Advice from the experts
Toptots Head Office

Tips to help make breastfeeding a breeze

If you have decided to breastfeed, it is a great way to give your baby the exact nutrients they need. But it’s not always easy. Here are a few tips and tricks that may help transition you into this new way of life.  Breastfeeding stations Being comfortable is a big part of successful breastfeeding. And being stuck in the same room every time you feed may do damage to your mental health. Try making breastfeeding stations around the house so you can join your family in experiencing life at home. Make sure you have a comfortable chair, a little table, a water bottle, wipes, burp cloths, and nipple cream available to you.  Include your partner If you find that you need help, or your partner wants to be more a part of the feeding experience than they are, get them to position baby, help burp, change and dress them. These can be bonding experiences themselves. Check if baby is getting enough milk Have a peak in their nappy. By day 5 they should have 6 or more wet nappies every 24 hours. You should also see about 3 to 4 stools a day by day 4. The colour of these stools should be transitioning from the dark, thick meconium poops right after birth to what is usually a yellow, seedy poop. Also make sure that they are back to their birth weight by no later than 14 days birth. After that, you’ll want to see them steadily putting on weight. Hold your baby skin-to-skin Holding your baby skin-to-skin will help your body to start making milk and will wake up your baby’s feeding reflexes. This means that your baby will start looking for your breast sooner and your body will make more milk.  Know the signs of a hungry baby: Besides crying, your baby may start rooting, licking their lips and putting their hands to their mouths.Babies need to eat often in the first few weeks: at least 8 or more times in 24 hours. This will help you to make more milk and will help your baby to gain back any weight they lose in their first few days. Some babies prefer many short feeds while others like fewer, longer feeds. Do not rush your baby – take your time. Keep up the night feeds Even though they are tough, know that these are important. Your body produces more prolactin (the hormone that promotes milk production) when you breastfeed at night, so night feedings help to keep up milk production. Also, mothers vary in the amount of milk they can store in their breasts, so for many women night feedings are essential to meeting their babies’ needs. What to wear PJs that open down the front (rather than one you have to pull up or down) will give your baby easier access, while keeping you warm during the night. This applies for day wear as well, try wearing breastfeeding tops (that can be easily pulled down) or button up ones. 

Toptots Head Office

How to parent a strong-willed Toddler

If you find yourself with a toddler who is outspoken, demanding and opinionated – you are probably trying to parent a strong-willed toddler. While this may not be the easiest job in the world, it is not only possible but having a strong-willed toddler is a blessing.  Firstly, most toddlers are defiant. It’s pretty normal. It is their way of exploring their boundaries and the world around them. If you have a toddler that is showing signs of stubbornness, it’s likely that they will grow up to be adults that know their own minds and can set their own boundaries – great, right? Let’s get you there first! Give them choices. The one thing that will set a stubborn toddler to dig their heels in is when they are completely controlled. Yes, as their parent, it is your job to tell your child what to do at such a young age. But you know what you can also do? Give them choices. Perhaps eating vegetables is the war in your house. Instead of forcing your child to eat broccoli, give them the choice between broccoli or butternut.  Let them learn by doing As long as their health and well-being are not at risk, let your strong-willed toddler learn by doing. This allows them to explore their world and learn from experience instead of things being told to them. The next time they demand to bite into a lemon, hand it on over.  Set rules for strong-willed toddlers Yup, strong-willed children are also in need of set rules and boundaries. The vital thing is to lay out all the rules from the start and stick to them no matter what. This gives your toddler a strong framework to work within and knowing the rules upfront will make it feel like you are ‘bossing’ them around at every point.  Dial down the punishment  Trying to punish a strong-willed child almost never works. No matter what you do, they will not give in. Sound familiar? That doesn’t mean your toddler mustn’t experience consequences, just that you may have to tailor the experience for them. The best way to do this is through using your words and trying to understand them. Saying something like, “that lemon wasn’t nice, was it – that’s why I said it wasn’t a good idea to eat it”.  Meeting your stubborn toddler halfway by using empathy will help immensely.  Be kind Often, strong-willed children will mirror the emotions that you are showing. If you are angry, so they will be too. If you are kind and understanding, you will find they mimic those emotions from you. Next time you are at your wits-end, take a breath and try to approach your child with kindness and see how they respond to you.

Toptots Head Office

Children’s games that help development

Occupational Therapist, Megan Smith, suggests some age-appropriate games that your children will love to play. They have the added benefit of being fantastic for their development too. Development games for 0-12 months  Game: Peek-a-boo How does this game help development: During the end of your baby’s first year, they start to develop a cognitive concept called ‘object permanence.’ Ultimately, this is the brain’s ability to note that when an object is no longer within the visual field, it still exists. You will notice that your baby will start showing signs of separation anxiety around eight months of age. For instance, when you leave the room, your baby may begin to whine or make louder noises. This is their brains exploring the concept that when you disappear visually, you are not disappearing off the face of the earth.  Boost the gameplay: Play the game with various other objects, hide bears and toys under blankets or balls in boxes and tins and encourage exploration. Show your little one that the object exists even when it is covered and cannot be seen.  Use your voice when your face is hidden, this reinforces the concept that she cannot see your face, but because she can hear you, it is still there.  Development games for 1-2 years  Game: Finding objects hidden in the sand How does this activity help development? This is another great game to reinforce the concept of object permanence as the toddler’s brain develops. It challenges them on a higher level to search for an object when they do not know what it is. The game provides sensory stimulation through tactile (touch) and visual (sight) systems and challenges the brain to interpret this sensation and simultaneously execute bilateral hand coordination to dig through the sand and locate the objects.  Finding hidden objects in sand provides an opportunity for the toddler to start the early development of different visual perceptual skills. Some of these are: Visual Form constancy: to distinguish one similar object from another.  Visual figure-ground: the ability to identify an object from different backgrounds.  Visual Closure:  To identify an object when only half of the object can be seen.  Boost the gameplay: Make sure the objects you hide are brightly coloured and can easily be seen against the background of the sand, the objects should also be large enough to fit in the toddler’s palm, any smaller, and they may struggle to find them.  Use familiar toys, such as toy fish, flowers, pets and cars. This assists them with identification and will elicit feelings of success.  As the toddler ages, you can make the game more challenging and exciting by hiding smaller objects that are more difficult to find and hiding two of each object and encouraging the search for pairs. This can assist in the development of early number concept development.  Development games for 2-3 years old  Game: Throw the bean bag in the hula-hoop  How does this game help development? This game challenges the gross-motor developmental skills and visual perceptual skills, as it requires hand-eye coordination to work alongside visual perception to create success.  The use of bean bags provides the toddler with proprioceptive input (this is when the muscles and tendons provide input to the brain explaining where the limb is in space), which is very important information needed to plan and execute a movement appropriately.  Boost the gameplay: Put little treats in each hoop that they can win if they get the bean bag in – it will be like taking them to a carnival!  Development games for 4-5 years old Game: Hop-scotch How does this game help development? Hop-Scotch is a gross-motor based game. This means that the game itself focuses on developing and challenging gross motor skills, including hand-eye coordination and hand-foot coordination. These games also challenge the child’s bilateral integration, which is the ability to use both sides of the body, in different movement planes, at the same time. This is a skill that is later refined and needed for writing and cutting at school.  Boost the gameplay: Make use of bright colours and shapes which the child can hop and jump onto. This is a fun way to incorporate basic concepts (counting, colours and shapes) into playtime. 

Paper Video

Why extra classes online can be the smarter option right now

There’s no doubt that “online” has become the new norm for almost everything. From business meetings and work to entertainment and socialising. School curriculums are also no exception to the rule and extra school lessons have had to move from in-person tutoring to a more digital realm. But here’s why extra classes online aren’t all bad, in fact with Paper Video you might even find them more engaging and favourable compared to traditional tutoring.  You decide when and where Flexibility has become one of the most important factors. Busy schedules can make it difficult to stick to set tutoring times and we’ve had to tailor our lives around them. Travelling around from one extracurricular to the next has also become a thing of the past, especially in our current climate. Online tutoring allows learners to catch up in the comfort of their own homes at convenient times that suit an entire household.  Paper Video gives learners instant at-home-access to the ultimate collection of revision resources with thousands of embedded video lessons, taught by experienced and engaging teachers. As a result, learners can simply log in, whenever, wherever, to get access to an extra teacher.  It’s not just one expert teacher on the line  Traditionally, personal tutors specialise in one or two subjects and learners might find that they would like to excel in or need help with more than one subject. Signing up for Paper Video gives learners access to Maths, Physical Sciences*, Life Sciences* and Accounting all on one platform (*covered in Natural Sciences for grade 8 and 9 learners). Not only that, an exceptional list of teachers from a selection of some of the top schools in the country, means that one platform gives you access to specialised experts in each subject.  You still get your one-on-one time  Many digital learning platforms do come with the perception that there’s not much room for one-on-one interaction. This may be a deal-breaker from some, but many e-learning, online tutoring and online schooling platforms are adapting and making sure their lessons are as engaging, animated and in-depth as possible to accommodate learners who need that extra personal touch. To ensure this, Paper Video has created over 11,000 video lessons that cover everything from individual past exam questions to entire topics in the syllabus. Each video follows a step-by-step approach to explain the required concepts, so the platform ensures that the resources cover any question learners might have. Find what you’re looking for, faster Convenience has become a key driver in the modern world and digital tutoring platforms are making it easier to not only get down to the specifics, but also finding answers fasters. Paper Video helps learners find what they’re looking for with their past exam questions and topics in each subject linked to searchable keywords. Learners can simply type in a word in the platforms’ search box and find a list of all related past exam questions and topic video lessons. Less pressure, more learning While participation is encouraged in many classes, it can often place a lot of pressure on learners and cultivate a competitive environment. Learners all engage and study differently, so while the typical classroom environment is stimulating for some, it does not work as well for others. Today, digital resources can give learners the option to study in a way that’s comfortable for them, and the more comfortable they are, the easier it is to retain information. With Paper Video, learners can study online in their own time and track their own progress. The platform also gives learners the freedom to study at their own pace and revisit concepts they might not have understood, all without the pressure of feeling left behind. Whether you’re a parent or a learner that’s still getting used to the idea of the online migration, the fact remains that online technologies have blown digital education and tutoring opportunities right open. It’s not only saving time but money. Its accessibility, individuality and flexibility are what’s making it more appealing by the day, especially with the unprecedented challenges being faced by learners at the moment.  Visit www.papervideo.co.za or contact Paper Video on 061 357 2304 for more information on how to get started.

Bonitas – innovation, life stages and quality care

What should I do if I have symptoms of COVID-19 and I am pregnant?

Given today’s current global COVID-19 pandemic, worrying about the potentially harmful viruses’ effect on your pregnancy and baby is a valid concern. You’re probably wondering the best ways to avoid the virus when pregnant, and what to do if you think you may have caught it. How can I protect myself and my baby from catching the corona virus? Protecting yourself from COVID-19 while pregnant, is similar to that of anyone else avoiding the virus. Minimise contact with others through social distancing, frequently wash and sanitise your hands, and avoid touching your nose, eyes and mouth. Don’t be tempted to skip important prenatal visits in lieu of avoiding the virus – chat to your doctor about the best way forward with regard to this. Although slightly disappointing, cancelling events such as baby showers is a good idea, as the risk of exposure and infection becomes bigger with larger groups. Being pregnant, it’s a good idea to be extra precautious where possible. However, the RCOG (Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists) states that pregnancy doesn’t increase your risk of becoming unwell from coronavirus, and the majority only develop mild to moderate symptoms. What should I do if I think I have COVID-19 while pregnant? If you think you may have COVID-19 or have tested positive for corona the first thing you should do is contact your doctor. However, it’s best to avoid travelling to the doctors office as you may come into contact with someone positive for COVID-19 in these spaces. As the virus is new, this means that the studies that have been conducted are limited. Because of this it’s essential to follow social distancing guidelines to try and protect yourself, however, if you do contract the virus there is no immediate need for stress, as pregnancy doesn’t increase your risk.

Toptots Head Office

6 ways to boost your relationship after having a child

If your marriage is taking strain since having children, you are not alone. One of the most stressful times in a relationship is when children enter the equation, and often your bond with your partner is put on the backburner. Work your way through these steps and try put the spark back in your relationship. Know it is normal While social media might not show the negative side of relationships, going through a rough spot with your partner when you have a baby is absolutely normal and common. People just don’t like to speak about it. The first step to fixing the problem is trying to shed the layers of blame. Yes, you may be struggling, but don’t blame yourselves. The transition into parenthood is all kinds of rewarding, but it is filled with stressful situations and responsibilities that you didn’t have before. This applies to second children too.  Communicate One of the biggest breakdowns in a marriage can come from building resentment. This happens when you experience unhappiness or irritation and don’t let your partner know how you are feeling. These emotions build up, and eventually overwhelm you. You can end up lashing out over a small thing, with emotions coming out that have been building over time.  Being able to calmly tell your partner when something bothers you as it happens can circumvent this. Try phrasing your words in a way that is not inflammatory, “I would really appreciate more help around the house. Like last week, when you cleaned up while I was feeding, that was amazing”. In this way, instead of fighting about something that is bothering you, you are calmly suggesting an alternative that will make you happier.  Make lists This may sound basic, but do you and your partner both know what is expected of each other? Sitting down and making a list of who does what around the house and with the baby can really help your relationship grow. All of a sudden, you won’t be irritated because you have to ask your partner to do something all the time. They won’t be annoyed because you expect certain things of them without telling them. If you both know that while you cook dinner, they bath the baby. Or while you are feeding, they are tidying the kitchen – then each of you have agreed to your responsibilities and they are fairly spread out. Take turns to sleep in on a weekend, alternate who feeds and who baths. Give each other a break on a regular basis and resentment will start being replaced with gratitude. Make the time for each other  This can be one of the most difficult things to master, especially when your child is small, or you have more than one child. While everyone’s circumstances are different, try implementing a date night once a month. If you can’t get someone to babysit, then make sure your date night is after you have put your child to bed. Watching a movie with some popcorn or eating a nice dinner with a glass of wine can be just as good at home as going out to do it.  But more important than scheduled date nights is making time for each other every day. This can be a 10-minute chat in the kitchen while dinner is being cooked, or a catch-up call during your lunch breaks. Making the effort every day to find a moment to connect verbally will do wonders for your relationship. Try to remember that these moments don’t have to be about your children, but rather about each other. This reinforces that while you are both parents, you are also two people in a relationship with each other.  Don’t sweat the small stuff Ask some couples who have been married for years and have grown children how they managed to get through it all, you will probably get a variation of this. Letting go of the small things that bother you doesn’t mean internalising the irritation (see step 2). But it does mean that there are certain things about your partner that you may not like but can accept as it is a part of who they are. Besides, no one is perfect, and there is a very good chance your partner is also accepting things about you that they don’t like. We are talking about shoes lying around the house, a wet towel on the floor, or clothes on top of the washing basket. Yes, these things may annoy you. But if your partner is helping you in other ways, or putting in the effort to make you happy, these small things can be overlooked for your own sanity. When something like this irritates you, try taking a deep breath and saying, “It will take me 30 seconds to hang this towel, but an argument may ruin my entire day”. If you find your partner is not overlooking your small flaws, talk to them about this step and how it will help you both.  Don’t forget the intimacy One of the first things to take a dip in a relationship after a child comes along is intimacy. Of course, when one of you have given birth, are breastfeeding, and both of you are exhausted, sex may be the last thing on your minds. Again, that’s pretty normal. But intimacy doesn’t have to only be about sex. It is remembering to give each other a kiss hello and goodbye. It’s holding hands when you go out or draping your legs across their lap while watching TV. When those small intimate moments are alive and well, then getting back to a healthy sex life after having a child becomes a natural progression over time.

Wingu Academy

How to raise a confident teen with a positive identity

Helping your teen to navigate through difficult challenges and still come out resilient, knowing they will recover after a set-back, is an important part of parenting. When a teen has confidence, they are equipped to make decisions. When they have a better understanding of the world around them it’s easier to risk opportunities which helps them exceed in life. A study by Harvard University’s Centre on the Developing Child found that: Resilience requires supportive relationships and opportunities for skill-building. Resilience results from a dynamic interaction between internal predispositions and external experiences. Learning to cope with manageable threats to our physical and social well-being is critical for the development of resilience. Some children respond in more extreme ways, therefore individual traits need to be acknowledged. Individuals never completely lose their ability to improve their coping skills, and they often learn how to adapt to new challenges. Research has identified a set of factors that help children achieve positive outcomes in the face of significant adversity. Individuals who demonstrate resilience in response to one form of adversity may not necessarily do so in response to another. Yet when communities and families strengthen these factors, they optimize resilience across multiple contexts. Factors include: Providing supportive adult-child relationships; Scaffolding learning so the child builds a sense of self-efficacy and control; Helping strengthen adaptive skills and self-regulatory capacities; and Using faith and cultural traditions as a foundation for hope and stability. Good self-esteem activities that parents can apply according to Dr Serahni Symington, Child and Adolescent Counselling and Play Therapist, include the following: Encourage independence to make their own decisions about how they dress, for instance. Having responsibilities at home like walking the dog or making dinner. Enable problem-solving by assisting your child in making choices in a safe space.  This will help equip them to make good decisions when they find themselves in less protective situations. Encouragement is good, but over-praise can do more damage than good if they lack the ability to take responsibility for their actions. Praise effort not outcome. Your teen can control their effort, but not always the outcome. Set realistic bars for outcomes. Emotional expression is crucial. TALK about emotions and feelings. Explore all aspects of anger, grief, fear, joy and happiness in a thoughtful and logical way. Help develop positive self-talk. How teens talk about themselves says a lot about how they see themselves. Help them identify thoughts that aren’t true by pointing out how being overly harsh can be detrimental. Teach them to reframe the irrational with something more realistic. Lead by example. It’s important to model self-confidence and resilience during challenging times as children look to their parents as role models. “Identity is grounded in feeling safe in your environment. Nurturing growth and believing in yourself, is an important stepping stone to raising a confident teen with a positive identity, “ Dr Symington concludes. Wingu Academy realises the importance of encouraging a positive identity.  This is why they established a Wellness Hub that assist both students and parents with guidelines and counselling to find a healthy balance between self-improvement and self-acceptance.

Paper Video

Keeping education on track in the disruptive school year

After a school shutdown of more than two months, teachers, parents and students are all gearing up to save the 2020 academic year. However, as Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga and the Department of Basic Education kickstart their phased approach there are still many questions around the ramifications of the disruptive year and how parents and teachers can help limit its effects on our children.

Parenting Hub

Home Office: How to up your productivity levels

South Africa’s economic climate, along with the global health pandemic, has forced many of us to work from home. Luckily, most of us have the technology we need to get our jobs done in the safety and comfort of our own homes. But besides the tech you’re already using, what else can you equip your home office with to make it easier to work remotely? Join Adzuna as we explore some of the best tech tips, tricks, and hacks that can help increase your productivity levels and make it a little more fun to work from home! #1 – Explore Apps in Depth You’ve likely been using Slack if you have a home office. But aside from streamlining text-based communication, many of us don’t use it for much else. Did you know that Slack is great for online meetings? When you set up a video call with the app, you can easily switch between chats and video calls while the chat window stays open for easy note-taking. It also has an excellent screen share function that can help minimize misunderstandings. #2 – Create Insightful Training Videos Loom is a great app for building how-to, training, and FAQ videos. Tools like these are lifesavers in a time like this when in-person training sessions are nearly impossible. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Loom made their tech much more accessible. You can now do much more with the free version, and the reduced package prices are much more attractive than they were two years ago. As a bonus, they also offer free functionality for anyone working in the education sector! #3 – Get Your To-Dos Done Asana is a wizard of tools that easily integrates with Google Suite to boost productivity further. In the tool’s free version, you can integrate with Google Calendar to stay on track of everything you need to get done. Obviously, the premium version of Asana is much more resourceful, but for helping you ensure you get the basics done, this tool comes highly recommended! #4 – Brainstorm Like a Boss PinItToMe is an excellent digital post-it board that provides teams with the perfect environment to collaborate. It’s also free, which just makes it that much better. All team members can drag and drop post-its across the virtual corkboard, and it’s ideal for scheduling, retro meeting, and pretty much any other team-oriented activity. Once you’re done for the day, simply save the corkboard’s unique URL and revisit it whenever necessary! #5 – Create a Central Focus Point If you’ve been using a plethora of accounts, apps, and workflows, we feel you. The frustration is real. But so is Shift. This desktop app streamlines all your accounts. Shift’s logical approach just makes managing everything in the home office a little easier. The tool lets you toddle between multiple Gmail, Outlook, and Office 365 accounts with ease. It also connects all your email accounts, your favourite web apps, and tools, and then gives you the option to customise your workstation. In Conclusion The home office setup isn’t for everyone. You might even miss the traditional office setup. But when the need calls for it, the tips and tricks we’ve mentioned here today will help you be as productive as possible when working from home!

Sanlam Savings Jar

MONEY LESSONS FOR LITTLE ONES FROM HOUSE KOLISI

7 year-old Nic Kolisi is saving for a car. Not just a remote control one; a real car as well! Although, having done the maths with mom, Rachel Kolisi, on how long he’ll need to save for him to reach his R100 000 target, he’s now having a slight crisis in confidence and focusing on the remote control one instead. The Kolisi family has been using the Sanlam Savings Jar app to get the kids to set goals and save for these. Rachel Kolisi says it’s never too soon for little people to learn these lessons. There’s a rule in House Kolisi. If you don’t work, you don’t earn. Kolisi says she knows that life is crazy, but it’s critical to schedule time to talk money with children. “Time is going and kids keep growing; the sooner they’re conscious of finances and spending, the better! Even if you just spend an hour a week talking about what they’re saving for and how, it makes a difference. I’ve found the Sanlam Savings Jar app really incredible for this. It helps parents have these conversations and it’s so interactive and fun for the kids as well.” Money talk is tough in our times Kolisi says that teaching kids about finances is a different ballgame today. “We used to get pocket money in our hands. Now, it gets deposited into a bank and you’re working with EFTs and cards… it’s much tougher to teach children the value of money. I’d get R5 a week, which used to be enough to buy a Chelsea bun back in the day. These days, it’s totally different. Which is why I think talking about money is more important than ever. It’s scary to see how few children – even adults – have any kind of financial savvy. Talking about money as a family  Kolisi says that the family talks about money and sets shared financial goals often, “We’re underway with a big move and there’s a lot of financial change in that. So, we’ve had to sit down and have a conversation about what the next couple of year’s looks like. We’re in our thirties, but we’re responsible for four children. One of our kids is changing schools and our older one is going into a hostel, which is another expense. So, every year we look at our income and expenses to make sure we’re always on track. “Siya and I both grew up in financially-strapped homes and we never wanted finances to be an issue. I do believe that finances can be a breaking point for a lot of relationships and it’s scary to me that money can have such a toll on people. I think, often, it’s just a lack of knowledge, which really comes back to the fact that if you do have financial knowledge, it’s important to share it and pass it on to your kids. There’s a lot on the line for us and Siya’s career is short as well. So, that’s also something we take into consideration on a yearly basis.” Practical ways to teach children finance lessons Kolisi takes the children grocery shopping and they compare the prices and look for the cheapest brands and deals. “We compare the weight of the products and the value we’ll get from buying them. The kids help me a lot with the groceries, and I try and let them be independent with the choices they make. I like to focus on things they eat daily, so they understand the value of the money that’s spent on these products. She says the Sanlam Savings Jar app has been a great way to start conversations and build excitement around saving. “As soon as we downloaded the app, Nic pulled out every money box he’s ever had, and we were counting all the 10c and 5c to put towards his goal. We managed to grow his dragon to adult size for his remote-control car (the more coins saved, the bigger the dragon grows). “Then we also set a goal to help someone else, which I think brings another important conversation up about how you can have goals for yourself, but how are you thinking about others? So many important conversations came from the app; I think the fact that it brings about a discussion between a child and parent is the most important thing.” Work to earn Kolisi says, “We have the non-negotiable daily chores like doing dishes, making the bed, etc. Then we have what we call the ‘extras’. The older kids know that when they want money to go out or whatever, they’ll tell us how much they need and then we give them the list of extra chores to earn the money. Nic has done a good car clean! We have a running list of things like picking up the dog poop, sorting the Tupperware in the cupboards, cleaning the bathrooms… “I believe the reason I work as hard as I do is because it’s stuck in my mind you cannot earn money without working. And I think the sooner a child understands that the better. Anything can change at any moment, but you can always manage because financial knowledge can never be taken away.” Realness and reward It’s also important to make money talk fun. “It can be super daunting, especially for teenagers, when you start talking about how much their education is going to cost. Then if they get a job, how much rent will cost, plus petrol, food, and all of these things. So, I think it’s important to use things like the Sanlam Savings Jar app to open up these difficult conversations in a fun way.” Lastly, it’s important that the conversations are continuous. “Kezzie doesn’t really care about goals yet. Nic is just starting to. Then you have my teenagers who want to go to parties and buy their friends gifts. Then it’s about going into adulthood and starting university and first jobs. Each phase of life needs

ChildSafe

Prevention of Falls

From the moment a baby starts to crawl, the world is a magical place filled with new adventures and discoveries. From their perspective, everything is a potential mountain to climb (that giant bookshelf), obstacle to overcome (those pesky stairs) or mysterious place to investigate (anywhere beyond the safety gate). Little bumps will happen, but ChildSafe is here to help so these brave expeditions do not result in something more serious.

Parenting Hub

A Roundup of the Best Social Media Jobs

Social media jobs are on the rise. Giving way to new fields of endeavor and creating new avenues for professional development, there’s never been a better time to profit from being social online. As social media evolves, so do the professional standards and certifications associated with the roles it creates. But what do these jobs entail, and what does it take to get a foot in the door? From managing social communications to creating digital content, the sky is the limit! Join Adzuna as we explore the best social media jobs! Growth Opportunities for Social Media Jobs Social media careers and the potential surrounding them are booming. Every business in every industry needs to connect with its audiences, and social media is one of the best ways to do just that. CNNMoney added social media jobs to their Top 100 careers, and according to LinkedIn, there are 1357% more social media jobs on the platform today than in 2010. And since social media has changed the way businesses interact with their consumers, the boom in the industry won’t be temporary. There will be a growing and permanent need for social media experts for the foreseeable future. A Note on Salaries in Social Media Careers Several factors influence social media salaries. These include: Experience Whether you work for an agency, private company, or as an independent contractor Your location Your position and role Naturally, chief marketing officers for major brands make much, much more than entry-level social media employees that curate data for client feeds. However, social media jobs do pay well. Compared to most other marketing roles, social media opportunities tend to offer much more earning opportunities. To give you an idea of what each kind of social media role generally offers regarding salary, Adzuna compared its stats to those of PayScale.  4 Popular Social Media Jobs Social Media Director Social media directors are responsible for SM (social media) strategies and the management of SM teams. If you land this role, you might have to post content to various social channels and work with a set schedule. Creating content and overseeing editors is also part of the job of an SM director. These roles are suitable for professionals that can create a “voice” for their brands. They’re expected to know more about social media than most other people within the organization. Average Salary: R170,000 per year Social Media Influencer Influencers typically have large online followings and are highly engaged with their audiences in order to impact their purchasing decisions. To get your foot in the door, you’ll need to prove that you’re established on the web. You might also need some expertise on a particular platform like Instagram or Facebook and have the ability to create unique content. Interpersonal skills are also highly beneficial in these roles. Average Salary: Highly dependent on follower base and activity on social media channels. Social Media Strategist Also known as SM specialists, strategists watch social media trends and integrate them into their business strategies. You’ll need a year or more of experience in the field to land a role as an SM strategist, along with other core skills like knowledge of algorithms and analytic processes. Unlike influencers, strategists need expertise on almost all social media platforms, not just one. You’ll also need to create SM strategies for different online platforms, develop promotions and interact with audiences, and analyse analytics to discover the efficacy of marketing campaigns. Average Salary: R342,000 per year Community Manager Social media savvy individuals with an edge and a robust and loyal following can help brands build a presence online. Community managers are passionate about driving audience engagement and assisting brands in succeeding in the digital realm. These professionals essentially become the face of the company their work with. They oversee everything from social media marketing to content creation and even customer relations. To get into this role, you’ll need to demonstrate your ability to develop intelligent strategies. You’ll also need to showcase your ability to create content and handle communications for the company. Average salary: R267,231 per year In Conclusion Who says the internet doesn’t do one good? If you’ve got social media skills, you can turn them into a profession. With a bit of practice and patience, you can turn your passion into an income by simply showing off your social media savvy! The field is growing at a breakneck pace, and if you’re adaptable and agile, the room is abundant for growth within it. If you’re quick on your feet and have a good understanding of human behaviour along with a passion for the latest marketing trends and tech, a career in social media can be your ideal match.

Glenoaks Remedial and Special Needs School

OAK HOUSE VOCATIONAL ACADEMY FOR SPECIAL NEEDS LEARNERS

Glenoaks is a private remedial and special needs school in Johannesburg that unleashes potential!  We nurture academic, functional, social and emotional growth for learners and personalise support according to the needs and strengths of each learner. We create a nurturing and inclusive environment for our learners which is supported by our dedicated, passionate and professional team. We achieve this through innovative adaptation, accommodation, differentiation and individualisation for each learner. Oak House Vocational Academy, part of Glenoaks School is aimed at learners between the ages of 12 and 18 who have special needs and the potential to eventually be more independent and enter the open labour market.  What the future holds for learners with special needs  Learners in South Africa with special needs experience significant barriers in terms of their education and future prospects as adults. Many of these learners will not achieve a Grade equivalent education, which in turn prevents them from entering tertiary institutions or the workplace. This can be a difficult fact for parents to accept considering that society still perceives academic excellence as the ultimate achievement and determinant of success.  At Glenoaks we believe that some learners are academically inclined, and others are functionally or practically inclined, which is simply an indication that a different way of learning is needed, and that more practical outcomes can result in the kind of success that is required for life and for many jobs. We believe in unleashing a learner’s potential, encouraging them to persevere through the challenges and focus on the possibilities! Many parents comment that our curriculum should be taught in all schools to all children because life and work skills are critical for survival, and seriously lacking in learners who are leaving the traditional school system. Oak House Vocational Academy Oak House Vocational Academy was conceived from the need to provide an appropriate setting for specific learners with special needs from our school, and from the broader community, whose abilities and needs are not met in an academic setting. After intense research and planning both locally and abroad, a blueprint was formulated for our vocational academy – highly particular, uniquely crafted and finely tuned to Glenoaks’ vision. Our Curriculum Life Skills Our students are taught a creatively crafted curriculum which includes functional English and Maths, social skills; business skills; entrepreneurship; IT and admin skills; world knowledge; home management; hospitality; gardening; crafts and enterprise. Learning across subject areas is practical and integrated, so that learners understand the purpose of the skill, can transfer that skill to other tasks, and experience an end goal which is tangible. When learners can see and participate in a process from start to finish, they tend to retain skills far better, they get excited about learning and start demonstrating more independence and maturity at home.    An example of this approach is that learners will create a shopping list for a recipe; they will learn to purchase those items from a shop and understand the costs; they will plant and harvest some ingredients; make the recipe, sell the food to customers, and explore concepts such as profit and loss. This holistic style has exposed learners to relevant skills in English; budgeting and money management; shopping; growing produce; food preparation; packaging; admin (stock take, order forms); teamwork; customer service; understanding deadlines and appropriate social skills for different environments. Work experience Oak House Academy learners are exposed to the concept of work from the beginning of their journey with us. Younger learners participate in internal contract or project based work, and older learners benefit from external work experience placements aligned to their strengths, abilities, and areas of interest, culminating in years of work experience by the time they graduate. All learners gain the skills required for entry level jobs, and focus on critical social skills, appropriate behaviours and attitudes required in the workplace. Learners in the external work experience program are gaining exposure to a variety of industries and businesses including retail; IT; hairdressing; production line; garden nurseries; schools; sport; robotics and many more. If further training or employment opportunities exist for a graduate, those are facilitated and supported by Oak House Vocational Academy. In 2019 the first group of learners graduated from the Academy and successfully commenced with further training, part time or permanent employment. Here are just a few of our very capable learners at work experience. These young men and ladies, who would inevitably have very limited opportunities to gain meaningful employment, are using their strengths to add value to their work experience sites, learn important workplace skills, explore their strengths and change perceptions about people with special needs in the workplace. Keila is gaining experience with the merchandising team at Moishes unpacking stock, restocking and organising shelves, packing orders for customers and pricing stock. Qhawe is doing work experience at Lesco on the production line, assembling various electrical products for large retailers. James is hosted by Tumbling Tigerz where he assists the coaches to set up and pack away equipment for obstacle courses, demonstrates activities to the children, and encourages them during sessions.  On her work experience days, Sabrina assists the operators at Blue Door Hair Salon to clean, straighten and dry foils. She folds towels and cleans basins, brushes and the hairdresser’s work stations. Jack is a tech wizard and is gaining experience at Stem Dynamics, a robotics company. He is learning programing and coding and using resistors and transformers to build working circuits. He also assists younger students in their weekly coding lessons. Khotso has an artistic flair and loves his work experience at Greens Vintage Lane where he uses special paint techniques to assist with refurbishing small pieces of furniture and décor items which are sold in their shop. Aligning with local and international standards / programs From 2022 the Academy will integrate the ASDAN programs and courses into the curriculum. ASDAN is a UK based organisation offering a variety of accessible and practical courses for learners with special needs focusing on personal, independent living and employability

Recruit My Mom

Flexibility in the workplace: know your stuff

If there’s been one silver lining to the dreaded dark cloud that is Covid-19, it’s the shift to a more widely accepted attitude towards flexible work situations. Families are fluid. They function best with a bit of flexibility and if your job can offer that, there’s never been a better time to ask for a permanent shift towards workplace flexibility.  Before you do, make sure you’re well educated in the different types of workplace flexibility which are on offer. Remote work? Flexible work hours? Hybrid? Know your stuff so you can be sure what the perfect fit will be for both your job and your family.  Two main types of flexibility Since the first lockdown, the term ‘flexibility’ has become a bit of a buzzword, but it can mean different things to different people, jobs and companies. To break it down, there are only two main types of flexibility. The first is workplace flexibility which is otherwise known as working from home or remote work. The second is flexible work hours, which can range from mornings-only to set hours per week or month. As you can see, one position could offer both flexible work hours and workplace flexibility and both offer a host of benefits for not only employees but companies as well.  But wait! There’s more!  Don’t forget about hybrid flexibility, whichfalls under workplace flexibility. Hybrid flexibility is a location flexibility agreement where a combination of on/off site work can be agreed upon between yourself and your employee. I.e. you get to work remotely as well as from the office. And then there’s micro flexibility, which falls under flexible work hours. Micro flexibility allows you to take a full time position with the peace of mind you’ll be given small amounts of freedom and flexibility to attend family emergencies etc. should the need arise.  I’ve got it… now what? Once you’ve wrapped your mind around all the options available and figured out what best suits both you and your company’s needs, approach your boss with caution. Flexibility is a privilege, not a right. You’ve got to prove you’ve earned it. Also bear in mind you’re part of a team. Think through the team dynamic at work and present your boss with how your team could remain as strong, if not stronger, because of your remote working.  If all else fails, join the 100 000 + women who have registered on RecruitMyMom and start looking for your dream job today. We believe that remote and flexible working benefits employers and empowers women for a better work-life integration. 

Parenting Hub

The 6 Best Jobs for Extroverts

You’re probably clued up on what the best careers for introverts look like, but what about jobs for extroverts?  If you’re someone that thrives on talking to others and feels most creative when doing so, you’re an extrovert. These personality types can quickly become bored when they’re on their own. And thus, they need professional environments where they can work as part of a team. The key to professionally succeeding lies in finding roles that stimulate the characteristics of naturally confident and outgoing extroverts. Luckily, many jobs are ideal for these personality types. Some of them might not have even crossed your mind. Keep reading Adzuna’s list of awesome jobs for extroverts for some inspiration! #1 Sales Manager If you’re competitive and can convince people that black is the new white, a sales management role is perfect for you. In this job, you’ll communicate with others daily to show enthusiasm about your product. Authoritative people that don’t easily give up thrive in sales management roles. However, this isn’t the right career for you if you’re easily persuaded. To get into this career avenue, you need some previous experience in sales. If you’ve got a degree in a relevant field, like marketing, it could also help you secure your dream job. #2 Event Planner If you’re a natural-born planner with creative flair and impeccable organisational skills, event planning might be calling your name. since you’re a sociable and friendly person (being an extrovert), your skills will come in handy when communicating with clients. Event planners arrange a variety of events. Everything from corporate gatherings to private parties and functions. Although it is a high-stress job, it’s also one of the most satisfying. If you like planning parties more than attending them and have excellent time-management skills, you’ve got what it takes to become an event planner. Although you probably don’t need a degree to get your foot in the door, certification in event planning could help give your career goals a boost. #3 Human Resource Advisor Do you feel rewarded when you assist people? How about being in a position with authority? HR advisors screen and hire new staff members, handle the training, employment contracts, payroll, and benefits. However, you need a strong personality to secure this role and have excellent communication skills. A role in HR is ideal for people with direct personalities. But avoid this career if you’re extremely sensitive. You’ll also need a university degree in human resource management or business administration to land an HR role. #4 Public Relations Officer Networking events and social gatherings with like-minded professionals are all part of the public relations game. As a PR officer, you need to be highly outgoing to effectively manage a company’s public image and act as its representative. This is one of the best jobs for extroverts because they bloom in a fast-paced environment. If you’re a creative thinker that can solve problems on the go, a degree in journalism, marketing, or English can help you break into this sector. #5 Financial Advisor Financial advisors help their clients with tax and insurance information and help them find ideal investment opportunities. They also help their clients protect their assets. If you’re dreaming about a career as a financial advisor, you’ll need a range of soft skills and be a number guru. Steer clear if paperwork isn’t your forte, though. To start your career in this field, you’ll need a degree in finance, economics, or business. Many financial advisors started in related financial roles and slowly built up their experience before taking on this role. You might find that you need a combo of experience and education to get your foot in the door here. #6 Recruitment Consultant Recruitment consultants are the links between employers and job seekers. They help employers find top candidates for vacant roles. Daily duties of recruiters include interviews with candidates, networking, and headhunting. Because they need to hit sales targets, recruiters run a tight ship. These roles are perfect for natural matchmakers but won’t work for someone that isn’t competitive or assertive. To get into this industry, you’ll need a university degree in human resources, marketing, or public relations. In Conclusion There are many great jobs for extroverts that’ll ensure these personality types thrive in their professional settings. After reading through these six job highlights, you should have a better understanding of the kind of roles that’s best for outgoing people. If you’re still unsure about which job is right for you, you can always take a career aptitude test to discover an ideal path to follow!

Parenting Hub

PCOS Awareness with Salome this September

September is international PCOS Awareness Month and Salome is determined to do their bit in creating awareness & empowering women with the option of a naturally based solution to this common hormonal disorder. An estimated 8 – 13% of women suffer from Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) that involves reproductive, cosmetic and metabolic problems. The long-term effects of this condition, if not diagnosed and treated early, are infertility due to ovarian dysfunction, as well as the risk of developing diabetes, cardiac problems linked to hypertension, sleeping problems and high cholesterol. Common symptoms and diagnosis Symptoms of PCOS include irregular or prolonged menstrual cycles and elevated levels of the male hormone androgen, which results in excess body hair and acne, and polycystic ovaries where the ovaries are not able to function properly. Getting a diagnosis by a health practitioner is key to effectively managing PCOS. The onset of PCOS can start from as young as 14 or 15 years old and if left undiagnosed and untreated for years – will cause further health complications down the line, including possible infertility. Parents are encouraged to talk to their daughters about what is considered ‘normal’ and ‘abnormal’ periods. Just by having these conversations, we can normalize these common women’s health conditions and debunk myths and the unfortunate stigma attached to it. What is Salome and how can it help with PCOS? The Salome range was developed by local pharmaceutical company, 3Sixty Biomedicine, and is based on consumer insights that South Africans are wanting more natural alternatives to treat common female health conditions.  Salome Polycos assists with the management of symptoms commonly associated with PCOS by helping to decrease testosterone levels, increasing progesterone levels in women with irregular or absent periods and thus regulating the menstrual cycle, as well as reducing blood pressure levels. It also plays a role in increasing insulin activity in women diagnosed with PCOS, as many suffer from insulin resistance. Due to these hormonal imbalances women living with PCOS often battle with acne, irregular periods, male pattern hair loss or experience excessive body hair growth (hirsutism). Salome Polycos’s main active ingredient is D-chiro-inositol (DCI) which is a natural extract obtained from the carob tree. In cases where infertility can be linked back to the hormonal imbalances caused by PCOS, patients who make use of products like Salome Fertility that contain Myo-inositol and D-Chiro-inositol have seen an increase in their ovulation, a reduction in their hyperandrogenism and in the oxidative stress in their follicular fluid. The efficacy of the product lies in it containing the correct ratio of Myo-inositol and D-Chiro-inositol that have been extracted from the pod of the Carob bean tree. Clinical studies have shown that these natural extracts are instrumental in helping manage the regulation of ovarian function in PCOS patients.  Who can use this? Due to the herbal extracts and use of natural ingredients in the products, the Salome range has minimal side effects and can be reimbursed by certain medical aids. The products are available online at www.3Sixtybiomedicine.co.za or on Takealot.com, and can be purchased over the counter at leading pharmacies nationwide. We believe #YourJourneyMatters so follow the Salome range on their social media pages to hear from Salome experts who are committed to educating and normalizing conversations about common women’s health conditions.  Visit: 3sixtybiomedicine.co.za   Facebook: Salome Range Twitter: SalomeRange Instagram: SalomeRange

Kairos School of Inquiry

Preparing our children for school or preparing school for our children?

“What if we prepared schools for children, instead of preparing children for schools? What would that look like?” I resonated with this question popping up on my social media feed the other day  — many others did too. Who wouldn’t, right? Yes, why don’t we redesign our schools around the needs of our children?  Consider some of the intrinsic needs a child may experience during school: physical and emotional safety, time to play, physical movement, creative expression, agency, inspiration, meaningful conversations, respect from adults and classmates, authentic human connection, empathy — indeed, how about simply a pervading celebration of life?  Imagine a schooling system designed to meet such needs. Human beings are social animals: what we learn happens in community —  by engaging with each other. With classmates, with teachers: internal shifts of a student’s understanding are stimulated through exploring and sharing ideas (and feelings about them). Imagine an educational ethos that conceives of learning as collaborative inquiry being normal in our society? Instead of conceptualising education around the individualised acquisition of facts and concepts, imagine purposefully acknowledging the broader reality that learning occurs across a multiplicity of “intelligences” or “literacies” Even if we don’t intend learning to happen that way, it always will. We are holistic beings, and learning is a whole-body, whole-brain experience. And this means learning will be most effective when multiple literacies are valued and celebrated.  Multimodal learning is more enjoyable, helping achieve genuine understanding (rather than simply getting the correct answers), self-motivation (instead of the external motivation of tests) and self-initiative (instead of passive reproduction of facts). When education is done well, a child excels across multiple literacies — both where he/she is customarily strong as well as weak.  The issues that hit the media — like high school initiations, intense exam stress, a pervasiveness of bullying, incidents of racism or sexism, and so on — are mere sirens of a deeper problem. At its core, there is a covert violence within the mass schooling system, as we know it. How can it not be so when “the child is being prepared for school” and not the other way around? Imagine a network of schooling communities that commit themselves to exploring ways of infusing empathy into our schools. Marshall Rosenberg, founder of the Centre for Non-Violent Communication, alerted his students to the covert violence that lies concealed in the way we relate to each other, including the way we have been accustomed to being educated. Rosenberg alerted us to various examples of covert violence in the way we communicate. Hiding or suppressing our true feelings and needs, neglecting to genuinely listen to the feelings and needs of others, making demands instead of requests, imposing rules and punishments instead of making agreements with others … Most of us have been schooled in this violent sort of communication culture: much unlearning is needed for a school community to acquire an ethos of empathy and non-violence. The democratic ethos of mutual respect between adults and children can be an adjustment for many teachers. But imagine a movement across schools where this is the case. Where we agree to remember the importance of listening to each other — properly. To hear everyone’s feelings and needs, and for everyone to be invited to express their own. An ethos where everyone remains open to what is alive in each other and themselves, from moment to moment.  So let’s change the system, yes? Not so easy! Unfortunately, there is invariably a profound resistance to changing the system. Established schools struggle to meet these needs as it would require escaping the established conceptions of a “good school” within those communities . The communities of these schools are accustomed to ideas of a good school that go back generations. Established schools need their traditions. While I understand the inertia of well-established schools, I find it tragic how brand new schools fail to leapfrog over the intrinsic problems in the system. In South Africa, the public companies have created an abundance of new, for-profit schools that are invariably reproductions of the conventional system. Clearly our society colludes in the problem. We want what we know. We know the system is dated. The World Economic Forum (WEF) has alerted us to the new requirements for employability in the 21st Century — “character qualities” of curiosity, initiative, persistence, adaptability, social & cultural awareness and leadership, as well as “competencies” like critical thinking, creativity, communication and collaboration. This constitutes a new curriculum. Parents are beginning to recognise the need to create opportunities for their children to achieve these requirements outside school if the school doesn’t teach them, or to seek out a school that does. So much about the conventional school system emerges from a mindless obedience to traditional school rituals. Frequent testing with punitive consequences; a competitive win-lose ethos in both the classroom and the sports field; isolated archipelagoes of classrooms; rigid silos of schooling grades; disconnected school subjects that discourage cross-context learning: none of these are necessary to achieve the academic outcomes needed for a child’s future. None of them are intrinsically educational. None of them serve the WEF’s character qualities and competencies for the twenty first century. None of them serve to satisfy a child’s intrinsic needs mentioned above. And all of them are integral to the conventional schooling system.  In Ancient Greece, people had three conceptions of time, and each represents a different sort of schooling system. We have Kronos (the time of the clock), Aeon (the time of eternity) and Kairos (the time of the moment). The conventional school orients itself firmly around Kronos: the timetable, the school calendar, the lesson plan. Then there are the deschoolers — the dispersed community of parents homeschooling (and “unschooling”) their kids. They orient themselves around Aeon time. And then there are those schools that endeavour to achieve the seemingly impossible, (and Madiba reminds us it always “seems impossible until it’s done”) and orient themselves around Kairos. That is: remain constantly adaptable to the moment: play the Kronos

Parenting Hub

From tragedy to training

A rescue craft donated to the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) by a family who lost their son, along with two other teenagers at sea, will now be used to provide high school students with valuable motor boat handling skills and an official qualification, while they’re still at school. The 4.7m Rigid Inflatable Boat (RIB) – donated by the NSRI to the Lawhill Maritime Educational Trust (LMET) – was recently named ‘Sean Day’ in honour of the significant contribution South African born USA-based Mr Day, Chairman Emeritus of the Teekay Corporation, has made to high-school based maritime education in South Africa. Mr Day’s godson, Sebastian Hamsher, unveiled the name and blessed the boat while Mr Day, his wife Ginny and two of his daughters, attended the naming ceremony via Zoom. The NSRI-donated RIB is the second vessel to be named after this highly-respected, international maritime leader.  In 2019, a large LNG carrier was named ‘Sean Spirit’ in Korea. The ‘Sean Day’– which will be based at False Bay Yacht Club in Simon’s Town – will be used to enhance the skills of maritime students who have, for the past few years, benefitted from a Personal Survival Training course provided by the NSRI, in association with the S.A.T.S General Botha Old Boys’ Bursary Fund.  The long term aim of this practical skills development programme is to equip students with maritime skills at an early age and, in so doing, open the way for them to progress into a formal sea-going career.  Acquiring small boat handling skills and a skipper’s ticket, while at school, also potentially increases the students’ post-school employment prospects, particularly in the marine tourism and related sectors. Mentors linked to the S.A.T.S. General Botha Old Boys’ Association Bursary Fund are the driving force behind the programme, which is also supported by the NSRI, the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA), the SA Maritime Training Academy (SAMTRA), African Marine Solutions (AMSOL) and Grindrod, amongst others. Here is a link to a video of the ‘Sean Day’ boat naming ceremony event: https://youtu.be/sDa_JoM3CzY  More about Mr Sean Day Originally from Knysna and educated in Cape Town, Sean Day attended the General Botha at Granger Bay after matric.  At age 17, Mr Day went to sea as a cadet and later embarked on a distinguished international maritime career that led him to become Chairman Emeritus of the Vancouver-based, Teekay Corporation.  He has long been a proponent of maritime education at school and tertiary level and, through the TK Foundation, has supported numerous maritime programmes that give underserved youth an opportunity to succeed in the maritime field. It was the TK Foundation that funded the construction of the STS Lawhill Maritime Centre  (www.lawhill.org) building in 2009 and paid for the extensions seven years later. But even in his private capacity, Day has put his heart and finances into maritime education and currently supports three maritime bursary students. A memorable moment as the crew, made up of five Grade 12 maritime students, launch the school’s newest training craft, the Sean Day, as Sebastian Hamsher, Sean Day’s godson (who named the vessel) looks on.  A memorable moment as the crew, made up of five Grade 12 maritime students, launch the school’s newest training craft, the Sean Day, as Sebastian Hamsher, Sean Day’s godson (who named the vessel) looks on.  Five of the Grade 12 crew members of the Sean Day – a 4.7m RIB donated to the LMET by the NSRI: Garth Drude, Jody Muleshi, Busang Tsukulu, Janoel Meyer and Sifundo Sithole. Meet the Sean Day crew and bursary students: Enkosi Ntame, Busang Tsukulu, Janoel Meyer, Jody Muleshi, Sisonke del Fava, Sifundo Sithole, Garth Drude and Luyanda Dlamini. The crew eagerly wait to launch the Sean Day: Garth Drude, Jody Muleshi, Busang Tsukulu, Janoel Meyer and Sifundo Sithole. The crew in action The Sean Day on the slipway outside the NSRI Station 10 in Simon’s Town.

Wingu Academy

The devastating effects of cyberbullying in South Africa

The devastating effects of Cyberbullying in South Africa and how Wingu Academy protects and supports Wingu students. Did you know that South Africa has the fourth highest rate of cyberbullying worldwide according to a global survey by YouGov? The survey found that one out of every five teens fall prey to cyberbullying and 84% of classmates know of someone who have been victimized. Sadly, with the rise of the digital age becoming a necessary part in our lives, it’s no surprise that this form of bullying has become one of the biggest concerns for both parents and students who suffer and have to deal with the devastating, often life-long effects. But what exactly is cyberbullying? Cyberbullying is any form of bullying that takes place online including on platforms like WhatsApp, Snapchat, TikTok, Instagram and gaming chat rooms. Young people today are increasingly exposed to many different tools and apps. Thus, it is very easy to produce videos, memes, manipulated photos, or even simple text messages with degrading comments and name calling. Trolling and cyberstalking of online profiles is also rapidly on the rise. According to the South African College of Applied Psychology victims feel isolated, ashamed, hopeless and depressed wondering if the situation will ever change.  They are desperately looking for a way out which often leads to thoughts and attempts of suicide. This form of abuse influences a child’s identity, self-worth and often leads to long term effects like the inability to form meaningful and sustainable relationships. Not to mention trust issues and even mental health issues. Parents often don’t know because the victims don’t tell them. They feel ashamed and don’t want their parents to get involved as it would worsen the abuse. What are the main signs parents should look out for if they suspect that their child is a victim of cyberbullying? If a child’s mood or behavior suddenly changes drastically, from being socially interactive to being depressed, anxious and isolated. If they start hiding their devices and/or no longer allow you access to their social media accounts. If their academic performance drastically decreases. If they avoid any form of social interaction. What can parents do to help and support their children? According to Dr Serahani Symington, Child and Adolescent Counsellor and Play Therapy Specialist, the following approach is recommended. It’s critically important to have an open relationship where your child feels safe to express their feelings, concerns and problems. Don’t overreact and stay calm during the discussion. Don’t tell your child to simply ignore the situation as it’s very real to them. They have the need for the abuse to be acknowledged. Ask your child what their immediate need is.  Is it to provide comfort or a solution? Co-create a solution with your child to make them feel safe, secure and empowered to handle the situation. Don’t retaliate. Rather address the issue with the school and not with the bully or his/her parents. Never invite the bully into your home, your child’s safe space, to resolve the issue. Monitor and spot check your child’s devices with the narrative that it’s for their own protection and not because you don’t trust them. Look at the ratings, age-restrictions and if possible, experience the games and apps your child interacts with for yourself to look for possible pitfalls and warning signs that could put your child in danger. How does Wingu Academy protect and support parents and students against cyberbullying? “At Wingu Academy we have a zero-tolerance policy against any form of bullying. Our Wellness Hub offers counselling and support to students and parents. By following a holistic approach of creating a culture of inclusivity and high moral values we teach our students to respect their fellow students,” says Managing Director Ian Strydom. Wingu Academy’s Cyberbullying Policy also offers guidelines to students to protect them. Some of the recommendations include: Do not answer abusive messages but save them and report them to the Student Mentor. Do not delete anything until it has been shown to your parents/carers or a member of staff at Wingu Academy (even if it is upsetting, the material is important evidence which may need to be used later as proof of cyberbullying). Do not give out personal details or contact information without the permission of a parent/guardian (personal data). Be careful who you allow to become a friend online and think about what information you want them to see. Protect your password. Do not share it with anyone else and change it regularly. Always log off from the computer when you have finished or if you leave the computer for any reason. Always put the privacy filters on to the sites you use. Never reply to abusive messages. Never reply to someone you do not know. Always stay in public areas in chat rooms. Article by Melanie Foxcroft from MF Consulting. Mobile: +27 82 650 3414 Email: [email protected] Web: www.mfconsulting.co.za

Parenting Hub

Go on… make the Switch!

If you are anything like me, you like when a product works seamlessly from one device to another. And while this may be a small feature, it really can make life a little easier.  Imagine a life where you can ask your child to immediately disconnect their console from the TV because your favourite show is starting and there are no ooohhhsss or ahhhhh’s because he can continue playing? This is what makes the Nintendo Switch an easy Switch to make.  One of the core features of the Nintendo Switch is being able to continue playing no matter what!  Your child will be able to switch from the TV and then comfortably to the hand-held console, even to splitting the console up and playing with a friend. Yup that’s right… the Joy-Con (controller) can be split so that friends can play too. By turning your Joy-Con into two units, either party is able to play with either side or with motion control games, one is able to use the Joy-Con much like a Wii remote.  However, if you want to purchase another Joy-Con you certainly can. We found a large variety are available in the Nintendo Online Store which makes the experience even more personal.  So how many ways can you play? The Nintendo Switch is a “hybrid” console that can be used at home on a TV, and also as a portable console.  #1 TV Mode Your gaming experience can start on your television when connected via an HDMI cable. The unique configuration allows the Nintendo Switch to adopt a number of different forms. From either splitting the controller up into two separate Joy-Cons for multi-player games or keep it connected to the grip and play alone.  #2 Tabletop Mode With the Nintendo Switch built-in LCD screen one is able to either play hand held or you can detach the Joy-Con Controllers, open the stand at the back of the screen and place it on a flat surface. Perfect for when you do not have a television available.  #3 Handheld Mode Easily reattach the Joy-Cons to the unit and play hand held and when you are done simply place the Nintendo Switch in the docking unit to charge…. It has never been easier. The Joy-Con controllers snap to the sides of the tablet making the device a hand-held unit. Accessories and Games? With accessories galore from themed Joy-Cons, cases, HORIPAD and Racing Wheels, you can make your gaming experience everything you ever hoped it would be.  With the Nintendo e-Shop, one is able to purchase multiplayer games as well as Free-to-start Games. With all your favourites available in their online store, you could be bouncing around with Super Mario or taking on a Pokemon in no time!  Online Membership starts at R52 per month and there is a family membership available for up to 8 members at R459 for 12 months. This ensures that all your gaming data is safely stored to the cloud so that all those achievements unlocked are never lost. The Nintendo Switch can be connected online for a greater Nintendo Experience or download the Mobile App. The Nintendo Switch Online App is designed to enhance your online gaming experience on the Nintendo Switch.  You can view your stats, or chat to friends while racing through the streets in your game.  The App is available in both the Google Play and Apple App Stores.  Cool Features: The unit is easy to transport and with a longer life battery of between 3 and 4 hours, your child will be entertained during load shedding or even a long car trip. Can’t find your Joy-Con? No problem, activate the search for controller feature and you will locate them in no time.  The Nintendo Switch is a touch screen. Adjust the menu to dark mode… easier on the eyes for sure! See how long a player has played for. We all had so much fun playing Super Paper Mario, thank you Nintendo for helping us make the switch! This unit is certainly one of the more affordable gaming consoles at a retail price of R7999. You can purchase online at the Nintendo Online Store or at participating retailers.  Included in the box: 2x Joy-Cons (left and right) with built-in rechargeable battery  Nintendo Switch console  Nintendo Switch AC adapter  Nintendo Switch dock A Joy-Con grip  Joy-Con strap  High speed HDMI cable  Hand held remote Paper Mario- The Origami king Nintendo’s Paper Mario – The Origami King – is a fun game for individuals aged seven and above. The game centres around Mario and his new friend Olivia.  They are tasked with stopping Olivia’s brother, Olly, who is the Origami King. Olly has folded Princess Peach and many other characters into origami shapes.  The only exception is the toads, which Mario and Olivia save throughout the game. The main objective of Mario and Olivia is to remove various coloured streamers that enclose Princess Peach’s Castle and which will lead them to Olly.  Each streamer level provides a fun new task for the player to go through.  As they go through each level, they are able to unlock Vellumentals, which are a group of god-like creatures found in their own Vellumental Shrines and Temples. To gain the ability to use Vellumentals, players need to defeat each of them throughout the game on each different streamer level.  A Bibliofold will eventually be revealed to the player.  This contains instructions for Olivia on origami folding. This will allow Olivia to Transform into a Vellumental through the corresponding magic circle.  The magic circle will allow Mario to also use the elemental powers during a Boss battle and even waive battles where the enemy has a magic circle above its head.  As well as collecting toads through the game, Mario and Olivia also collect confetti.  They are tasked with repairing the broken world by using the confetti that they collect throughout the game.  Once each streamer level is complete the confetti intake of the bag will increase. The increase

Parenting Hub

3Sixty reasons why herbal extracts are becoming the preferred choice to treat women’s health issues

 The Salome range, launched in 2020 by South African pharmaceutical company 3Sixty Biomedicine, addresses common women’s health issues. The current product range offering over the counter treatment options is based on herbal extracts to help manage heavy menstrual bleeding, menstrual pain, Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) and infertility linked to PCOS. Later in 2021 the range is looking to expand its offering to include capsules that treat the symptoms commonly associated with menopause.  Even prior to the presence of COVID-19, there was a growing trend by consumers to explore more organic alternatives to synthetic medical treatments. Now it’s become more important than ever for consumers to know what they’re putting into their bodies, which has been the driving force over the past two years for 3Sixty Biomedicine’s product development of the Salome range. Salome Polycos assists with the management of symptoms commonly associated with PCOS by helping to decrease testosterone levels as well as blood pressure levels. It also plays a role in increasing insulin activity in women diagnosed with PCOS, as many suffer from insulin resistance. Due to these hormonal imbalances women living with PCOS often battle with acne, irregular periods, male pattern hair loss or experience excessive body hair growth (hirsutism). Salome Polycos’s main active ingredient is D-chiro-inositol (DCI) which is a natural extract obtained from the carob tree. In cases where infertility can be linked back to the hormonal imbalances caused by PCOS, patients who make use of products like Salome Fertility that contain Myo-inositol and D- Chiro-inositol have seen an increase in their ovulation, a reduction in their hyperandrogenism and in the oxidative stress in their follicular fluid. The efficacy of the product lies in it containing the correct ratio of Myo-inositol and D-Chiro-inositol that have been extracted from the pod of the Carob bean tree. Case studies have shown that these natural extracts are instrumental in helping manage the regulation of ovarian function in PCOS patients. Dysmenorrhea, the technical term for extreme period pain, is also a common women’s health issue that impacts up to 20% of women with their menstrual cramping being severe enough to interfere with daily activities, according to the American Academy of Family Physicians. Salome Menstrual Pain is based on herbal extracts of yarrow (Achillea millefolium) which has antispasmodic, anti-inflammatory & analgesic effects, which may provide relief for spasm associated with menstrual periods known as dysmenorrhoea. What is great about Salome Menstrual Pain is because it contains natural ingredients, females from as young as 13 years old who suffer from menstrual pain can use it to manage painful menstrual cramping without worrying about unwanted side-effects. Another common problem experienced by women is menorrhagia (abnormally heavy flow and prolonged bleeding). 3Sixty Biomedicine created their Salome HMB product to help alleviate this problem. The product also draws on herbal extracts from Capsella Bursa-Pastoris, a medicinal plant also sometimes known as Shepherd’s purse, as an active ingredient to assist with the reduction of heavy menstrual bleeding in women with regular menstrual cycles. The medicinal benefits of this plant have been scientifically proven to have smooth muscle stimulant effects. As an added bonus Capsella has antioxidant features that improve uterine tone, meaning that it will facilitate the regulation of menstrual blood flow. It also has anti-inflammatory properties that can have a positive impact on the management of heavy menstrual bleeding (HMB).  The full Salome range is available online at Takealot.com and www.3Sixtybiomedicine.co.za, as well as at most pharmacies nationwide and you can even ask for the range from your Clicks pharmacist. Read more about this exciting female health range at https://3sixtybiomedicine.co.za/salome/ and then enter our competition for a chance to win a stylish Salome Hamper consisting of a custom designed Lou Harvey cosmetic bag, Salome Menstrual Pain and Salome Heavy Menstrual Bleeding packs. We believe #yourjourneymatters, so don’t let anything get in your way with the help of the Salome range!

Fluent Panda

How Can a Second Language Help in My Career or My Child’s Future Career?

Even within our 4 walls at home – the world has become large and accessible. It is no longer the reality that everyone speaks our language or everyone is from our background. The world is changing and progressing and we are more aware of globalization now more than ever. With technology developing as it is – we can be on one corner of the world communicating and doing business with someone in separate countries and different time zones. This means that many businesses are able to stretch out from those in their immediate proximity and the target audience is now international!  How does an additional language help me in my career? Most simply – you have a skill that others around you do not have. Not only that – you will be a lot harder to replace. The most important thing about having an additional language is to think of your intention. There is no reason to think that learning Thai for example will help advance your career if you do not work for a Thai company, you aren’t planning on doing business with Thai businesses, or you aren’t planning on immigrating to Thailand (this is not saying that if you have a passion for Thai you shouldn’t learn it! Opportunity may come knocking in many ways!). You should think about what your career is – what your dream company is – and if that company is a foreign country, a foreign country,  or if you know they are looking to do business with foreign companies.  Immediately this will set you out from other candidates who do not have this additional skill that could seriously help the company with many of their foreign liaisons.   What level do I need to be for it to be useful in my career? This is more difficult to answer – most likely most companies won’t really need someone who is just conversational in a language (though the thought is always appreciated!) however – being completely native probably also isn’t extremely needed. The sweet spot would be at a high intermediate level. It would also be good (if possible) to know what sort of company you are working for. If you are working in an import or exports company, knowing vocabulary and the sort of business questions and relations required to do this job would be sort of essential knowledge to know that otherwise wouldn’t be done in a course unless explicitly requested. Let your teacher know this is the sort of field you are going into and would like to do as much vocabulary and grammar etc associated with the field you are planning to work in.  What about qualifications? Even if you do not know the field you are going into or what to know – or even if you are learning a language just for the joy of it – You should get some sort of certification behind you to prove you are actually the level you say you are in your application. It can be very difficult to prove to potential employers that you are able to do what you say you are able to do especially if they do not speak the language themselves to “test” you.  How can this be done? Well, most simply is doing it either at school or if your tertiary education allows you to also study it. The main thing to remember here is that these qualifications may differ from international standards and may not hold the same weight as some internationally recognised qualifications.  Alternatively – Fluent Panda offers courses where you can study towards an internationally recognised exam hosted by various embassies. These courses will prepare you for these international exams. The exam is externally marked and upon passing an exam, you will be issued with a certificate that is INTERNTAIONALLY recognised and certified by the various embassies. The test is also usually the same around the world so you will be tested at an international level.  These tests are based on different curriculums as each country follows a different curriculum. Europe follows CEFR whilst places like Japan have their own grading system known as the JLPT. Usually – there are multiple exams to take (Beginner, intermediate, advanced etc). to prove your level of fluency.   How do these exams help me? Most notably – these exams open the door of opportunity to different countries. By passing one of these exams – you immediately have an internationally recognised qualification that is recognised WORLDWIDE – not just in one or two countries. It is an indisputable certification to prove your level in any given language.  Furthermore – the certification does not expire and can be valid throughout your life without worry of needing to renew at any point once received.  These exams are also sometimes required when applying for passports when wanting to immigrate. Including this qualification with your passport submission is sometimes required by embassies for them to have evidence of your ability in the national language of the country you are immigrating to.  These qualifications and skills do not only assist in your career but opens many international doors for general options throughout life.  How to get started? Contact Fluent Panda for their course times and outlines. State that you are interested in taking the exam and we will help providing you with all relevant curriculum material as well as a teacher that is familiar with the exam in question and understands the different levels that have to be achieved.  Fluent Panda has over 32 languages on offer – guaranteeing something for everyone and helping pave the way for future careers! 

NutriPure

Delicious Vitamins – A treat for daily maintenance

In today’s world, more people are in need of food supplements to support their diets, but do not enjoy taking pills. That’s why Nutripure fruity chews make vitamins easy and painless to take.  The delicious tasting Nutripure fruity chews are specially  formulated with natural fruit pectin for adults and kids. Here are a few reasons why fruity chew vitamins are so popular: They are easy to take, especially for adults and children who struggle to swallow tablets. They are very convenient, you don’t need to have a glass of water with you, you can take them anytime and anywhere. They are easily digested. They are delicious and come in a variety of fruity flavours. Gelatine Free No Sugar Coating Vegan  Gluten Free No Artificial Colours or Sweeteners No Preservatives No GMO Ingredients   FOR KIDS: MULTI VITAMIN Complete (60)  – R109.95 NutriPure Multi-vitamin Complete have been specially formulated into a soft and chewy treat, making vitamins fun and easy for children 3 years and older. Multivitamins contribute to the normal function of children’s immune systems and the normal function of many other systems in the body contributing to general wellbeing. Each NutriPure MultiVitamin Complete contains 11 Essential Vitamins & Minerals: Vitamin D, B6, B12, C, Biotin, Pantothenic Acid and Niacin help to metabolise carbohydrates, fats and proteins and are factors in the maintenance of good health. VITAMIN C (60) – R109.95 Contributes to the normal function of the immune system* Research shows that in the winter months children are at a higher risk of colds and flu due to the decline in their immune system. NutiPure Vitamin C is the tasty and effective solution to compensate for the deficiency of this vitamin and to contribute to the normal function of the immune system. Vitamin C also contributes to normal functioning of the nervous system, normal energy- yielding metabolism and the reduction of tiredness and fatigue. One Nutipure bear contains 80mg of Vitamin C which is 100% of the EC RDA. PRO BIOTICS (60) – R153.95 With 1 billion live friendly bacteria. At any age, a balanced intestinal micro-flora is highly important in keeping the body in healthy working order. The healthy bacterial micro-flora in the gut is a key element for overall well-being. NutriPure Probiotics is formulated with Bifidobacterium infantis & Lactobacillus rhamnosus, two scientifically tested bacteria strains. Each Nutripure bear contains 1 billion live cultures to help your child boost his daily culture intake.  Ideal to use every day.  Important to take when children are on antibiotics. IMMUNE SUPPORT + (60) – R109.95 A factor in the maintenance of good health* NutriPure Immune Support + contains a unique blend of 6 essential vitamins and minerals that all contribute to the normal function of the immune system. Vitamin C, B6 and B12 help to metabolise carbohydrates, fats and proteins and are factors in the maintenance of good health. VITAMIN D Gummies (60) – R109.95 Helps maintain strong bones and teeth plus is great for the immune system and is known to aid in the fight against viruses. Extra soft so suitable for even the fussiest eaters. Vitamin D contributes to: The normal function of the immune system, the maintenance of normal bones and teeth, the maintenance of normal muscle function, normal absorption/utilisation of calcium and phosphorus. FOR ADULTS MULTI VITAMIN Complete (60) – R134.95 NutriPure Multi vitamin Complete has been specially formulated for adults. Each NutriPure Multivitamin chew contains a balanced dosage of 12 essential vitamins and minerals: Vitamin D, B6, B12, C, Biotin, Pantothenic Acid and Niacin help to metabolise carbohydrates, fats and proteins and are factors in the maintenance of good health. IMMUNE SUPPORT – Vitamins C, D, B6 & B12 (60) – R134.95 NutriPure Immune Support has been carefully formulated with 6 essential vitamins and minerals: Vitamin C, Vitamin D, Vitamin B6, Vitamin B12, Zinc and Selenium are all a factor in the maintenance of good health. VITAMIN D – High Strength (60) – R109.95 Helps maintain strong bones and teeth plus is great for the immune system and is known to aid in the fight against viruses.  Vitamin D contributes to:      the normal function of the immune system, the maintenance of normal bones and teeth, the maintenance of normal muscle function and the normal absorption/utilisation of calcium and phosphorus APPLE CIDER VINEGAR  – Gummies (60) – R159.95 A great natural Immune Booster. At last taking apple cider vinegar has been made easy and great tasting. Nutritional highlights:  500mg of Apple Cider Vinegar per serving for immune support and metabolism, Vitamin C for immune health, Vitamin B6 for energy yielding metabolism and Vitamin C & B6 to reduce tiredness and fatigue. A delicious array of vitamins and minerals for every occasion. There is now no excuse not to stock up and maintain your health.

Prima Baby

Chicco Akita Fix Air 123 Car Seat

We get asked by a lot of parents – what do we do when our baby outgrows the infant car seat that came with our Travel system?  What is the best option to keep baby safe?  When will we know to “upgrade” to the next level of car seat? In an ideal world, parents will only need one homologated seat that can be used from birth till your child is 12 years of age – but this is not always possible.  Often, parents use previously purchased travel systems in the case of a second or third child joining the family or are using gifted items from loving friends and family.   Once your baby reaches the age of approximately 9 months, they will have outgrown their infant car seat also known as group 0+ (unless you have a fully homologated option – we have a few in our range that you can research) and it will be time to transition them into a group 1/2/3 seat to ensure they are kept safe in the car. INTRODUCING THE CHICCO AKITA FIX AIR 123 CAR SEAT The Chicco Akita Fix Air 123 is a comfortable and safe solution for children that have grown out of their Gro 0+ travel system car seat and now require a front-facing car seat. Installed either with Isofix connectors or your vehicles 3-point seat belt, this seat can be used from 9 months till 12 years of age. It is imperative that the belts and headrest of the seat be perfectly adapted to your child’s size – there is no one size fits all when it comes to safety after all – but this is simply done as the Chicco Akita Fix can be adjusted simultaneously with just one movement. A seat reducer provides a supportive and comfortable cushion for smaller children. Once your child reaches the age of 4, they are considered tall enough to be buckled up with your car’s own seat belt. The built-in belt system of the child car seat can be dismantled easily – that way, the Chicco Akita Fix can be transformed into a group 2/3 child car seat in no time at all. To ensure the best possible positioning of the lap belt, an additional belt positioner forms part of this versatile seat.   Equipped with a side impact protection system for maximum protection, the comfy and elegant Chicco Akita Fix will convince the whole family and remain a loyal companion – for many years.  Get yours from any participating baby outlet for R5499.99. For more information head to www.chicco.co.za

Squish

Tantalising the Toddler’s Taste Buds

Did you know that you can influence your child’s taste buds from when you are pregnant? Starting much earlier than we realised, your baby gulps amniotic fluid in your womb and this healthy eating journey continues during breastfeeding, too. While these opportunities may have passed by the time you have a baby and toddler, it is good to know that there are still practical ways to help the not-so-exploratory little tastebuds discover the wonderful and varied world of flavours. The Spice of Life Gone are the days of boring, bland, and tasteless foods for babies and toddlers. Just like adults, our little ones, too, appreciate flavourful food. It is important that, soon after starting your solid journey, you introduce a range of flavours such as fresh herbs (e.g. mint, basil, thyme, etc.), mixed dried herbs, cinnamon, cumin, curry, garlic, cocoa powder, and the like. Sugar-free nut butter also packs a flavour punch, but always check for allergies first. Stir into a warm bowl of oats in winter or offer up on a slice of wholewheat toast as a snack. Luckily for busy moms, Squish 100% fruit and veg purees come in a range of delicious flavours so exploring many different flavours from baby, toddler and up will be easy for your little one with Squish 100% Fruit and Veg Purees. Mealtime = Fun Time Children eat with their eyes. Make mealtimes fun, interesting and appealing. Call in the help of your child’s favourite superhero or princess with colourful kiddie-friendly cups, plates, utensils, placemats, and lunch boxes. Cut and arrange assorted coloured fruit and vegetables into interesting shapes and funny faces. Use cookie cutters on wholegrain sandwiches or arrange mashed sweet potato into fun shapes. Squish 100% fruit and veg purees come in a convenient pouch which is safe for your little one to explore eating on their own. Squish is a convenient, tasty meal or a snack, or for older kids, try it on the side for dipping – they’re sure to love it. Game On As any parent can attest, it is a daily struggle to get children to eat their fruits and vegetables. Fruit and vegetables are some of nature’s most perfect foods: rich in vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, phytonutrients and fibre, highly nutritious for preventing illness and disease and overall health. To encourage variety, print a picture of a rainbow and place on the fridge or in your child’s room. Encourage your child to choose a fruit or veggie each day from a different colour of the rainbow. For example, tomatoes and watermelon are red, berries and beetroot are purple, and mangoes and carrots are orange Rewards systems like using star charts to mark off how many fruit and vegetables are eaten are also a fun game for your child. Place somewhere visible and offer your child a reward when a goal is reached, such as going to the park or an extra story at night before bed. Another fun way to get your child to eat fruit and veg is by offering them Squish 100% fruit and veg purees and pressed 100% fruit and veg juices. The convenient pouches are well-loved amongst mommies and are perfect for babies from the first introduction of solids, right through the weaning process – from babies to toddlers and beyond. And the 100% fruit and veg pressed juices are deliciously refreshing and a good way to get babies, toddlers and young kids to enjoy fruit and veg. Get Green Fingers Children love being outside and getting their hands dirty. Use this to your advantage and build a vegetable garden. If you do not have a garden, windowsills and vertical/hanging gardens are good alternatives. With your child, plant various herbs and vegetables, and, when ready to be harvested, pick the vegetable with your toddler. Little Chef Older toddlers and young children will enjoy being in the kitchen. Let your children watch you prepare family meals and talk to them about what you are cooking. Let them help you set the table, stir ingredients in plastic bowls, and older children can help chop soft vegetables like baby marrow with a butter knife. One at a Time As much as we want to encourage a variety of flavours, it is important to introduce new foods and previously disliked foods one at a time. Children are naturally wary of anything unfamiliar. Always offer up new food with well-liked food to help increase your child’s acceptance of the food. Remember, it can take up to 15 exposures of food before your child likes it, so keep being patient and keep trying. And if all else fails, there is always the Squish 100% fruit and veg puree range with enough delicious flavours to please even the fussiest of eaters.

Syllabis Learning

Power Tips on Creating the Perfect Homeschool Environment

With the changes that we have all faced over the last seventeen months, now more than ever before, parents find themselves having to manage their children’s virtual and or home-based education. Despite the many benefits of homeschooling, at-home learning can be challenging for both parents and students. Challenges like creating order and structure in a home learning environment can lead to frustration and even cause students to fall behind on assignments or learning objectives. Your child’s curriculum has many moving parts—and if you have more than one child, that complexity only increases.  Teaching your children at home can be an immensely rewarding experience. One of the reasons that many parents choose to homeschool their kids is that they believe they can provide a better education for their children than a public or private school. To provide an outstanding education for your children, you will need to provide an environment that fosters learning. We can help you to keep your kids on track and successfully navigate the ins and outs of independent learning with the following tips. Create a designated learning space  While it can be tempting to set up shop at the dining room table or on the couch, these areas aren’t the most conducive to learning. Creating a dedicated learning space can make it easier for children to concentrate on schoolwork. Consider a room that is large and open that has natural light. This dedicated space should be used for schoolwork and no outside activities. It would be best if this room is used solely for schooling otherwise may find that your children lose focus if they have distractions around them. Not all kids like to sit in a chair all day, so perhaps offer different seating options in the room to make the space more comfortable for those who want to sit on the floor or a beanbag chair. You could also offer yoga balls for deskwork. Follow a daily schedule Homeschooling brings a wonderful level of flexibility and spontaneity to a child’s education. However, without a clear structure, it can be easy to get distracted and go off track. Kids thrive when they have a basic structure and routine. Creating a daily schedule will be hugely beneficial in giving your child direction and structure. You can always adapt this schedule as you go along. Pick a system that works for you. Your schedule can be as detailed or as relaxed as you want. The key is having some set routine and structure for you and your child to follow so you can both stay on track. Use Technology Technology plays a considerable role in education, and access to it will make homeschooling that much easier. It enables you to become more productive, efficient, and better communicate with other people. It is, therefore, essential to include the necessities in your homeschool environment. A computer, laptop or tablet, digital calendars, and task managers will be extremely helpful in managing time and progress. Time trackers and cloud-based folders like Dropbox or Google Drive will also be helpful. Information is at our fingertips with internet access so your child will have the ability to research topics and collect information with ease. Map out the school year ahead of time Map out your school year to track progress on your goals and plan out big projects. Breaking up big goals and projects into smaller steps makes them more manageable and you’re less likely to let details fall through the cracks. Setting goals and visualizing your plans can help you stay organized and see your progress at a glance, which makes targets more reachable and less overwhelming. Take learning beyond the classroom One of the best parts of homeschooling, and one of its greatest advantages, is the flexibility to learn outside a traditional classroom setting. Make time for these opportunities in your daily schedule and keep an open mind. Outdoor spaces are excellent learning places for exploring new skills, meeting new people, and experiencing through play. Always look for learning opportunities beyond the classroom and be open-minded about the benefit of learning through a practical example.  Collaborate with other homeschoolers It is important to know that you are not in this alone, there are rich and diverse homeschool communities all around the world. It is important and beneficial to connect with other homeschoolers in your area or online to collaborate and share resources. This will not only make the schooling process easier for you, but it will also enrich your child’s experience and expand their educational opportunities in and out of your home. Communicating with other homeschoolers also provides important social opportunities for your child. Leave Time for Breaks It is difficult to work for extended times without a break. When your kids start to get restless or hungry it is a good idea to schedule regular breaks. Morning snack breaks and afternoon exercise breaks allow your kids to get a good balance of work and chill time. scheduling them into your day. While some children might require frequent short breaks, others might like only one or two longer breaks. Read your children and let them help create your schedule in this matter. Learning need not be boring, and neither does your homeschool environment. Always consider what your kids like, who they are, and what are their interests, ideas, distractions, and sources of inspiration to come up with a suitable learning space.

Parenting Hub

How family holidays benefit your kids

Whilst the idea of going on holiday with children can be somewhat daunting, the benefits of spending time together exploring a new destination far outweigh any niggling negatives. “In fact,” Shaun Lamont, Managing Director of First Group Hotels and Resorts, says, “Holidaying as a family gives your children the opportunity to fill their lives with incredible new adventures. And, in addition to giving your kids the gift of making magical, lasting memories with the people they love, it also offers a wealth of benefits that will help shape who your kids will become as adults.” He adds that some of his own best childhood memories are of time spent away with his family. “Family holidays are valued by children, both in the moment and decades later too.  I don’t remember what my parents gave me for my 13th birthday, but I can recall, with fondness, a trip we took to Cape Town. In a world where material items are so easily accumulated and tossed aside, there really is no greater gift you can give your children.” And studies confirm this, a research study conducted by the Family Holiday Association in the United Kingdom found that 49% of those surveyed said that their happiest memory was of their family vacation. The study also showed that one-third of the people still clearly remembered their vacations. Shaun shares four additional ways that travelling as a family will have a massive impact on your children: 1. Strengthens Bonds  When you go on a family holiday, you leave all the worries of your everyday life behind. Away from the everyday distractions and long working hours, your family will be able to spend uninterrupted, quality time together. Even the simplest experiences such as a meal, can become a cherished memory that brings you closer together. 2. Every day is a learning experience It’s a fact that kids absorb knowledge more effectively through experiential learning, so whether you’re exploring a museum, hiking up a mountain, fishing on the shoreline or visiting a nature reserve, travel brings education to life. This helps your child to be more open minded, adaptable to changing situations and flexible in their habits, providing hands-on problem-solving capabilities they will carry with them throughout life. Visiting new places and doing new things will also ignite your child’s imagination and will even encourage them to try new things and say ‘yes’ to new experiences (yes moms, even new foods! 3. Making new friends No matter where you are, kids will find other kids to play with. South Africa has 11 official languages and yet even when children meet someone they can’t converse with, it doesn’t matter, because play is a universal language. All it takes is a smile and a laugh to break barriers. This intercultural communication will help your child build relationships with new friends. And, in a world that’s dominated by screens, these interpersonal life skills are invaluable as a child grows and develops their sense of self. 4. It teaches adaptability and responsibility  Breaking from routine can be a little scary for some mums, but it gives your child the opportunity to adapt to new surroundings and circumstances. Allow them to get involved in the decision making – from what restaurant to choose to what place to visit. If they are a little older, let them be the map navigator. If they are younger, get them to pack their own bags (it doesn’t have to be perfect). You will be teaching them invaluable skills that will stand them in good stead as they grow up. “You won’t ever get the ‘perfect trip’ with picture-perfect postcard memories, so don’t plan for perfection. Instead focus on making magical, lasting memories with your children that will unite you for the rest of your lives.” Photo credit: Family photo created by rawpixel.com – www.freepik.com

Bonitas – innovation, life stages and quality care

Caring for Baby

The following information is to be used as a guide to and at the discretion of the end-user and should not replace a doctor’s opinion. Circumcision care Newborn circumcision is a surgery that removes the loose skin (foreskin) that covers the end of a baby boy’s penis. It may be done for various reasons and usually heals with 7-10 days. Follow the care instructions you were given by your baby’s doctor. Often times they will recommend that you use a small amount of petroleum jelly on the site at diaper changes to prevent irritation. Contact your baby’s doctor if you see blood or pus around the circumcision or if you smell an odour coming from the site. Myths about newborns The following are common myths about newborns: Myth: Don’t touch their “soft spots” – Truth: Known as the fontanels, these areas are a thick protective membrane, not your baby’s brain, so if you happen to touch them gently nothing bad will happen; as with all of your baby, handle that area with gentle loving care. Myth: Baby girls don’t have periods – Truth: Baby girls may have a “mini period” within the first few weeks of life which is the result of the stimulation of their uterus by Mom’s high estrogen levels. If you ever have questions about what’s happening with your baby, contact your doctor. Myth: Babies don’t get acne – Truth: Some newborns will develop acne due to circulating hormones from their mother between 2 weeks and 2 months of age; you don’t need acne creams, just cleanse the area gently. Myth: Babies have flat chests – Truth: Some babies may temporarily have swollen breasts due to their mothers circulating hormones; this can happen to boys and girls. Myth: Sneezing must mean my baby has a cold – Truth: Newborns have tiny noses and often have some congestion, so they may sneeze a lot at first; if they have thick, coloured mucus and are sneezing a lot then they may be developing a cold. Never hesitate to contact your doctor if you are worried about what’s going on with your baby. No question is ever “dumb” if you are worried. Bathing your newborn Your baby doesn’t need a full bath every day, only 3-4 times a week. When giving them a full bath make sure the water is warm, but not hot, by testing the temperature with your elbow – if it’s too hot for your elbow, it’s too hot for your baby. Use mild bath soap made specifically for babies – harsh soaps may dry and irritate their skin. Always keep one hand on the baby while they are in the bathwater. There are some parts of your baby that will need to be washed with mild soap every day, especially their face, chin, neck and bottom. Do not use soap on their belly button (navel) or on a circumcision until it’s healed. Make sure the room you are in to bathe your baby is warm and free of drafts. Every baby is different so don’t hesitate to talk with your baby’s doctor if you have any questions about caring for your newborn. Healthy skin for newborns You don’t need to use lotion or powder on your baby unless it’s been recommended by their doctor. Don’t use fabric softener or bleach on their clothes as these can irritate their skin. Use mild detergent to wash their clothes, making sure to wash new clothing before you put it on the baby. Be careful not to overdress your baby – if you are comfortable in a t-shirt and shorts, your baby will be fine in a t-shirt or short sleeved onesie and a diaper. Diaper care for your newborn Periodically check your baby’s diaper to see if it’s wet or soiled. Change their diaper whenever one becomes wet or soiled. When changing your baby’s diaper, wash their bottom with mild soap and warm water or use disposable baby wipes. Be sure to wash your hands each time you finish changing a diaper. Additional tips for care of newborn For mouth care, wipe you baby’s gums daily with a clean damp washcloth or an infant toothbrush. To prevent scratches, keep your baby’s finger and toenails cut short. Remember that newborns sleep a lot – usually between 16-18 hours a day. Make sure to schedule your baby’s first check-up as recommended by their doctor – it’s usually recommended between 2-4 weeks of age. Umbilical cord care Do not place the baby in bath water until after the umbilical cord stump has fallen off. Keep the umbilical cord stump clean and dry – if it becomes soiled you can clean it with a cotton ball, mild soap and water. Umbilical cord stumps usually fall off about 2-4 weeks after birth – contact your baby’s doctor if this doesn’t happen. If the umbilical cord stump turns red around the base, bleeds, develops coloured drainage or a bad odour contact your baby’s doctor right away since it could be a sign of an infection. Contact your baby’s doctor if you have any questions or concerns about your baby’s umbilical cord stump. Teething pain relief The following information is to be used as a guide to and at the discretion of the end-user and should not replace a doctor’s opinion. To help soothe the pain from teething give your baby a teething ring, a wet washcloth cooled down in the refrigerator, or feed him/her cold foods such as applesauce or yogurt. You can also talk to your doctor about giving your baby acetaminophen (Tylenol) to ease the pain.

Prima Baby

Chicco Unico Air Car Seat

Purchasing a safe car seat is one of the most important decisions a parent makes long before their precious little one even joins the family.  There are many options on the market and the information overload can be supremely overwhelming. The Chicco Unico Plus Air is a super seat that is suitable for us from birth till 12 years of age making it a highly cost-effective choice for parents.  There is a reason this car seat is rated 4.9 out of 5 stars by over 94 reviewers internationally!   The Unico Plus is now a part of the “Air” family making it more breathable and well ventilated – perfect for South Africa’s warm climate! Easy installation either by Isofix or your vehicles 3-point belt A padded reducer provides additional protection for your tiny newborn Side Safety System – ensuring best practice in case of lateral impacts The Unico Plus Air can be purchased at participating baby outlets for R4999.99 – a great investment in your little one’s well-being. For more information head to www.chicco.co.za

Wingu Academy

Benefits and disadvantages of homeschooling

More and more families are starting to realize the numerous benefits associated with homeschooling. Homeschooling is no longer a stigmatized, isolated learning experience. Through the power of the internet and the rise of online curriculum service providers, homeschooling has evolved into a bespoke educational offering that merges the best elements of a traditional brick-and-mortar school system with the advantages that independent distance-based learning can allow. However, despite the great benefits of homeschooling, there are also certain disadvantages to this approach.  Let’s explore some of these pros and cons of a homeschooling approach. Disadvantages A possible disadvantage experienced by a homeschooling parent, is that the parent might become frustrated by having to take on the role of a teacher. Deciphering not only the coursework, but the curriculum outcomes as well, can create a lot of anxiety for parents. Parents might struggle to know whether they are “doing the right thing” or not. Especially in cases where students are older, parents might be intimidated by the difficulty of some of the coursework, as they are not subject experts themselves, but are now expected to teach their children mathematics or physics that they have done 20 odd years ago – or sometimes not at all! In cases like the aforementioned, parents often start to invest in expensive private tutors, which can lead to a high financial burden. However, by making use of an online curriculum service provider, these disadvantages can largely be mitigated. Through a reputable online curriculum service provider, students can have access to subject expert tutors, which eliminate the need for parents to act as teachers themselves. With this in mind, let’s focus on the benefits of homeschooling, and in particular the benefits of online schooling. Benefits 1.  Academic flexibility The traditional education system allows for very little flexibility in learning, when in reality, education is not a one-size fits all solution.  Some students are very strong auditory and visual learners. Other students might learn best through repetition. Some might prefer learning through practical application. Homeschooling affords an individual the opportunity to learn in a way that suits him/her best, especially if combined with a blended learning teaching strategy – which incorporates live classes and non-live learning elements, such as interactive lessons, quizzes and games, as well as practical project based learning. For students who are professional athletes, or who have globetrotting parents, the flexibility of a homeschooling system is particularly beneficial. Furthermore, in a traditional schooling context, with high student-to-teacher radios, a lot of time is often spent waiting for assistance. Students are often expected to partake in extracurricular school subjects which do not interest them. The flexibility of homeschooling allow students more time to focus on things that truly interest them. Students can progress according to their own ability and interest. 2.  Fosters independent learning skills Students who are homeschooled and allowed the freedom to learn in a way that suits him/her best, naturally also acquire the ability to learn more independently. In other words, these students don’t need someone to guide them through all elements of the learning material step-by-step. They are more confident in assimilating academic resources for themselves – a skill which they have honed during their years of homeschooling! This sense of autonomy is an invaluable ‘soft-skill’ that will aid students for years to come, whether at university or at work. Furthermore, students who homeschool with the help of an online curriculum service provider learn how to be adept at using technology, often from a young age. These students learn how to use cloud computing tools to collaborate remotely – an essential future of work skill, which is becoming even more important in an increasingly globalized and interconnected world. 3.  Mental health Students who struggle with anxiety, social anxiety or depression, or who were victims of bullying in a traditional school context, can study from the comfort and safety of their own homes. Students have the opportunity to focus on their mental and emotional wellbeing. In small amounts, stress can be good, but the incredible pressure that is placed on students to perform academically – or that they often place on themselves – can become debilitating. There is less pressure on students to conform or fit a traditionally expected mold, which is beneficial to a student’s self-esteem. Students with special needs or learning disabilities might feel especially marginalized in a traditional school setting, and their confidence can suffer. In a homeschooling environment, parents are better equipped to introduce certain interventional strategies to address learning challenges. 4.  Social development A fear that many parents who are considering homeschooling have, is the fear of social isolation. Parents fear that their children will not develop social skills or have no friends. However, due to the flexibility of homeschooling, students often have more time to engage in social extracurricular activities or community initiatives – such as joining a sports club, or volunteering at a local shelter – where they can still make friends and interact with peers. For students who make use of an online curriculum service provider, the shift from parent-led to facilitator-led education means there is an even greater opportunity to interact socially. In an online school environment – which essentially emulates some elements of a traditional school environment, such as live classes – students continually interact with classmates and tutors. 5.  Higher quality education In traditional classes with high student to teacher ratios, students do not get individualized attention. In a homeschooling context, students can receive more individualized attention, either from a parent or tutor. When making use of a reputable online curriculum service provider, students can have access to a highly qualified subject expert at the click of a button. Furthermore, some parents might want their children to be taught using a different curriculum than the one offered by traditional government schools. In reality though, many parents simply might not be able to afford the cost of a private school that offers such an alternative curriculum. For these parents, homeschooling provides a way to

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