European markets with less stringent travel restrictions, industry insiders think the international market won’t recover until after 2023. This means that some top-end hotels, guest houses and private game lodges which had previously depended on international tourism over the South African summer peak season have had to re-think their sales and marketing strategy to attract local guests. The result is that some of these experiences which domestic travellers may have previously not considered are now much more affordable. With not all international flights having returned and some countries still restricting international travel, now could be the time you could enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime, world-class experience in your own country at a fraction of what you would have paid pre-pandemic. Do your homework Shafeeqah Isaacs, head of financial education at DirectAxis, says the travel experts also provided some sound travel tips: Do some research before you commit. Compare airfares, hospitality rates and understand what is included and what the penalties are for changes or cancellations. Once you’ve narrowed down your choices double check that you’ll get what the website promises on review sites such as TripAdvisor. The internet is a valuable tool, but there’s no substitute for first-hand experience. If you know someone who has visited your destination find out everything you can, good and bad. That way you’ll know what not to miss and can avoid repeating any mistakes they made. Once you’ve booked your trip, plan what you’re going to do when you get there. If you can, pre-book. It could save you money and also avoid disappointment if popular activities are booked up on the day. It will also help you stick to your travel budget. Doing things on a whim can be expensive. When you’ve finalised your plans and booked your trip, consider what you have left of your budget to spend on your holiday. That way you’ll be able to savour the memories as you ease back into daily life, rather than anxiously waiting for January’s paycheque because you’ve over-spent. “A family holiday may not be as costly as you think and will help put the anxieties and stresses of the past 18 months behind you. You’ll also be supporting the recovering domestic travel and hospitality sector,” says Shafeeqah.

November 11, 2021

WHY EDUCATION SHOULD BE DESIGNED FOR THE INDIVIDUAL, NOT THE AVERAGE

Whenever we design one thing for many users, we rationalise that if we ‘design it for the average’, we’ll have a good fit for most users. An example of this was in 1926, when the US Air Force was coming up with a design for their first fleet of fighter planes. They constructed the cockpits based on the average measurements of over 100 of their prospective Top Gun pilots. After around 25 years of inexplicable crashes involving highly trained pilots, they decided to revise their cockpit design. They doubled down on their assumption about designing it for the average pilot, and this time they took many more measurements from over 4000 pilots, hoping to have ‘a better average’. But the plane crashes they put down to ‘human error’ only increased. As Koa Academy CEO and Principal, Mark Anderson tells the story: “Then along came Lieutenant Gilbert S Daniels, a Harvard graduate who had studied the law of averages. He had a firm belief that if you wanted to design something for an individual human being, the average was useless. He went on to prove this by studying the data of the 4000 pilots and showing that not one of them fell into the ten most basic average measurements, even with a generous 30% margin of error. In other words, not one of the individual pilots was average in every way, and so none of them fitted into the cockpit with optimal access to all the aircraft’s controls.” Daniels concluded that in designing a cockpit for the average, they had effectively designed ‘a cockpit for no one’. Anderson maintains that the same is true for our traditional education system. “Teaching to the middle is simply not a good way to educate individual human beings; it’s not a good way for any child to learn. We’ve known this for a long time, and school leaders, teachers and parents have been yearning for a shift from teaching to the middle to teaching the individual child.” Finding the ways to individualise learning has been a passion for Anderson since his early days of teaching. Technology has been a key to unlocking how one education system can individualise learning for many. “We’ve finally solved the dilemma of teaching to the middle, where some are frustrated and bored, and others are frustrated and confused,” he says. At Koa Academy, a high engagement online school, learners in close-knit Pods are working at their own pace on personalised pathways and engaging with content that is delivered optimally for them. Their progress is tracked and measured against targets that each individual child has set under the guidance of their teacher. When the US Air Force finally introduced adaptable features in their cockpits and each pilot could fit optimally, crashes due to ‘human error’ became very rare. In the same way, no child gets left behind, or gets left unattended out ahead, because their learning path is highly adaptable to their unique learning needs. Discover Koa Academy here

November 10, 2021

Why does reading matter?

Why do we tell children to read? Why do we always tell children that reading is beneficial for them? And is it even true in this digital age? Does reading novels actually help older children in any way? Does reading to younger children have identifiable benefits? And, finally, does reading really matter in any way? Yes – reading is vital, life-changing and stimulating for some very important reasons. Let’s take a look at how reading assists children in their everyday lives, and then look further to see how it can give them an overall fulfilling, rewarding life. Books help children develop vital language skills. In children, reading skills do exist, but they need to be developed. Learning in school, and later on at university requires advanced levels of reading. No reading SKILL equals no advancement in the university of life. Whatever path you want to follow in life, be it academia, sciences or even entrepreneurship and the arts, you need reading skills. And to cope with life as a normal functioning adult, reading skills are of utmost importance for everyday use. People studying futurology have hailed the death of the written word as imminent. However, the exact opposite has happened. With the advent of the internet and the overload of information that we are bombarded with every day, reading a vital skill that everyone wants to acquire as fast as possible. Skimming and searching through copious amounts of information as fast and as accurately as possible is a valued skill. Paperless does not mean without the written word. You can read the same report in many different ways, formats and presentations at the click of a button. A couple of written words today can cause an international uproar in minutes. In order to understand what you read, other skills are also necessary, such as critical thinking, evaluation, anticipation, and moderation. Without these skills, reading would not mean much at all. The more children read, the better they become at reading. Yes, it’s true. If children enjoy what is being read to them, the more interested they will become in doing as much as possible to fine tune and develop their reading skills. This means they will be fully capable adults with access to all information anywhere they choose. It is also important to enjoy the activity of reading. If it takes you out of your life and introduces you to other worlds, thoughts, places, and things, then you are the richer for it. When a child struggles to read, it will continuously be an emotional obstacle. So, it is important to forge a positive attitude towards reading as early as possible. Children who read frequently will develop enquiring minds and become more interested in becoming avid readers themselves. If you read out loud to children, they become familiar with grammatical styles and expression. Through this, they learn to speak better and develop a greater understanding of how to express themselves verbally. Through this they are also able to pick up on empathy as they read stories through the eyes of different characters. They learn to identify similarities and differences between themselves and various characters. The list goes on. Children who read a lot regardless of whether it is newspapers, the internet, books or magazines are exposed to a greater range of new and interesting vocabulary. They do not have to understand the actual word as most times they can work it out from the context of the sentence and next time they see it, they will have learned something without even realising it. Reading aloud also helps children with the pronunciation of words as they link the word on the page to the word that is being spoken – this is true even if they cannot yet sound out the word themselves. Reading is an amazing experience. It can open up a whole new world to children, enhancing their lives with places, things, and descriptions they have never heard of before. Reading also brings a completely new world to a child – whether it is factual, scientific or simply for self-interest. There are so many resources available from which children can read, that if they take to it and realize how useful it can be, then, literally, the world is their oyster – there is no end to what they can read and access. It would be a magical experience for them. Reading will open up a whole new understanding of humanity, and its history from all over the world. And nowhere is it more obvious that we live in a “global village” than when thinking of this in relation to children growing and developing their hungry minds. Aspects such as peaceful coexistence throughout the world and concern for humanity are all by-products of reading. Children will learn these things through the reading of non-fiction books, and other materials that are set in other periods of time, in other countries and cultures. Books bring a real live world into the life of a child. Through their imagination, they can go places and feel things without any consequences. They don’t have to answer to anyone. They can travel with their minds and meet all sorts of unsavory or popular characters who they can revisit, whenever they feel the need, by simply rereading the book. Discovering a sequel or other stories by the same author is even more exciting. Lessons in life skills such as problem-solving, cause and effect as well as conflict resolution and learning about accepting responsibility for your own actions are all explained and contained between the exciting pages of novels. Mystery stories or investigations into plots can all challenge young minds to solve theories – and then feeling terribly pleased when they do it correctly as it unfolds in the book. Furthermore, their confidence is given a great boost. Everybody knows that children copy what they see and hear from the world around them. There are plenty of children’s TV programs that leave much to be desired

November 9, 2021

Saving Can Be Child’s Play

As South Africans, our experience with money is probably as diverse as our population. Unfortunately, the significant gaps in understanding basic financial concepts continue to be a barrier to living the lives we deserve. This makes taking a one-size-fits-all approach to financial education as effective as trying to build a house using only a hammer. While access to financial infrastructure is one way to broaden socio-economic inclusion, another is addressing the knowledge gap in ways that work. This needs to be a nuanced approach that’s sensitive, sustainable, and accessible. It needs to empower people to live with confidence, go after their goals and believe they can build a better life. Ideally, it should start in childhood, but be an ongoing journey. In fact, the earlier in childhood we can start, the better. Starting Young It has long been known that play is one of the most powerful ways in which children learn. This is what makes the Sanlam Savings Jar app such an innovative and apt solution to the question of how to teach children sound financial lessons. In the app, which essentially gamifies the idea of saving, players become young dragon masters embarking on a fantastical quest. The more they save, the more their mystical dragon grows. Mariska Oosthuizen, Head of Brand at Sanlam, says, “We know that gamification is a powerful means to educate young people. The Sanlam Savings Jar breaks down basic financial concepts, like planning, goal setting, needs versus wants, and appreciation of money and how to earn it. It’s critical to teach children these concepts early on as habits are formed from as young as seven.” By making the idea of saving fun, whether for a rainy day or a sunny one, much of the stigma and discomfort is removed from conversations about money. A key first step in closing the financial literacy gap in South Africa involves families being able to talk freely about the subject. Turning it around An alarming finding comes from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, which ranked South Africa the worst of 30 countries for financial competency in 2018. This worrying reality need to be addressed urgently and head-on. Teaching children how to plan, especially where money is involved, starts to empower them to live with confidence. Upskilling their financial literacy will do exactly this and help South Africa as a nation, move away from some of the troubling tendency toward over indebtedness. Here are a few ways you can help improve your child’s financial literacy: Teach them about managing debt: Debt is a tricky one to teach little people about. Offer to ‘advance’ your child the money they need for a desperately desired toy, but make sure they understand the ‘conditions’ upfront. Talk about what the toy is worth. Now, show them the impact of interest. By taking your loan now, they’ll have to ‘pay’ more for the toy in total. Work out a roster of chores they can do to ‘pay back’ the money. And make sure they know that if they don’t do the chores, they could lose their cherished toy! It sounds harsh, but it’s wise to teach these lessons to older children in the safe space of your home. Practice saving and investing for different goals: Ponies and Playstations don’t grow on trees but the money you need to buy them can be grown in a bank account. Through games like the Sanlam Savings Jar app your little one can take their first steps to becoming Baby Bezos. Give them financial confidence: Few things are as gratifying as the hands-on-hips confidence your mini me displays when they do something well. That confidence can be built with financial literacy too. Give them little savings tasks and reward them when they do these well. If it all goes according to plan then, in a few years’ time, they’ll have the financial confidence to start to build their best, independent lives.

November 9, 2021

Are You Walking Away or Being Left Behind?

How do you feel about your divorce – are you ready to get on with it or are you resisting the process? Upon his return from a business trip, Sean greets Rachel with a nonchalant brush on the cheek. “We have to talk” he whispers in her ear as he pushes past her to tuck the kids into bed. While she listens to the laughter from the bedrooms, Rachel wonders whether his work will take him away from home again soon. She boils the kettle and starts to prepare his coffee, just like she has always done for the past twelve years that they have been together. “Leave the coffee. Let’s sit down.” he says. He is going away again soon, she sighs. “Rachel, I am not happy. I want a divorce.” What? It seldom happens that two people agree to get divorced at the same time, for the same reasons. What normally happens is that one spouse announces the wish to get divorced, to the surprise and devastation of the other. We go through a lengthy process of weighing our expectations, emotions and fears before making such a life-changing decision. By the time we make up our minds, we have mourned the loss of our marriage to a degree and come to terms with the reasons why the union did not last. When Sean was ready to announce his intentions to Rachel, he had a fairly clear picture of the way he wanted to go forward. Rachel, however, literally has the carpet pulled out from under her and has to deal with an overwhelming array of emotions – utter surprise, disappointment, feelings of rejection, fear, anger etc. It is little wonder that conflict ensues. Traditionally, Sean, who is eager to dissolve the marriage and get on with his life, would employ an attorney to start litigating the process of divorce. On the other hand, Rachel, might consult a counselor in an effort to figure out what went wrong and appeal to Sean to join her, in a desperate attempt to save her marriage. All the while, because they find themselves in two completely different places in their lives, they are drifting further apart and the situation becomes untenable for both of them. If they opted for a mediation process, they would be able to get together with a skilled professional and ascertain their individual needs, which are quite different at this stage, as well as the needs of their children. Getting a clear picture of what everybody wants and needs, helps to establish empathy and insight while laying a safe foundation for negotiating the specifics of a divorce settlement. If, however, it becomes apparent that one or more parties involved need support such as therapy for Rachel and/or Sean or play-therapy for the children, decisions and arrangements can be made to ensure the well-being of the whole family. In some cases, couples might even realise that they would rather make an effort to resolve their differences and reconcile, which could also be facilitated by mediation. Furthermore, if Rachel and Sean discover that they require some legal or financial input, it can be acquired as part of a collaborative process. This applies to any assistance or service relevant to a civilised separation. Read this article for more information about the Ownership and Collaborative Management of your Divorce. In order to reach an amicable and fair divorce agreement, everybody has to be satisfied that they are being heard and their interests are being protected. Where litigation is designed to argue and win the fight, mediation is designed to communicate and compromise. That is why it is of the utmost importance that both Rachel and Sean not only grasp where the other person is at in their divorce process, but also have compassion for each other’s perspective on the situation, depending on who is walking away and who is being left behind. It reminds me of that Kenny Rogers song “I’m running and she wants to walk…” If you’ve had it and want out pronto like Sean, be patient with your partner who desperately needs to make sense of what is happening first. On the other hand, if you’re devastated and wish that you could wake up from this nightmare, try to understand that your partner might be way beyond any desire to make amends.

November 4, 2021

Keep little ones protected from mosquitos and bugs this summer with Chicco Anti-Mosquito Spray and Anti-Mosquito Roll On

Summer brings lots of fun, warm nights and days spent in nature – unfortunately, it also comes with insects. Keep your little ones protected from mosquitos and bugs this summer with Chicco Anti-Mosquito Spray and Anti-Mosquito Roll On and get the gentlest, most natural solution to all-round cover. Made with naturally effective ingredients such as Eucalyptus and Citrodiora, the lotion is available in either a convenient spray and rub or a roll-on. Unlike most mosquito repellents the Chicco Anti-Mosquito range leaves a great smelling, natural fragrance, reminding you that every time you protect your baby you are doing the least possible harm to their gentle skin. Available at Baby City, The Kid Zone, Loot, Takealot and other participating retailers.

November 3, 2021

Style, function, exclusivity: new luxury bag range launches online in South Africa

Born in South Africa in 2020 – Luxury Neoprene Bags. For fashionistas, workaholics, party girls, super moms, sweat addicts, baby mammas & YOU! The Lily Rose Collection was created to allow fashion-savvy women to easily switch between casual weekend style and glam working executive mode, without having to swap out her handbag. Crafted for stylish women who value practicality and convenience, every bag in the Lily Rose Collection is made from neoprene – a hardworking material offering no-snag protective cushioning that’s also weather-, water- and heat-resistant so it will last for ages. The added bonus? The entire bag is plastic- and latex-free. The Lily Rose Collection bags are washing machine-friendly, extremely durable yet lightweight and with just the right amount of stretch to fit in that little something extra – because you can never have enough space in your handbag. With limited signature prints – photographed in Cape Town using locally-grown blooms – reminiscent of luxe Victorian fabrics, it’s apt that the brand name is the Lily Rose Collection. With lilies representing devotion to oneself, family or career, and roses known to signify love and passion, who better to turn to for a statement piece to carry all your daily essentials? But you’ll love your Lily Rose Collection bag for more than just its good looks, because the designers really have thought of everything. A wide opening with a roomy main compartment, two zipped pockets, colour-matched canvas hand- and shoulder straps for ease of use, built-in elasticated mesh storage pouches for a water bottle or your wallet – plus, there are thoughtful details like zip stoppers, protective feet and a gorgeous, branded puller to secure everything inside. Whether you opt for a soft, neutral colour palette like the Tranquillity bag, something bold like the Passion bag or attention-grabbing like Abundance, there’s a feminine print to suit every taste because a Lily Rose Collection bag is a style statement. What’s new?? The Lily Rose Collection will be launching an all-new range of Neoprene beach bags just in time for the December holidays. Locally designed, locally manufactured in gorgeous new prints. Every beach bag will come included with a PC lotion bag to store your sunblock and the like – so keep your eyes peeled for the Launch! Currently available in South Africa, visit www.lilyrosecollection.co.za for more information or to start your collection today.

November 2, 2021

Keep your kids moving

Winter is here and with it comes colder weather, making getting outside to play and exercise more of a challenge. But it’s still important. Bonitas Medical Fund suggests you try and keep your child active throughout the year and provides some suggestions to get them moving, exercising and having fun.

November 1, 2021

Good news for concerned parents using iPhones – FYI play it safe now available in web browser

FYI play it safe, the app that alerts parents when their children are in potential online danger can now also be used by parents with iPhones. “In our first release of FYI play it safe, we had the ability to provide the application only to Android-families. We have received many requests from parents who use iPhones to develop a version that can be accessed from their devices. We are excited to announce the release of FYI safe web, making the monitoring of children’s activities available to parents from any web browser on any device. This means that parents with iPhones or iPads will now also benefit from the protection of FYI play it safe for their children,” said Rachelle Best, CEO and Founder of FYI play it safe. “Although we are continuously updating the words, phrases and emojis we include in our monitoring mechanisms, this release also includes a significant expansion in any drug-related activity, which we believe strengthens the level of comfort FYI play it safe gives to our parents,” continued Best. Privacy remains a top priority and the relevant measures have been put in place and are continuously strengthened for both parents and their children who subscribe to the app. FYI play it safe is not a parental control app, but rather a complementary layer of added security for parents of children between the ages of 8 and 16. “While tweens and teenagers are focused on having fun and meeting new friends online, parents need to balance the tension between respecting their children’s privacy and navigating the risks presented by social media platforms, gaming, anonymous chat rooms and search engine content.” concluded Best. Download the app at www.fyiplayitsafe.com and follow the easy three-step sign-up process to start your free 7-day trial.

October 22, 2021

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